Balloon dissecting instruments

Abstract

Balloon loaded dissection devices and methods for using such devices are disclosed. One such device includes an elongate shaft having sufficient rigidity to push through body tissue free of naturally occurring openings in the body tissue alongside an elongate structure, a handle operably mounted on an end of the elongate shaft, an elongate balloon capable of assuming deflated and inflated states on the elongate shaft, and a fluid passageway in communication with the inflatable interior space in the elongate balloon for communicating an inflation fluid to the elongate balloon. The handle includes a receptacle configured to releasably receive an instrument. The receptacle defines an elongated slot laterally spaced from the elongated shaft. The elongate balloon includes an axial length substantially greater than a transverse diameter of the elongate balloon when the elongate balloon is in the inflated state. The balloon defines an inflatable interior space into which a fluid is introduced to inflate the balloon.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.