Patent US5562603A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5562603A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Endoscopic inflatable retraction device with fluid-tight elastomeric window
Assignee: Covidien AG
•
Filing: 1995-06-05
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Granted: 1996-10-08
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Expires: 2015-06-05
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus is described for laparoscopically retracting an organ inside the body to provide surgical access to adjacent tissue. The apparatus includes a thin, flexible envelope which encloses a chamber. The envelope is laparoscopically insertable in a collapsed state into a body cavity, and the chamber is inflatable to an expanded state following introduction of the envelope into the body. Inflation of the chamber causes retraction of adjacent tissue. An elastomeric seal is insertable into the chamber following inflation and is attachable to part of the envelope inside the chamber following inflation of the chamber. The seal provides a gas-tight seal to maintain the chamber in the expanded state, and to maintain the organ in the retracted state, notwithstanding the piercing of an aperture in the part of the envelope covered by the seal.
Inventors
- 👤 Frederic H. Moll
- 👤 Charles Gresl, Jr.
- 👤 Albert K. Chin
- 👤 Philip K. Hopper
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 04:41
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/34; A61B17/3417; A61B17/02; A61B17/0218; A61B17/0281; A61B17/22; A61B17/22031; A61B17/22032; A61B90/00; A61B90/50; A61B17/3462; A61B17/00234; A61B2017/00238; A61B2017/00261; A61B2017/00535; A61B2017/00557; A61B17/30; A61B2017/306; A61B17/32; A61B2017/320044; A61B2017/320048; A61B90/30; A61B2090/306
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
229 words
An apparatus for laparoscopically retracting an organ inside the body to provide access to an adjacent tissue for a surgical instrument, the apparatus comprising, in combination: a chamber enclosed by a thin, flexible envelope; means for selectively inflating the chamber to an expanded state following laparoscopic introduction of the envelope in a collapsed state into the body, inflation of the chamber to the expanded state retracting the organ to a retracted state, the chamber in the expanded state obstructing access of the surgical instrument to the tissue; and an elastomeric sealing means, adapted for attachment to part of the envelope inside the chamber following inflation of the chamber to the expanded state, for providing a gas-tight seal to maintain the chamber in the expanded state, and to maintain the organ in the retracted state, notwithstanding the piercing of an aperture in the part of the envelope covered by the elastomeric sealing means following inflation of the chamber to the expanded state and following attachment of the sealing means to the envelope, the aperture being pierced to provide access for the surgical instrument passed into the chamber to contact the tissue; and means for carrying the elastomeric sealing means from outside the body into the chamber and for attaching the elastomeric sealing means to a part of the envelope inside the chamber when the envelope is positioned inside the body.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
229 words
An apparatus for laparoscopically retracting an organ inside the body to provide access to an adjacent tissue for a surgical instrument, the apparatus comprising, in combination: a chamber enclosed by a thin, flexible envelope; means for selectively inflating the chamber to an expanded state following laparoscopic introduction of the envelope in a collapsed state into the body, inflation of the chamber to the expanded state retracting the organ to a retracted state, the chamber in the expanded state obstructing access of the surgical instrument to the tissue; and an elastomeric sealing means, adapted for attachment to part of the envelope inside the chamber following inflation of the chamber to the expanded state, for providing a gas-tight seal to maintain the chamber in the expanded state, and to maintain the organ in the retracted state, notwithstanding the piercing of an aperture in the part of the envelope covered by the elastomeric sealing means following inflation of the chamber to the expanded state and following attachment of the sealing means to the envelope, the aperture being pierced to provide access for the surgical instrument passed into the chamber to contact the tissue; and means for carrying the elastomeric sealing means from outside the body into the chamber and for attaching the elastomeric sealing means to a part of the envelope inside the chamber when the envelope is positioned inside the body.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the means for selectively inflating the chamber is also for providing a conduit for the surgical instrument to enter the chamber from outside the body.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
46 words
The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the elastomeric sealing means is for providing, when an aperture has been pierced in the part of the envelope covered by the elastomeric sealing means, a gas-tight seal with a surgical instrument passed out from the chamber through the aperture.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the elastomeric sealing means is for providing a fluid-tight seal with the tissue pulled into the chamber through the aperture for treatment by with the surgical instrument.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the elastomeric sealing means is for providing a fluid-tight seal with the surgical instrument passed from outside the body through the aperture into the chamber.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
99 words
The apparatus of claim 5, wherein: the elastomeric sealing means is a first elastomeric sealing means and is attached to a first part of the envelope, and the aperture pierced in the first part of the envelope is a first aperture; and the apparatus additionally comprises a second elastomeric sealing means, adapted for attachment to a second part of the envelope inside the chamber following inflation of the chamber to the expanded state, for providing a fluid-tight seal with the surgical instrument passed out of the chamber through a second aperture pierced in the second part of the envelope.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
103 words
