ENDOSCOPIC BALLOON TISSUE DISSECTOR AND RETRACTOR

• US 20120016196A1
• Filed: 09/26/2011
• Published: 01/19/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Parviz Kambin, Sheila P. Kambin
• Original Assignee: Parviz Kambin, Sheila P. Kambin
• Inventors: Kambin, Parviz, Kambin, Sheila P.
• Granted Patent: US 8,246,646 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/106
• 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 17/32 Surgical cutting instruments A61B18/042 takes precedence; suture cutters A61B17/0467; instruments for ligaturing or cutting A61B17/128; instruments for rupturing the amniotic membrane A61B17/4208; specially adapted knives for eye surgery A61F9/0133
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/34 Trocars; Puncturing needles pointed biopsy instruments A61B10/0233; devices for piercing the ear-lobes A44C7/001; seals or hemostasis valves A61M39/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00685 Archimedes screw
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00907 for light
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22038 with a guide wire
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320048 Balloon dissectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/347 Locking means, e.g. for locking instrument in cannula

Abstract

In endoscopic surgery, a retractor having independently spreadable retractor blades mounted at the distal end of a tube is introduced percutaneously. A balloon dissector is passed through the tube and expanded. Following dissection by expansion of the balloon, the balloon is contracted, the tube is advanced, and the dissected tissue is spread by moving the blades apart from each other. The balloon dissector is withdrawn and another instrument is then introduced to carry out surgery on the anatomical structure exposed by the dissection and spreading steps.

Claims

1. A surgical method comprising the steps of:

percutaneously introducing an elongated first tube having proximal and distal ends, the tube having an internal passage for insertion of an instrument through the tube, and two retractor blades in opposed relationship to each other and extending distally from the distal end of the tube;

positioning a balloon, connected to a distal end of an elongated second tube extending through said internal passage, at a location distal with respect to the retractor blades;

expanding the balloon by introducing a fluid into the interior of the balloon, thereby causing dissection of tissue at the location of the balloon;

at least partially contracting the balloon;

by moving the elongated first tube in the distal direction, causing the blades to move into a space created by the dissection of tissue by the balloon;

spreading of the dissected tissue by moving at least one of the blades apart from the other;

withdrawing the elongated second tube from the internal passage of the elongated first tube; and

while using the blades to maintain the dissected tissue in a spread condition, introducing another instrument through the internal passage of the first tube for surgery on anatomical structure exposed by the dissection and spreading steps.

2. A surgical method according to claim 1, in which the balloon is transparent, and, during the step of expanding the balloon, tissue at the location of the balloon is visualized through the balloon by transmitting an image of tissue at the location of the balloon through an image transmitter in a shaft extending through the elongated second tube to the interior of the balloon.

3. A surgical method according to claim 1, in which, in the spreading step, at least one blade is moved apart from the other blade independently of movement of the other blade.

4. A surgical method according to claim 1, in which the step of percutaneously introducing an elongated first tube is carried out by a series of steps including the step of passing an obturator having a blunt tip through a patient'"'"'s skin, passing a hollow cannula over the obturator;

withdrawing the obturator; and

introducing the elongated first tube through the hollow cannula.

5. A surgical method according to claim 1, in which the step of percutaneously introducing an elongated first tube is carried out by a series of steps including the step of passing a pointed guide through a patient'"'"'s skin, passing a blunt-tipped obturator having a guide-wire channel over the guide wire;

removing the guide wire;

passing a hollow cannula over the obturator;

withdrawing the obturator; and

introducing the elongated first tube through the hollow cannula.