Flexible lifting apparatus
First Claim
1. Apparatus for deployment through a laparoscopic incision in a body wall to apply an external lifting force over a large area of the body wall, the apparatus comprising:
- a body wall engaging element capable of passing in a packaged state through the laparoscopic incision, and being inflatable to an inflated state in which the body wall engaging element is substantially toroidal, provides a broad lifting face, and bounds a central hole, the body wall engaging element including an equatorial portion facing into the central hole and further including,an annular upper envelope half,an annular lower envelope half, the envelope halves each including an inner peripheral zone and an outer peripheral zone wherein the outer peripheral zone of the upper envelope half is connected to the outer peripheral zone of the lower envelope half to form an outer seam and the inner peripheral zone of the upper envelope half is connected to the inner peripheral zone of the lower envelope half to form a lifting zone; and
a flexible lifting element, including;
a flexible portion capable of passing through the laparoscopic incision, the flexible portion attached to the lifting zone, andadapter means, connected to part of the flexible portion remote from the equatorial portion of the body wall engaging element, for receiving the external lifting force and for transferring the external lifting force to the flexible portion.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A lifting apparatus for deployment through a laparoscopic incision in a body wall to apply an external lifting force over a large area of the body wall. The apparatus provides a broad lifting surface that is capable of applying a lifting force of at least 40 pounds (180 Newtons) to an area of a body wall sufficiently extensive to reduce the lifting pressure exerted on the body wall to well below that which could cause pressure trauma to the body wall, yet delivers this broad lifting surface through the body wall via an incision about 14 mm long. The apparatus comprises a body wall engaging element capable of passing in a packaged state through the laparoscopic incision, and being inflatable to an inflated state. In the inflated state, the body wall engaging element is substantially toroidal, provides a broad lifting face, and bounds a central hole. The body wall engaging element includes an equatorial portion facing into the central hole. The apparatus also includes a flexible lifting element that has a flexible portion capable of passing through the laparoscopic incision. The flexible portion is attached to the equatorial portion of the body wall engaging element and extends from the equatorial portion towards the broad lifting face. The flexible lifting element also includes an adapter, connected to part of the flexible portion remote from the equatorial portion of the body wall engaging element, that receives the external lifting force and transfers the external lifting force to the flexible portion.
1015 Citations
25 Claims
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1. Apparatus for deployment through a laparoscopic incision in a body wall to apply an external lifting force over a large area of the body wall, the apparatus comprising:
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a body wall engaging element capable of passing in a packaged state through the laparoscopic incision, and being inflatable to an inflated state in which the body wall engaging element is substantially toroidal, provides a broad lifting face, and bounds a central hole, the body wall engaging element including an equatorial portion facing into the central hole and further including, an annular upper envelope half, an annular lower envelope half, the envelope halves each including an inner peripheral zone and an outer peripheral zone wherein the outer peripheral zone of the upper envelope half is connected to the outer peripheral zone of the lower envelope half to form an outer seam and the inner peripheral zone of the upper envelope half is connected to the inner peripheral zone of the lower envelope half to form a lifting zone; and a flexible lifting element, including; a flexible portion capable of passing through the laparoscopic incision, the flexible portion attached to the lifting zone, and adapter means, connected to part of the flexible portion remote from the equatorial portion of the body wall engaging element, for receiving the external lifting force and for transferring the external lifting force to the flexible portion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. Apparatus for deployment through a laparoscopic incision in a body wall to apply an external lifting force over a large area of the body wall, the apparatus comprising:
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a body wall engaging element capable of passing in a packaged state through the laparoscopic incision, and being inflatable to an inflated state in which the body wall engaging element is substantially toroidal, provides a broad lifting face, and bonnds a central hole, the body wall engaging element including an equatorial portion facing into the central hole; and a flexible lifting element, including; a flexible portion capable of passing through the laparoscopic incision, the flexible portion being attached to the equatorial portion of the body wall engaging element and extending from the equatorial portion towards the broad lifting face, wherein the flexible portion of the flexible lifting element is formed from a single piece of material and includes two semi-annular portions interconnected by an elongate strap, the two semi-annular portions being symmetrically disposed about the elongate strap longitudinally and laterally, and being dimensioned to collectively cover the equatorial zone of the body wall engaging element, the strap being formed into a loop, and adapter means connected to the loop for receiving the external lifting force and for transferring the external lifting force to the flexible portion. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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11. Apparatus for deployment through a laparoscopic incision in a body wall to apply an external lifting force over a large area of the body wall, the apparatus comprising:
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a body wall engaging element capable of passing in a packaged state through the laparoscopic incision, and being inflatable to an inflated state in which the body wall engaging element is substantially toroidal, provides a broad lifting face, and bounds a central hole, the body wall engaging element including an equatorial portion facing into the central hole; and a flexible lifting element, including; a flexible portion capable of passing through the laparoscopic incision, the flexible portion being attached to the equatorial portion of the body wall engaging element and extending from the equatorial portion towards the broad lifting face, wherein the flexible portion includes; a substantially rigid upper ring and a substantially rigid lower ring concentric with the central hole and disposed on opposite sides of the equatorial portion of the body wall engaging element, and an elongate flexible member attached to the upper ring and the lower ring, the flexible member forming a loop; and adapter means connected to the loop for receiving the external lifting force and for transferring the external lifting force to the flexible portion. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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13. Apparatus for deployment through a laparoscopic incision in a body wall to apply an external lifting force over a large area of the body wall, the apparatus comprising:
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a body wall engaging element capable of passing in a packaged state through the laparoscopic incision, and being inflatable to an inflated state in which the body wall engaging element is substantially toroidal, provides a broad lifting face, and bounds a central hole, the body wall engaging element including an equatorial portion facing into the central hole; and a flexible lifting element, including; a flexible portion capable of passing through the laparoscopic incision, the flexible portion being attached to the equatorial portion of the body wall engaging element and extending from the equatorial portion towards the broad lifting face, wherein the flexible portion includes; a ring concentric with the central hole and attached to part of the equatorial portion of the body wall engaging element remote from the lifting face and an elongate flexible member attached to the ring and forming a loop; and adapter means connected to the loop for receiving the external lifting force and for transferring the external lifting force to the flexible portion. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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16. Apparatus for deployment through a laparoscopic incision in a body wall to apply an external lifting force over a large area of the body wall, the apparatus comprising:
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a body wall engaging element capable of passing in a packaged state through the laparoscopic incision, and being inflatable to an inflated state in which the body wall engaging element is substantially toroidal, provides a broad lifting face, and bounds a central hole, the body wall engaging element including an equatorial portion facing into the central hole; and a flexible lifting element, including; a flexible portion capable of passing through the laparoscopic incision, the flexible portion being attached to the equatorial portion of the body wall engaging element and extending from the equatorial portion towards the broad lifting face, wherein the flexible portion includes; a transfer segment attached to the equatorial portion of the body wall on each of opposite sides of the central hole, each transfer segment being formed from a piece of composite material including a woven fabric ribbon core having opposed selvedges, one of the selvedges facing into the central hole, and an elongate flexible member attached to the each transfer segment and forming a loop; and adapter means, connected to part of the flexible portion remote from the equatorial portion of the body wall engaging element, for receiving the external lifting force and for transferring the external lifting force to the flexible portion. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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18. Apparatus for deployment through a laparoscopic incision in a body wall to apply an external lifting force over a large area of the body wall, the apparatus comprising:
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a body wall engaging element capable of passing in a packaged state through the laparoscopic incision, and being inflatable to an inflated state in which the body wall engaging element is substantially toroidal, provides a broad lifting face, and bounds a central hole, the body wall engaging element including an equatorial portion facing into the central hole; and a flexible lifting element, including; a flexible portion capable of passing through the laparoscopic incision, the flexible portion being attached to the equatorial portion of the body wall engaging element and extending from the equatorial portion towards the broad lifting face, and adapter means, connected to part of the flexible portion remote from the equatorial portion of the body wall engaging element, for receiving the external lifting force and for transferring the external lifting force to the flexible portion, wherein the adaptor means includes; a substantially cylindrical housing; a pin disposed in the housing whereto the flexible lifting element is attached; and a dovetail connector mounted on the housing. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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20. Apparatus for deployment through a laparoscopic incision in a body wall to apply an external lifting force over a large area of the body wall, the apparatus comprising:
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a body wall engaging element capable of passing in a packaged state through the laparoscopic incision, and being inflatable to an inflated state in which the body wall engaging element is substantially toroidal, provides a broad lifting face, and bounds a central hole, the body wall engaging element including an equatorial portion facing into the central hole and further including an outer periphery; and a flexible lifting element, including; a flexible portion capable of passing through the laparoscopic incision, the flexible portion being attached to the equatorial portion of the body wall engaging element and extending from the equatorial portion towards the broad lifting face, and adapter means, connected to part of the flexible portion remote from the equatorial portion of the body wall engaging element, for receiving the external lifting force and for transferring the external lifting force to the flexible portion; and an elongate tether having one end attached to the body wall engaging element adjacent the outer periphery.
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21. Apparatus for deployment through a laparoscopic incision in a body wall to apply an external lifting force over a large area of the body wall, the apparatus comprising:
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a body wall engaging element capable of passing in a packaged state through the laparoscopic incision, and being inflatable to an inflated state in which the body wall engaging element is substantially toroidal, provides a broad lifting face, and bounds a central hole, the body wall engaging element including an equatorial portion facing into the central hole; a flexible lifting element, including; a flexible portion capable of passing through the laparoscopic incision, the flexible portion being attached to the equatorial portion of the body wall engaging element and extending from the equatorial portion towards the broad lifting face, and adapter means, connected to part of the flexible portion remote from the equatorial portion of the body wall engaging element, for receiving the external lifting force and for transferring the external lifting force to the flexible portion; and an elongate flexible tube having a bore, the tube fluidly coupled to the body wall engaging element; and a length of monofilament inserted into the bore of the elongate flexible tube.
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22. A method of applying an external lifting force of greater than ten pounds to a large area of a body wall to lift the body wall, the external lifting force being applied to the body wall through a laparoscopic incision in the body wall, the method comprising steps of:
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providing a lifting apparatus, the lifting apparatus including; a body wall engaging element in a packaged state, capable of passing through the laparoscopic incision, the body wall engaging element being inflatable from the packaged state to an inflated state wherein the body wall engaging element is substantially toroidal, provides a broad lifting face, and bounds a central hole, the body wall engaging element in the packaged state being a packaged body wall engaging element, and a flexible lifting element, including; a flexible portion capable of passing through the laparoscopic incision, the flexible portion being attached to the equatorial portion of the body wall engaging element in a manner which leaves the central hole at least partially exposed, and adapter means, connected to part of the flexible portion remote from the equatorial portion of the body wall engaging element, for receiving the external lifting force and for transferring the external lifting force to the flexible portion; advancing the package body wall engaging element and part of the flexible lifting element through the laparoscopic incision; inflating the body wall engaging element to an inflated state to provide a broad lifting surface; applying the external lifting force to the adapter means of the flexible lifting element to move the broad lifting surface into contact with the body wall and to lift the body wall from a normal state to a lifted state providing an instrument; and after inflating the body wall engaging element to an inflated state, passing the instrument from outside the body wall through the incision and through the central hole in the body wall engaging element to contact tissue underlying the body wall. - View Dependent Claims (23)
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24. A method of applying an external lifting force of greater than ten pounds to a large area of a body wall to lift the body wall, the external lifting force being applied to the body wall through a laparoscopic incision in the body wall, the method comprising steps of:
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providing a lifting apparatus, the lifting apparatus including; a body wall engaging element in a packaged state in which the body wall engaging element is substantially cylindrical, has a distal end and a proximal end, and is capable of passing through the laparoscopic incision, the body wall engaging element being inflatable from the packaged state to an inflated state wherein the body wall engaging element is substantially toroidal, provides a broad lifting face, and bounds a central hole, the body wall engaging element in the packaged state being a packaged body wall engaging element, and a flexible lifting element, including; a flexible portion capable of passing through the laparoscopic incision, the flexible portion being attached to the equatorial portion of the body wall engaging element and extending from the equatorial portion towards the broad lifting face, and adapter means, connected to part of the flexible portion remote from the equatorial portion of the body wall engaging element, for receiving the external lifting force and for transferring the external lifting force to the flexible portion; introducing the distal end of the packaged body wall engaging element into the incision; advancing the packaged body wall engaging element through the incision while rotating the packaged body wall engaging element generally parallel to the body wall until the proximal end of the packaged body wall engaging element has passed through the body wall; pulling the flexible lifting element proximally to move the packaged body wall engaging element laterally to align the central hole of the body wall engaging element with the incision; inflating the body wall engaging element to an inflated state to provide a broad lifting surface; and applying the external lifting force to the adapter means of the flexible lifting element to move the broad lifting surface into contact with the body wall and to lift the body wall from a normal state to a lifted state.
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25. A method of applying an external lifting force of greater than ten pounds to a large area of a body wall to lift the body wall, the external lifting force being applied to the body wall through a laparoscopic incision in the body wall, the method comprising steps of:
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providing a lifting apparatus, the lifting apparatus including; a body wall engaging element in a packaged state, capable of passing through the laparoscopic incision, the body wall engaging element being inflatable from the packaged state to an inflated state wherein the body wall engaging element is substantially toroidal, provides a broad lifting face, and bounds a central hole, the body wall engaging element in the packaged state being a packaged body wall engaging element, the body wall engaging element including an outer periphery, and a flexible lifting element, including; a flexible portion capable of passing through the laparoscopic incision, the flexible portion being attached to the equatorial portion of the body wall engaging element and extending from the equatorial portion towards the broad lifting face, and adapter means, connected to part of the flexible portion remote from the equatorial portion of the body wall engaging element, for receiving the external lifting force and for transferring the external lifting force to the flexible portion, and an elongate tether having a distal end connected to the body wall engaging element adjacent the outer periphery; advancing the packaged body wall engaging element and part of the flexible lifting element through the laparoseopic incision such that a proximal portion of the tether remains outside the body wall; inflating the body wall engaging element to an inflated state to provide a broad lifting surface; and applying the external lifting force to the adapter means of the flexible lifting element to move the broad lifting surface into contact with the body wall and to lift the body wall from a normal state to a lifted state removing the lifting force from the lifting apparatus to return the body wall to the normal state; evacuating the body wall engaging element to return the body wall engaging element to a collapsed state, the body wall engaging element in the collapsed state being a collapsed body wall engaging element; pulling the proximal portion of the tether proximally to move the collapsed body wall engaging element laterally to align the peripheral portion of the collapsed body wall engaging element with the incision; and pulling the proximal portion of the tether further proximally to remove the collapsed body wall engaging element edge-first from the incision.
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Specification