Radial distention of a soft tissue space using a finger guided distention balloon

• US 5,582,620 A
• Filed: 09/14/1995
• Issued: 12/10/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Thomas Jefferson University Hospital
• Original Assignee: Thomas Jefferson University (Main Line Health System)
• Inventors: Hirsch, Irvin H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Buiz, Michael Powell
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEWIS, WILLIAM W
• Application Number:
  US08/527,955
• Time in Patent Office: 453 Days
• Field of Search: 606/191, 606/192, 606/194, 606/195, 606/198, 606/119, 604/96-101, 2/159, 2/161.8, 2/161.7, 2/160, 2/162, 2/168, 2/221, 600/207
• US Class Current: 606/192
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00557 inflatable A61B2017/22051 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 42/00 Surgical gloves; Finger-stalls specially adapted for surgery; Devices for handling or treatment thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 42/10 Surgical gloves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/02 Devices for expanding tissue, e.g. skin tissue implements for holding wounds open, surgical tractors A61B17/02; implantable mammary prosthesis A61F2/12; dilators A61M29/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 29/02 Dilators made of swellable material balloon catheters for angioplasty A61M25/104

Abstract

A device for radially distending a soft tissue space comprising a finger sheath for covering at least one finger. The sheath has a proximal and distal end. A distention balloon is attached to the distal end of the sheath. The balloon has a relative deflatable position in relation to the finger sheath and a relative inflatable position in relation to the sheath. An inflation source for inflating the distention balloon to a preferred volume thereby dilating the desired the soft tissue space is provided. A valve member for deflating the balloon is also provided.

Claims

1. A device for radially distending a soft tissue space comprising:

(a) a glove, said glove having at least one finger compartment for covering at least one finger of a hand, said finger compartment having a proximal and a distal end; and

(b) a distention balloon attached to the distal end of at least one finger compartment, said balloon having a relative deflatable position in relation to said glove and a relative inflatable position in relation to said glove, wherein when said balloon is in the inflatable position the soft tissue space dilates to a desired position.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said glove is made of a silicone material.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein said distention balloon can be inflated to a volume between 50 ml to about 1500 ml.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein said distention balloon has a generally spherical shape.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein said distention balloon has a generally pancake shape.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein said distention balloon has a generally longitudinal shape.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein said distention balloon has a generally oblong shape.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein said distention balloon has a generally ovoid shape.

9. A device for radially distending a soft tissue space comprising:

(a) a glove, said glove having at least one finger compartment for covering at least one finger of a hand, said finger compartment having a proximal and distal end;

(b) a distention balloon attached to the distal end of at least one finger of said glove, said balloon having a relative deflatable position in relation to said glove and a relative inflatable position in relation to said glove;

(c) a fluid flow assembly for inflating and deflating said balloon.

10. The device of claim 9 wherein said glove is made of a silicone material.

11. The device of claim 9 wherein said distention balloon can be inflated to a volume between 50 ml to about 1500 ml.

12. The device of claim 9 wherein said distention balloon has a generally spherical shape.

13. The device of claim 9 wherein said distention balloon has a generally pancake shape.

14. The device of claim 9 wherein said distention balloon has a generally longitudinal shape.

15. The device of claim 9 wherein said distention balloon has a generally oblong shape.

16. The device of claim 9 wherein said distention balloon has a generally ovoid shape.

17. A device for the radially distending a soft tissue space comprising:

(a) a finger sheath for covering at least one finger of a hand, said sheath having a proximal and distal end; and

(b) a distention balloon attached to the distal end of at least one finger, said balloon having a relative inflatable position in relation to said finger sheath and a relative deflatable position in relation to said finger sheath wherein when said balloon is in the inflatable position the soft tissue space dilates to a desired position.

18. The device of claim 17 wherein said distention balloon has a generally spherical shape.

19. The device of claim 17 wherein said distention balloon has a generally pancake shape.

20. The device of claim 17 wherein said distention balloon has a generally longitudinal shape.

21. The device of claim 17 wherein said distention balloon has a generally oblong shape.

22. The device of claim 17 wherein said distention balloon has a generally ovoid shape.

23. A device for radially distending a soft tissue space comprising:

(a) a finger sheath for covering at least one finger, said sheath having a proximal and distal end;

(b) a distention balloon attached to the distal end of said sheath, said balloon having a relative deflatable position in relation to said finger sheath and a relative inflatable position in relation to said sheath; and

(c) a fluid flow assembly for inflating and deflating said balloon.

24. The device of claim 23, wherein said finger sheath is made of a silicone material.

25. The device of claim 23 wherein said distention balloon can be inflated to a volume between about 50 ml to about 1500 ml.

26. The device of claim 23 wherein said distention balloon has a generally spherical shape.

27. The device of claim 23 wherein said distention balloon has a generally pancake shape.

28. The device of claim 23 wherein said distention balloon has a generally longitudinal shape.

29. The device of claim 23 wherein said distention balloon has a generally oblong shape.

30. The device of claim 23 wherein said distention balloon has a generally ovoid shape.

31. A device for radially distending a soft tissue space comprising:

(a) a mitten for covering a hand, said mitten having a compartment for receiving fingers of a hand, and said mitten having a proximal and distal end;

(b) a distention balloon attached to said distal end of said mitten, said balloon having a relative inflatable position in relation to said mitten and a relative deflatable position in relation to said mitten, wherein when said balloon is in the inflatable position the soft tissue space dilates to a desired position.

32. The device of claim 31, wherein said mitten is made of a silicone material.

33. The device of claim 31 wherein said distention balloon can be inflated to a volume between about 50 ml to about 1500 ml.

34. The device of claim 31 wherein said distention balloon has a generally spherical shape.

35. The device of claim 31 wherein said distention balloon has a generally pancake shape.

36. The device of claim 31 wherein said distention balloon has a generally longitudinal shape.

37. The device of claim 31 wherein said distention balloon has a generally oblong shape.

38. The device of claim 31 wherein said distention balloon has a generally ovoid shape.

39. A device for radially distending a soft tissue space comprising:

(a) a mitten for covering a hand, said mitten having a compartment for receiving fingers of a hand, said mitten having a proximal end and a distal end;

(b) a distention balloon attached to said distal end said balloon having a relative inflatable position in relation to said mitten and a relative deflatable position in relation to said mitten; and

(c) a fluid flow assembly for inflating and deflating said balloon.

40. A device of claim 39, wherein said sheath is made of a silicone material.

41. The device of claim 39 wherein said distention balloon can be inflated to a volume between 50 ml to about 1500 ml.

42. The device of claim 39 wherein said distention balloon has a generally spherical shape.

43. The device of claim 39 wherein said distention balloon has a generally pancake shape.

44. The device of claim 39 wherein said distention balloon has a generally longitudinal shape.

45. The device of claim 39 wherein said distention balloon has a generally oblong shape.

46. The device of claim 39 wherein said distention balloon has a generally ovoid shape.

47. A method of manipulating a patients internal bodily area comprising the steps:

(a) creating an incision through a patient'"'"'s skin to permit entry into the body interior to perform a medical procedure;

(b) inserting at least one palparing finger, that is covered with a surgical protective material and has an inflatable and deflatable distention balloon connected thereto, into an interior bodily area that will be dilated; and

(c) inflating the balloon to the desired volume such that the interior bodily area will dilate wide enough so that an ensuing medical procedure can be undertaken.