Apparatus for use in fascial cleft surgery for opening an anatomic space

• US 7,967,835 B2
• Filed: 05/05/2003
• Issued: 06/28/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Rehnke, Robert D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Houston; Elizabeth
• Application Number:
  US10/428,252
• Publication Number:
  US 20040225317A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,976 Days
• Field of Search: 606/159, 606190-199, 606/108, 600/204, 600/207, 600/184, 600/201, 600/206, 600/210, 600/220, 604/103.11, 604104-106, 604/164.1, 604/164.11, 604/170.01, 604/170.03, 604/530
• US Class Current: 606/192
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/02 for holding wounds open; Tractors specula A61B1/32 ; drainage appliances for wounds A61M27/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00557 inflatable A61B2017/22051 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320044 Blunt dissectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320048 Balloon dissectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/032 pressure limiting, e.g. hydrostatic
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/037 with a frangible part, e.g. by reduced diameter

Abstract

An apparatus for use in fascial cleft surgery adapted to perform blunt dissection between two layers of anatomically named fascia. The dissection performed by the apparatus extends to the limits of anatomic space defined by fusion of said two layers of fascia in a minimally invasive manner. The apparatus is formed of a hollow tube body member including a malleable introducing flange having a spoonbill-like shape. Further, the apparatus includes an elastic dissection balloon movably positioned within the applicator. The dissection balloon is reversibly expandable between a deflated condition and an expanded condition and is movable from a first storage position within the hollow tube body of the applicator to a position exterior thereof. The dissection balloon is formed of a chosen elastic material having a tensile strength less than the tensile strength of the points of fusion between two layers of fascia such that the dissection balloon fails prior to achieving pressures that would destroy the anatomic boundaries of the fascial cleft such that a working space is demonstrated not created. The apparatus also includes a gripping handle and introducing rod slideably positioned within said applicator for positioning said dissection balloon exterior said applicator to within an anatomic space for subsequent inflation and deflation. Finally, a fill tube extends through the hollow introducing rod to the dissection balloon and operably associated therewith for inflating and deflating the dissection balloon.

Claims

1. A surgical apparatus for use in fascial cleft surgery and adapted to perform blunt dissection between two layers of anatomically named fascia, the dissection extending to the limits of an anatomic space defined by fusion of said two layers of fascia in a minimally invasive manner comprising, in combination:

an applicator, the applicator being formed of a hollow tube body member having an open proximal end and an open distal end;

a malleable introducing flange fixedly attached to the distal end of the applicator, said introducing flange having a spoonbill-like shape and reconfigurable from an first configuration to a second configuration upon application of a force, wherein the introducing flange remains in the second configuration when the force is removed;

an elastic dissection balloon movably positioned within said applicator at the distal end thereof adjacent said introducing flange wherein said dissection balloon being reversibly expandable between a deflated condition and an expanded condition and wherein said dissection balloon being movable from a first storage position within the hollow tube body of the applicator to a position exterior thereof, said entire elastic dissection balloon axially repositionable relative to said introducing flange, wherein said dissection balloon is formed of a chosen elastic material having a tensile strength less than the tensile strength of the points of fusion between the two layers of fascia such that the dissection balloon fails prior to achieving pressures that would destroy the anatomic boundaries of the fascia;

a gripping handle coupled to said applicator at the open proximal end thereof, said gripping handle including a thumb engaging recess corresponding to the introducing flange for allowing a user to judge the orientation of the introducing flange during use of the apparatus, said gripping handle having a gripping surface that is generally parallel to the applicator;

a hollow introducing rod slideably positioned within said applicator, said introducing rod having a first end terminating in a concave surface positioned adjacent the dissection balloon for positioning said dissection balloon exterior said applicator to within an anatomic space for subsequent inflation and deflation, said introducing rod having a second end extending exterior the proximal end of said applicator; and

a fill tube extending through said hollow introducing rod to said dissection balloon and operably associated therewith for inflating and deflating said dissection balloon,

wherein the elastic dissection balloon is separately inflatable irrespective of the position of the malleable introducer of the applicator.

2. The surgical apparatus of claim 1 wherein the malleable introducing flange includes a luminescent material disposed about the peripheral edge thereof.

3. A surgical apparatus for use in fascial cleft surgery and adapted to perform blunt dissection between two layers of anatomically named fascia, the dissection extending to the limits of anatomic space defined by fusion of said two layers of fascia in a minimally invasive manner comprising, in combination:

an applicator formed of an open ended hollow tube body member;

a malleable introducing flange fixedly attached to a distal end of the applicator and having a plurality of configurations including an first configuration and an second configuration, wherein application of a force to the introducing flange transitions the introducing flange from the first configuration to the second configuration, the introducing flange remaining in the second configuration upon removal of the force;

an elastic dissection balloon movably positioned within said applicator adjacent said introducing flange wherein said dissection balloon being reversibly expandable between a deflated condition and an expanded condition and wherein said dissection balloon being movable from a first storage position within the hollow tube body of the applicator to a position exterior thereof, said entire elastic dissection balloon being axially repositionable with respect to said introducing flange and wherein said dissection balloon is formed of a chosen elastic material having a tensile strength less than the tensile strength of the points of fusion between two layers of fascia such that the dissection balloon fails prior to achieving pressures that would destroy the anatomic boundaries of the fascial cleft;

a hollow introducing rod slideably positioned within said applicator for positioning said dissection balloon exterior said applicator to within an anatomic space for subsequent inflation and deflation, said introducing rod having a second end extending exterior a proximal end of said applicator for manual manipulation, and at least a portion of said introducing rod being movable relative to the flange; and

a fill tube extending through said hollow introducing rod to said dissection balloon and operably associated therewith for inflating and deflating said dissection balloon,

wherein the elastic dissection balloon is separately inflatable irrespective of the position of the malleable introducer of the applicator.

4. The surgical apparatus of claim 3 wherein the malleable introducing flange includes a luminescent material disposed about the peripheral edge thereof.