US5496345A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Expansible tunneling apparatus for creating an anatomic working space
Assignee: Mallinckrodt Enterprises Holdings Inc
•
Filing: 1994-10-17
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Granted: 1996-03-05
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Expires: 2014-10-17
Abstract
Abstract An expansible tunneling apparatus for tunneling bluntly to a desired location within the human body and for creating an anatomic working space for the performance of a surgical procedure by utilizing an inflatable balloon to dissect tissue along natural separation planes once the desired space has been reached. In a disclosed embodiment, a tubular member has a bore extending therethrough to provide an open distal end. A rigid tunneling shaft is insertable into the bore of the tubular member to provide a blunt tipped obturator. A balloon associated with the apparatus is disposed such that it surrounds the tunneling shaft when the balloon is deflated, as it would be when tunneling bluntly through tissue. A sheath surrounds the balloon and has a weakened region that permits the sheath to be released thereby permitting the balloon to expand to dissect tissue layers and create the anatomic working space. A balloon inflation lumen may be utilized to supply an appropriate balloon inflation medium to inflate the balloon.
Inventors
- 👤 Maciej J. Kieturakis
- 👤 Kenneth H. Mollenauer
- 👤 Michelle Y. Monfort
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 09:43
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: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
167 words
An expansible tunneling apparatus for creating an anatomic working space in a body comprising: a substantially rigid tubular member having a bore therein and an open distal end; a rigid tunneling shaft having a blunt distal end for tunneling bluntly through tissue in the body, said rigid shaft slidably receivable in said bore of said tubular member wherein said blunt distal end of said tunneling shaft extends through and beyond said open distal end to form, together with said tubular member, a blunt tipped obturator for tunneling through tissue in the body; a balloon, said balloon being deflated and formed into a roll surrounding said tunneling shaft during tunneling through tissue; a sheath surrounding at least a portion of said deflated balloon and said tunneling shaft, said sheath being provided with a weakened region to permit said sheath to separate from said deflated balloon thereby releasing said balloon; and means for inflating said deflated balloon after tunneling to a desired location to create the anatomic working space.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
167 words
An expansible tunneling apparatus for creating an anatomic working space in a body comprising: a substantially rigid tubular member having a bore therein and an open distal end; a rigid tunneling shaft having a blunt distal end for tunneling bluntly through tissue in the body, said rigid shaft slidably receivable in said bore of said tubular member wherein said blunt distal end of said tunneling shaft extends through and beyond said open distal end to form, together with said tubular member, a blunt tipped obturator for tunneling through tissue in the body; a balloon, said balloon being deflated and formed into a roll surrounding said tunneling shaft during tunneling through tissue; a sheath surrounding at least a portion of said deflated balloon and said tunneling shaft, said sheath being provided with a weakened region to permit said sheath to separate from said deflated balloon thereby releasing said balloon; and means for inflating said deflated balloon after tunneling to a desired location to create the anatomic working space.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said balloon is a non-elastomeric balloon formed from two sheets of non-elastomeric material having outer margins, said balloon formed by sealing said sheets together at said outer margins.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said balloon is formed or a non-elastomeric material and assumes a manta-ray shape when inflated.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said weakened region comprises a series of spaced apart perforations running longitudinally of said sheath.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said shaft, in cooperation with said sheath provides said obturator with a blunt enclosed end.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising means for introducing an insufflation gas into the working space.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said inflation means comprises a balloon inflation lumen extending from said balloon and a fitting attached to said lumen for connecting to an inflation source.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
70 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an introducer for insertion into the body, said introducer comprising a housing having a bore extending therethrough and a hollow cylindrical member extending from said housing, sand housing bore in communication with a bore extending through said cylindrical member to provide a continuous bore through said introducer, said tubular member and sad tunneling shaft removably insertable through said continuous bore in said introducer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
105 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said introducer further comprises: a valve member mounted in said introducer housing, said valve member movable between a first position in which said housing bore is closed and a second position in which said housing bore is open; a seal mounted in said introducer housing proximal of said valve member and having a central opening in communication with said bore in said housing, said seal for engaging said tubular member to provide a substantially fluid tight seal therewith; and an insufflation port in communication with said continuous bore in said introducer for infusing insufflation gas into the working space.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
187 words
A tunneling apparatus for creating an anatomic working space comprising: an introducer comprising a housing having an internal bore formed therein and a cylindrical member extending distally from said housing, said cylindrical member having a bore in communication with said bore in said housing, said housing further comprising: a valve member mounted in said housing, said valve movable between a first position in which said bore in said housing is closed and a second position in which said bore is open; and a seal mounted in said housing proximally of said valve; a rigid shaft for tunneling through tissue in a body, said shaft removably insertable through said seal and said valve in said housing and into said bore in said cylindrical member, said shaft having a blunt distal end having a shape selected from the group consisting of substantially hemispherical and substantially ellipsoidal; a balloon, said balloon being deflated and surrounding said shaft wherein said deflated balloon and said shaft form an obturator for tunneling through tissue; and means for inflating said deflated balloon after tunneling to a desired location to create the anatomic working space.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
187 words
A tunneling apparatus for creating an anatomic working space comprising: an introducer comprising a housing having an internal bore formed therein and a cylindrical member extending distally from said housing, said cylindrical member having a bore in communication with said bore in said housing, said housing further comprising: a valve member mounted in said housing, said valve movable between a first position in which said bore in said housing is closed and a second position in which said bore is open; and a seal mounted in said housing proximally of said valve; a rigid shaft for tunneling through tissue in a body, said shaft removably insertable through said seal and said valve in said housing and into said bore in said cylindrical member, said shaft having a blunt distal end having a shape selected from the group consisting of substantially hemispherical and substantially ellipsoidal; a balloon, said balloon being deflated and surrounding said shaft wherein said deflated balloon and said shaft form an obturator for tunneling through tissue; and means for inflating said deflated balloon after tunneling to a desired location to create the anatomic working space.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said cylindrical member has an open distal end and said blunt distal end of said shaft extends through and beyond said open distal end during tunneling through tissue in a body.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said valve member is a flapper valve.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said balloon is formed from an elastomeric material.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said balloon is a shaped balloon formed from a non-elastomeric material.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said non-elastomeric shaped balloon is formed from two sheets of non-elastomeric material having outer margins, said balloon formed by sealing said sheets together at said outer margins.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said balloon assumes a substantially manta-ray shape when inflated.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
54 words
The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising a tubular member having a bore extending therethrough, said tubular member insertable through said bores in said housing and said cylindrical member and extending beyond a distal end of said cylindrical member when fully inserted, said tunneling shaft slidably receivable in said bore of said tubular member.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
76 words
The apparatus of either claim 10 or claim 11 wherein said deflated balloon is formed into a generally cylindrical roll and wherein the apparatus further comprises a sheath surrounding at least a portion of said rolled deflated balloon and said shaft, said sheath having a weakened region extending longitudinally thereof to permit said sheath to separate from said rolled deflated balloon so that said balloon can unroll and progressively expand to create the anatomic working space.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said blunt distal end is substantially hemispherical.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said blunt distal end is substantially ellipsoidal.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-03-05 | 1999-09-04 | 2000-03-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-03-05 | 2003-09-04 | 2004-03-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-03-05 | 2007-09-04 | 2008-03-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |