Endoscopic retractor instrument and associated method
AssigneeGranit Medical Innovation, Inc.
InventorNaomi Nakao
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An endoscopic retractor is an elongate balloon having an expanded configuration having two end portions and a plurality of struts or spacer members extending between the end portions. The retractor balloon is a single tubular preform bent during manufacture to form the expanded configuration. Thus, the struts or spacer members are integral with both end portions and define therewith a single flow path for inflation or pressurization fluid.
Claims22
An endoscopic retractor comprising a unitary single-piece balloon having an expanded configuration with two end portions, said balloon being formed so that said expanded configuration has at least one spacer portion extending between said end portions.
An endoscopic retractor assembly comprising:
- an endoscopic instrument;
- a balloon or bladder having at least one inflatable end portion and at least one expandable or inflatable spacer portion connecting said end portion to said endoscopic instrument;
- and
- inflation means operatively coupled with said balloon or bladder for inflating said balloon or bladder from a collapsed configuration to an expanded use configuration in which said spacer portion pushes said end portions apart from one another.
An endoscopic retractor instrument comprising:
- a plurality of parts movably connected to one another;
- means for disposing said parts in a collapsed or reduced-size configuration at a distal end portion of an insertion member of an endoscope;
- and
- actuation means operatively connected to said parts for enabling a movement of said parts relative to one another so that said parts assume an enlarged or expanded configuration extending at least partially in a distal direction away from said distal end portion of said insertion member for spreading internal tissues of a patient to facilitate a visualization of said tissues via said endoscope.
A surgical retractor comprising an inflatable balloon including an at least partially spiral-shaped main body and at least one elongate portion connected to said main body.
A medical instrument comprising:
- a retractor;
- and
- means for attaching said retractor at least indirectly to an endoscopic instrument so that an expanded configuration said retractor retracts tissues located ahead of a distal tip of said endoscopic instrument to facilitate visualization.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.