Apparatus and methods for developing an anatomic space for laparoscopic hernia repair and patch for use therewith

• US 6,679,900 B2
• Filed: 02/13/2002
• Issued: 01/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: General Surgical Innovations Incorporated (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Original Assignee: General Surgical Innovations Incorporated (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Mollenauer, Kenneth H., Monfort, Michelle Y., Kieturakis, Maciej J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dawson, Glenn K.
• Application Number:
  US10/076,779
• Publication Number:
  US 20020091405A1
• Time in Patent Office: 706 Days
• Field of Search: 600/201, 600/204, 600/207, 600/210, 606/108, 606/151, 606/159, 606/190, 606/191, 606/200, 606/213, 604/96-1-1
• US Class Current: 606/190
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0218 for minimally invasive surgery A61B17/0281, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/320016 Endoscopic cutting instruments, e.g. arthroscopes, resectoscopes A61B10/0233, A61B17/29, A61B17/3207 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3421 Cannulas
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3439 with means for changing the inner diameter of the cannula, e.g. expandable A61B17/3423, A61B17/3431 take precedence; catheters A61M25/0662
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/08 by means of electrically-heated probes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00557 inflatable A61B2017/22051 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320044 Blunt dissectors blunt suture needles A61B2017/06085
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320048 Balloon dissectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0813 Accessories designed for easy sterilising, i.e. re-usable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/361 Image-producing devices, e.g. surgical cameras
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0063 Implantable repair or support meshes, e.g. hernia meshes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/0072 Delivery tools therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0668 splittable, tear apart
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/1002 characterised by balloon shape A61M25/1006, A61M25/1009 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 29/02 Dilators made of swellable material balloon catheters for angioplasty A61M25/104

Abstract

Laparoscopic apparatus and method for insertion into a space or potential space in a body including an introducer device having a tubular member with a bore extending therethrough. A tunneling shaft assembly is provided and is slidably mounted in the bore of the introducer device. The tunneling shaft assembly includes a tunneling shaft having proximal and distal extremities. A tunneling member is mounted on the distal extremity of the tunneling shaft. A balloon assembly is provided which is removably secured to the tunneling shaft. The balloon assembly includes a balloon wrapped about said tunneling shaft. A sheath is provided which encloses the balloon on the tunneling shaft. The sheath has a slit extending longitudinally thereof permitting the sheath to be removed whereby the balloon can be released and inflated. A tubular member is provided which has a balloon inflation lumen thereon and is coupled to the balloon for inflating said balloon.

Claims

1. A balloon assembly comprising a balloon of, of a non-elastomeric material, forming an enclosed space, a tubular member extending into the balloon for introducing a balloon inflation medium into the space for inflating the balloon to a predetermined size and shape, as determined by the non-elastomeric material, said balloon assembly further including a tunneling shaft and a sleeve secured to the balloon, said sleeve having a passage through which the tunneling shaft can extend and a weakened region extending longitudinally thereof for releasably securing said tunneling shaft to said balloon.

2. A balloon assembly as in claim 1 wherein said balloon has an oval-shaped configuration.

3. A balloon assembly as in claim 1 wherein said balloon has a rectangular configuration and wherein said tubular member is disposed along one side of said balloon.

4. A balloon assembly as in claim 3, the balloon extending alongside the tunneling shaft, the sleeve extending longitudinally along the balloon, and the balloon having outer margins disposed laterally of the tunneling shaft.

5. A balloon assembly as in claim 1 wherein said weakened region is formed by longitudinally spaced apart perforations.

6. A balloon assembly as in claim 1 wherein said sleeve extends longitudinally of the balloon and is spaced substantially equidistant from outer margins of the balloon.

7. An apparatus as in claim 6 wherein said outer margins of said balloon are adapted to be rolled over onto the tunneling shaft.

8. A balloon assembly as in claim 7 wherein said balloon is formed into a roll together with a tubular sleeve, said roll being disposed in said sleeve.

9. A balloon assembly as in claim 1 wherein said balloon is rolled in one direction to form a roll.

10. A balloon assembly as in claim 9 together with a graft disposed on one side of the balloon and wherein the graft is rolled up with the balloon when the balloon is rolled into a roll.

11. A balloon assembly as in claim 1 together with a hernia repair graft removably disposed on one side of the balloon.

12. A balloon assembly as in claim 11 together with means carried by the balloon for releasably retaining the graft on the balloon.

13. A balloon assembly as in claim 12 wherein said means for releasably retaining said graft on said balloon includes flexible flaps overlying the side margins of the graft.

14. A balloon assembly as in claim 13 wherein the outer margins of said balloon are rolled inwardly to form a pair of rolls together with a sleeve retaining said pair of rolls in said roll conformation.

15. A balloon assembly comprising:

first and second sheets of a non-elastomeric material, said sheets of material having outer margins;

means for bonding the outer margins of the sheets of material to each other to form a balloon;

a hernia repair graft removably disposed on one side of the balloon;

means for releasably retaining the graft on the balloon; and

a tubular member extending into the balloon and having a balloon inflation lumen extending therein for introducing a balloon inflation medium into the balloon for inflating the balloon to a predetermined size and shape, as determined by the non-elastomeric material.

16. The balloon assembly of claim 15, wherein said means for releasably retaining the graft on the balloon includes at least one plastic flap, the at least one plastic flap configured to cover at least a portion of the graft.

17. The balloon assembly of claim 15, wherein the graft is formed from a non-absorbable synthetic material.

18. The balloon assembly of claim 17, wherein said graft is formed from polypropylene.

19. The balloon assembly as in claim 15, wherein said balloon has a generally oval-shaped configuration.

20. The balloon assembly of claim 15, wherein said balloon has a generally rectangular configuration and said tubular member is disposed along one side of said balloon.

21. The balloon assembly of claim 15, wherein a sleeve extends longitudinally of the balloon and is spaced substantially equidistant from the outer margins of the balloon.

22. The balloon assembly of claim 21, wherein said outer margins of said balloon are adapted to be rolled over onto a tunneling shaft.

23. The balloon assembly of claim 22, wherein said balloon is formed into a roll together with a tubular sleeve, said roll being disposed in said sleeve.

24. The balloon assembly of claim 15, wherein said balloon is rolled in one direction to form a roll.

25. The balloon assembly of claim 24, wherein a graft is disposed on one side of the balloon and the graft is rolled up with the balloon when the balloon is rolled into a roll.