System and method for balloon-assisted retraction tube
First Claim
1. A system for retraction of tissues and insertion of instruments comprising:
- a balloon, the balloon having a tubular shape, the balloon having an inner tubular surface and an outer tubular surface, the balloon having a proximal end and a distal end, the balloon having a first opening near the proximal end and through the first opening the balloon is inflated and deflated, and the balloon having a deflated state and an inflated state;
a retractor, the retractor having a tubular shape, the retractor having an inner tubular surface and an outer tubular surface, the retractor having a proximal end and a distal end, the retractor having a first opening at the proximal end and a second opening at the distal end; and
sequential cannulated dilators, the dilators having a tubular shape, the dilators having an inner tubular surface and an outer tubular surface, the dilators having a proximal end and a distal end, the dilators having a first opening at the proximal end and a second opening at the distal end, the dilators having increasing circumferences,wherebythe balloon is inserted between tissues to create a corridor, the balloon is inflated through the balloon'"'"'s first opening to expand the corridor;
the retractor is inserted into the corridor to retain the corridor; and
the dilators are inserted in series, from the dilator having the smallest circumference to the dilator having the largest circumference, such that the dilator having the smallest circumference is inserted first, then a dilator having the next larger circumference is inserted over the dilator having the smallest circumference, such that this process is repeated until the retractor is inserted over the dilator having the largest circumference, in order to expand and retain the corridor.
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Abstract
A system and method for balloon-assisted retraction technique for the purposes of retraction of tissues and insertion of instruments in connection with advanced surgeries such as microscopic or endoscopic surgeries. A balloon assembly comprising an introducer, a balloon, and a sheath is inserted either manually or with the aid of stereotactic techniques. An endoscope may be used to ensure the proper docking of the introducer assembly. The balloon is then inflated slowly to retract the tissues, in order to create a corridor with minimal invasion. The corridor is expanded and retained using a series of dilators and retractor. The retractor comprises ports through which endoscope and other surgical instruments may pass. Surgical operation is performed through the corridor. The present invention overcomes the disadvantages of conventional retraction systems by providing better visualization and enhanced manual dexterity, as well as providing minimal invasion to allow a shorter recovery period.
282 Citations
30 Claims
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1. A system for retraction of tissues and insertion of instruments comprising:
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a balloon, the balloon having a tubular shape, the balloon having an inner tubular surface and an outer tubular surface, the balloon having a proximal end and a distal end, the balloon having a first opening near the proximal end and through the first opening the balloon is inflated and deflated, and the balloon having a deflated state and an inflated state; a retractor, the retractor having a tubular shape, the retractor having an inner tubular surface and an outer tubular surface, the retractor having a proximal end and a distal end, the retractor having a first opening at the proximal end and a second opening at the distal end; and sequential cannulated dilators, the dilators having a tubular shape, the dilators having an inner tubular surface and an outer tubular surface, the dilators having a proximal end and a distal end, the dilators having a first opening at the proximal end and a second opening at the distal end, the dilators having increasing circumferences, whereby the balloon is inserted between tissues to create a corridor, the balloon is inflated through the balloon'"'"'s first opening to expand the corridor; the retractor is inserted into the corridor to retain the corridor; and the dilators are inserted in series, from the dilator having the smallest circumference to the dilator having the largest circumference, such that the dilator having the smallest circumference is inserted first, then a dilator having the next larger circumference is inserted over the dilator having the smallest circumference, such that this process is repeated until the retractor is inserted over the dilator having the largest circumference, in order to expand and retain the corridor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A system for retraction of tissues and insertion of instruments comprising:
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a balloon, the balloon having a tubular shape, the balloon having an inner tubular surface and an outer tubular surface, the balloon having a proximal end and a distal end, the balloon having a first opening near the proximal end and through the first opening the balloon is inflated and deflated, and the balloon having a deflated state and an inflated state; and a retractor, the retractor having a tubular shape, the retractor having an inner tubular surface and an outer tubular surface, the retractor having a proximal end and a distal end, the retractor having a first opening at the proximal end and a second opening at the distal end, wherein the retractor having at least one port, the port being attached to the inner tubular surface of the retractor, the port having an inner circumferential surface and an outer circumferential surface, the inner circumferential surface defines a small space, whereby the balloon is inserted between tissues to create a corridor, the balloon is inflated through the balloon'"'"'s first opening to expand the corridor; the retractor is inserted into the corridor to retain the corridor; and after surgical instruments have been passed through the port, by limiting the freedom of their movement within the small space, the port secures the surgical instruments and the port minimizes the cross-controlling of instruments. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for retraction of tissues and insertion of instruments comprising:
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inserting a balloon through tissues, the balloon having a tubular shape, the balloon having an inner tubular surface and an outer tubular surface, the balloon having a proximal end and a distal end, the balloon having a first opening at the proximal end and through the first opening the balloon is inflated and deflated, and the balloon having a deflated state and an inflated state; inserting a retractor, the retractor having a tubular shape, the retractor having an inner tubular surface and an outer tubular surface, the retractor having a proximal end and a distal end, the retractor having a first opening at the proximal end and a second opening at the distal end; and inserting sequential cannulated dilators in series, the dilators having a tubular shape, the dilators having an inner tubular surface and an outer tubular surface, the dilators having a proximal end and a distal end, the dilators have increasing circumferences, from the dilator having the smallest circumference to the dilator having the largest circumference, the inserting is performed such that the dilator having the smallest circumference is inserted first, then a dilator having the next larger circumference is inserted over the dilator having the smallest circumference, such that this process is repeated until the retractor is inserted over the dilator having the largest circumference, in order to expand and retain the corridor, whereby the balloon is inserted between the tissues to create a corridor, the balloon is inflated to expand the corridor, and the retractor is inserted into the corridor to retain the corridor. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method for retraction of tissues and insertion of instruments comprising:
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inserting a balloon through tissues, the balloon having a tubular shape, the balloon having an inner tubular surface and an outer tubular surface, the balloon having a proximal end and a distal end, the balloon having a first opening at the proximal end and through the first opening the balloon is inflated and deflated, and the balloon having a deflated state and an inflated state; inserting a retractor, the retractor having a tubular shape, the retractor having an inner tubular surface and an outer tubular surface, the retractor having a proximal end and a distal end, the retractor having a first opening at the proximal end and a second opening at the distal end; and inserting instruments through at least one port, the port being attached to the inner tubular surface of the retractor, the port having an inner circumferential surface and an outer circumferential surface, the inner circumferential surface defines a small space, whereby the balloon is inserted between the tissues to create a corridor, the balloon is inflated to expand the corridor; the retractor is inserted into the corridor to retain the corridor; and after surgical instruments have been passed through the port, by limiting the freedom of their movement within the small space, the port secures the surgical instruments and the port minimizes the cross-controlling of instruments. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification