EP0573273A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus and method for developing an anatomic space for laparoscopic hernia repair and patch for use therewith
Assignee: Mallinckrodt Enterprises Holdings Inc
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Filing: 1993-06-02
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2013-06-02
Abstract
Abstract Laparoscopic apparatus (31) and method for insertion into a space or potential space in a body comprising an introducer device (32) having a tubular member (33) with a bore (34) extending therethrough. A tunneling shaft assembly (46) is provided and is slidably mounted in the bore (34) of the introducer device (32). The tunneling shaft assembly (46) includes a tunneling shaft (47) having proximal (48) and distal (49) extremities. A tunneling member (79) is mounted on the distal extremity of the tunneling shaft (47). A balloon assembly (86) is provided which is removably secured to the tunneling shaft (47). The balloon assembly (86) includes a balloon (87) wrapped about said tunneling shaft (47). A sheath (106) is provided which encloses the balloon (87) on the tunneling shaft (47). The sheath (106) has a slit (108) extending longitudinally thereof permitting the sheath (106) to be removed whereby the balloon (87) can be released and inflated. A tubular member (96) is provided which has a balloon inflation lumen (97) thereon and is coupled to the balloon (87) for inflating said balloon (87).
Inventors
- 👤 Maciej J. Kieturakis
- 👤 Kenneth H. Mollenauer
- 👤 Michelle Y. Monfort
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-22 22:56
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/32; A61B17/320016; A61B17/02; A61B17/0218; A61B18/00; A61B18/04; A61B18/08; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/0063; A61M; A61M25/00; A61M25/01; A61M25/06; A61M25/0662; A61M25/0668; A61M25/10; A61M25/1002; A61M29/00; A61M29/02; A61B17/34; A61B17/3417; A61B17/3421; A61B17/3439; A61B2017/00535; A61B2017/00557; A61B2017/320044; A61B2017/320048; A61B90/00; A61B90/08; A61B2090/0813; A61B90/36; A61B90/361; A61F2002/0072
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
163 words
An apparatus for creating an anatomic space in tissue in a body comprising an introducer device having a tubular member with a bore extending therethrough, a tunneling shaft assembly slidably mounted in the bore of the introducer device, said tunneling shaft assembly including a tunneling shaft having proximal and distal extremities, a balloon assembly, means carried by the balloon assembly for removably securing the balloon assembly to the tunneling shaft, said balloon assembly including a balloon wrapped about said tunneling shaft, a sheath enclosing said balloon and carried by said tunneling shaft, said sheath having a weakened region extending longitudinally thereof permitting said sheath to be removed to release the balloon and means forming a balloon inflation lumen coupled to said balloon for inflating said balloon to cause the balloon to progressively unwrap and attempt to lie in a plane and to expand to create separation forces in the tissue generally perpendicular to the plane of the balloon to create the anatomic space.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
64 words
An apparatus as in Claim 1 further comprising a first obturator slidably mounted on said tunneling shaft and having proximal and distal extremities, the distal extremity thereof having a rounded tip, said tunneling member serving as a second obturator, said first and second obturators being of a size so that said first and second obturators and said tunneling shaft can pass through said bore.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
246 words
An apparatus as in Claim 1 or Claim 2 further comprising a handle secured to said introducer device, said handle being comprised of first, second and third sections, means securing said first section to said tubular member, said first section having a bore therein in alignment with the bore in the tubular member, a valve member mounted in said first section and movable between first and second position and in the first position sealing the bore in said first section and in the second position permitting free access through the bore, latch means carried by the second section for releasably latching said second section to said first section and latch means carried by the third section for releasably latching the third section to the second section, means securing said tunneling shaft to said third section, said third section being detachable from said second section to permit retraction of the tunneling shaft to permit the tunneling member carried by the tunneling shaft to be withdrawn and brought into engagement with the obturator and to thereby remove the obturator from the tubular member of the introducer device, said obturator including means for operating the latch means of the second section to cause the second section to be released from the first section to permit the tunneling rod and the obturator to be withdrawn at the same time from the introducer device solely by retraction of the tunneling rod as it is withdrawn by movement of the third section.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
71 words
An apparatus as in any preceding claim wherein said means for removably securing said balloon assembly to said tunneling shaft includes a sleeve extending longitudinally of the balloon, said sleeve having a passage therein, said tunneling shaft being disposed in said passage, said sleeve having a weakened region extending longitudinally thereof permitting said balloon assembly to be removed from said tunneling shaft by separation of the sleeve at the weakened section.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
65 words
A sheath assembly for use with a hand comprising an elongate tubular member formed of a relatively flexible material forming a sheath, said tubular member having a weakened region extending longitudinally thereof, said sheath having a proximal extremity and finger means secured to the proximal extremity of the sheath to permit a finger of the hand to engage the sheath for retraction of the same.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
70 words
A balloon assembly comprising first and second sheets of a non-elastomeric material, means bonding the outer margins of the sheets of material to each other to form an enclosed space, a tubular member extending into the balloon and having a balloon inflation lumen extending therein 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.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
98 words
A method of separating a first layer of tissue from a second layer of tissue for creating an anatomic operating space for the performance of a surgical procedure comprising: making an incision through the first layer of tissue; introducing a deflated balloon into the incision; inflating the balloon to cause separation of the first layer of tissue from the second layer of tissue thereby producing an anatomic operating space; def lating the balloon; removing the balloon from the incision; inflating the anatomic operating space with an insufflation gas; and performing a surgical procedure in the anatomic operating space.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
168 words
A method as in Claim 7 for laparoscopic hernia repair through a preperitoneal space in a body having an abdominal cavity with an abdominal wall and a peritoneum overlying the abdominal cavity, the abdominal wall and the peritoneum being adjacent to each other and being interconnected by tissue forming a natural separation plane and a preperitoneal area overlying the peritoneum, wherein the step of making an incision through the first layer of tissue is made by making an incision in the abdominal wall opening into the preperitoneal area, wherein the deflated balloon is introduced into the preperitoneal area and wherein inflating of the balloon to cause separation of the first layer of tissue from the second layer of tissue thereby producing an anatomic operating space is accomplished by inflating the balloon to cause dissection of the tissue in the preperitoneal area along the natural separation plane to create a dissected preperitoneal space together with the step of deflating the dissected preperitoneal space after completion of the surgical procedure.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
52 words
A method as in Claim 7 for repairing a hernia by means of a piece of mesh placed over the site of the hernia wherein the surgical procedure includes placing the piece of mesh over the site of the hernia and attaching the piece of mesh around the site of the hernia.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
65 words
A method as in Claim 8 for use with a member having a blunt distal extremity wherein the step of introducing a balloon in a deflated condition into the preperitoneal area includes utilizing the member with a blunt end to expose the natural separation plane and for introducing the balloon into the natural separation plane so that it is disposed in the natural separation plane.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
79 words
A method as in Claim 8 wherein the balloon is carried by the member having a blunt distal extremity and wherein the balloon is enclosed within a removable sheath and wherein the step of introducing the deflated balloon into the preperitoneal area includes introducing the balloon into the natural separation plane in the preperitoneal area while it is enclosed in the sheath together with the step of removing the sheath through the incision to permit inflation of the balloon.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
WO1992021295A1
Cited
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