The apparatus of claim 5, wherein: the elastomeric sealing means is a first elastomeric sealing means and is attached to a first part of the envelope, and the aperture pierced in the first part of the envelope is a first aperture; and the apparatus additionally comprises a second elastomeric sealing means adapted for attachment to a second part of the envelope inside the chamber following inflation of the chamber to the expanded state, for providing a fluid-tight seal with the tissue pulled into the chamber through a second aperture pierced in the second part of the envelope for treatment by the surgical instrument.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 1, additionally comprising tab means, located inside the chamber, for gripping by a gripping tool to change the position of the at least partly inflated chamber.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the tab means is attached to the envelope.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the tab means constitutes part of the envelope.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
48 words
The apparatus of claim 1, additionally comprising suction skirt means for providing drainage of the part of the body in which the apparatus is deployed, the suction skirt means being attached to part of the envelope that is substantially lower-most when the apparatus is deployed in the body.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the suction skirt means comprises an elongate tubular structure having a side-wall with plural holes formed therein, and two ends, at least one of the ends being adapted for connecting to a suction line.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 1, additionally comprising a flexible sheath means for providing a flexible passage to the chamber from outside the body, the flexible sheath means including a distal end affixed to the envelope.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
74 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the elastomeric sealing means includes: a ring having a first flat face, and a second flat face opposite the first flat face, the ring bounding an area; an elastomeric film attached to the first flat face of the ring, and covering the area bounded by the ring; and adhesive means, applied to the second flat face of the ring, for attaching the elastomeric sealing means to the envelope.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus of claim 14, wherein: the ring is flexible; and the elastomeric sealing means additionally includes compression means for compressing the ring between opposed points on the ring to enable the elastomeric sealing means to pass through a narrow passage.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said means for carrying the elastomeric sealing means includes rod means whereto the elastomeric sealing means, with the ring compressed by the compression means, is temporarily attached, for inserting the elastomeric sealing means into the chamber.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
278 words
An apparatus for laparoscopically retracting an organ inside the body to provide access to an adjacent tissue for a surgical instrument, the apparatus comprising, in combination: a chamber enclosed by a thin, flexible envelope; means for selectively inflating the chamber to an expanded state following laparoscopic introduction of the envelope in a collapsed state into the body, inflation of the chamber to the expanded state retracting the organ to a retracted state, the chamber in the expanded state obstructing access of the surgical instrument to the tissue; and an elastomeric sealing means, adapted for attachment to part of the envelope inside the chamber following inflation of the chamber to the expanded state, for providing a gas-tight seal to maintain the chamber in the expanded state, and to maintain the organ in the retracted state, notwithstanding the piercing of an aperture in the part of the envelope covered by the elastomeric sealing means following inflation of the chamber to the expanded state and following attachment of the sealing means to the envelope, the aperture being pierced to provide access for the surgical instrument passed into the chamber to contact the tissue, wherein the elastomeric sealing means includes a ring having a first flat face, and a second flat face opposite the first flat face, the ring bounding an area; an elastomeric film attached to the first flat face of the ring, and covering the area bounded by the ring; and adhesive means, applied to the second flat face of the ring, for attaching the elastomeric sealing means to the envelope, the adhesive means including a hot-melt adhesive; and wherein the ring includes heating means for heating the hot-melt adhesive.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
278 words
An apparatus for laparoscopically retracting an organ inside the body to provide access to an adjacent tissue for a surgical instrument, the apparatus comprising, in combination: a chamber enclosed by a thin, flexible envelope; means for selectively inflating the chamber to an expanded state following laparoscopic introduction of the envelope in a collapsed state into the body, inflation of the chamber to the expanded state retracting the organ to a retracted state, the chamber in the expanded state obstructing access of the surgical instrument to the tissue; and an elastomeric sealing means, adapted for attachment to part of the envelope inside the chamber following inflation of the chamber to the expanded state, for providing a gas-tight seal to maintain the chamber in the expanded state, and to maintain the organ in the retracted state, notwithstanding the piercing of an aperture in the part of the envelope covered by the elastomeric sealing means following inflation of the chamber to the expanded state and following attachment of the sealing means to the envelope, the aperture being pierced to provide access for the surgical instrument passed into the chamber to contact the tissue, wherein the elastomeric sealing means includes a ring having a first flat face, and a second flat face opposite the first flat face, the ring bounding an area; an elastomeric film attached to the first flat face of the ring, and covering the area bounded by the ring; and adhesive means, applied to the second flat face of the ring, for attaching the elastomeric sealing means to the envelope, the adhesive means including a hot-melt adhesive; and wherein the ring includes heating means for heating the hot-melt adhesive.
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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) | 1999-10-08 | 2000-04-08 | 2000-10-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-10-08 | 2004-04-08 | 2004-10-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-10-08 | 2008-04-08 | 2008-10-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |