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

• US 7,297,153 B2
• Filed: 08/22/2005
• Issued: 11/20/2007
• 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., Kayan, Helmut L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dawson; Glenn K.
• Application Number:
  US11/208,672
• Publication Number:
  US 20060036277A1
• Time in Patent Office: 820 Days
• Field of Search: None
• 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

An apparatus for creating an anatomic space in tissue in a body comprises an introducer and a sheath. The tubular sheath may surround the introducer, and may have a weakened region along its longitudinal axis. A handle may be provided on the sheath. The handle may be adapted to be pulled proximally to separate the weakened region and allow the sheath to be removed from the introducer. The sheath may be secured to the introducer via detents or latches on the handle.

Claims

1. An apparatus for creating an anatomic space comprising:

a tubular member having a bore extending therethrough;

a handle including a proximal section, a distal section, and an intermediate section therebetween, said distal section attached to said tubular member and having a bore therein in alignment with said bore in said tubular member;

a tunneling shaft slidably mounted in said bore of said tubular member, said tunneling shaft secured to the proximal section and including a blunt distal end for tunneling through tissue wherein said proximal section is detachable from said intermediate section to permit said tunneling shaft to move longitudinally through the apparatus;

a deflated balloon attached to said tunneling shaft; and

a sheath enclosing said balloon and having a weakened region extending longitudinally thereof permitting said sheath to be removed from said balloon.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

an obturator having opposed open ends and defining a passageway therethrough and attached to the intermediate section, said obturator and intermediate section being slidably mounted on said tunneling shaft.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said blunt distal end has a diameter greater than a diameter of the passageway of said obturator.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the blunt distal end has diameter less than a diameter of said bore of said tubular member.

5. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising:

a monolithically formed handle attached to a proximal region of said sheath wherein proximal movement of said handle causes the weakened region of the sheath to separate thereby allowing said sheath to be removed from said balloon.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said handle includes one or more protrusions adapted to be received by one or more complementary recesses in said obturator for releasably securing said handle to said apparatus.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a valve member mounted in said distal section and movable between a first position wherein said bore in said distal section is sealed and a second position wherein said bore in said distal section is open.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said balloon is releasably attached to the tunneling shaft.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said balloon includes a sleeve extending along one surface of the balloon wherein said sleeve includes a weakened region.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein at least one of said weakened regions includes a plurality of spaced-apart perforations.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said balloon further includes an interior space and an inflation lumen, said inflation lumen extending from said balloon and in fluid communication with the interior space.

12. An apparatus for creating an anatomic space comprising:

a tubular member having a bore extending therethrough;

a first handle attached to said tubular member and having a bore therein in alignment with said bore in said tubular member;

a tunneling shaft slidably mounted in said bore of said tubular member, said tunneling shaft secured to a second handle and including a blunt distal end for tunneling through tissue wherein said second handle is detachable from said first handle to permit said tunneling shaft to move longitudinally through the apparatus;

a deflated balloon attached to said tunneling shaft; and

a sheath enclosing said balloon and having a weakened region extending longitudinally thereof permitting said sheath to be removed from said balloon.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the second handle has a proximal section and an intermediate section, the intermediate section having latches for attachment to the first handle.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising an introducer member attached to the intermediate section, the introducer member having a bore for receiving the tunneling shaft and the introducer member being received in the tubular member.

15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the first handle comprises a cannula housing having a fitting in communication with the bore in the tubular member.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the cannula housing includes at least one valve member.