Retraction of tissue for single port entry, robotically assisted medical procedures
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A surgical instrument comprising:
- an elongated structure having proximal and distal ends and a first lumen extending between the proximal and distal ends;
a surgical tool inserted within the first lumen, wherein the surgical tool has a distal end adapted with an end effector and a proximal end adapted with an interface for controllably manipulating the end effector for performing a medical procedure;
a balloon disposed around an outer surface of the elongated structure; and
an expandable retractor disposed around an outer surface of the balloon, wherein the expandable retractor is configured so that the expandable retractor is expandable by expansion of the balloon, locked without external support in an expanded configuration by the balloon being expanded to sufficient volume, and remains locked without external support in the expanded configuration even after the balloon is deflated and no longer contacts an inner surface of the expandable retractor.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A single port entry surgical instrument has an elongated structure with lumens through which surgical tools and an image capturing device may be inserted and controllably extended out of its distal end for performing a medical procedure, a tubular-shaped balloon disposed around the elongated structure, and an expandable retractor disposed around the balloon so that when the balloon is inflated, the retractor expands and locks in an expanded configuration to retract extraneous tissue. The port entry may be secured using the expandable retractor or sealed using another inflatable balloon disposed around the proximal end of the elongated structure and centered in the port entry.
83 Citations
10 Claims
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1. A surgical instrument comprising:
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an elongated structure having proximal and distal ends and a first lumen extending between the proximal and distal ends; a surgical tool inserted within the first lumen, wherein the surgical tool has a distal end adapted with an end effector and a proximal end adapted with an interface for controllably manipulating the end effector for performing a medical procedure; a balloon disposed around an outer surface of the elongated structure; and an expandable retractor disposed around an outer surface of the balloon, wherein the expandable retractor is configured so that the expandable retractor is expandable by expansion of the balloon, locked without external support in an expanded configuration by the balloon being expanded to sufficient volume, and remains locked without external support in the expanded configuration even after the balloon is deflated and no longer contacts an inner surface of the expandable retractor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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Specification