Harness and balloon catheter assembly and method for use in anastomosis procedures
AssigneeEthicon Endo-Surgery, Inc.
InventorsWilliam Weisenburgh, Christopher Hess, James Voegele, Robert Gill, Muta Issa
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Disclosed is an instrument, assembly, and method for use in a procedure to effect anastomosis of a patient's bladder and urethra following a prostatectomy. The instrument comprises a tube assembly having an end effector assembly operably supported thereby, where the end effector assembly includes a harness adapted to receive a balloon portion of a balloon catheter assembly.
Claims20
An instrument for use in a procedure to effect anastomosis of a patient's bladder and urethra following a prostatectomy, comprising:
- a tube assembly, comprising a spine member, a first rod, and a second rod, wherein said rods are movable with respect each other and to said spine member;
- an end effector assembly operably supported by said tube assembly, further comprising:
- a positioner assembly in operable mechanical communication with said first rod so as to be actuable by movement of said first rod with respect to said spine member;
- an anchor driver assembly in operable mechanical communication with said second rod so as to be actuable by movement of said second rod with respect to said spine member;
- an anchor releasably held by said anchor driver assembly for insertion from within the bladder lumen through the bladder wall into the pelvic floor;
- and
- a harness releasably held by said end effector assembly, wherein said harness is attached to said anchor and is adapted to retain a balloon portion of a balloon catheter assembly.
An assembly placed within a patient's bladder for effecting the anastomosis of the patient's bladder and urethra following a prostatectomy, comprising:
- an anchor installed through the bladder wall and into the pelvic floor;
- a harness attached to said anchor;
- and
- a balloon catheter having a balloon portion and a catheter tube portion;
- wherein said balloon portion is inserted into said harness and inflated.
A method for effecting the anastomosis of a patient's bladder and pelvic floor following a prostatectomy, comprising the steps of:
- urging the bladder wall proximate to the bladder opening toward the pelvic floor proximate to the urethra opening;
- driving an anchor, having attached thereto a harness, into and through the bladder wall and into the pelvic floor, and thereby affixing said harness within the bladder at a location proximate to the bladder opening;
- inflating a balloon within said harness, and thereby applying pressure against the bladder wall proximate to the bladder opening to urge the bladder wall into contact with the pelvic floor at a location proximate to the urethra opening;
- maintaining said harness and said balloon in place within the patient for a period of time sufficient for the tissues of the bladder wall and pelvic floor to effectively knit;
- and
- removing said balloon from the patient.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.