Surgical instrument that enables access to a region of interest

A surgical instrument system comprising:

• a navigation probe that enables a region of interest to be located within a tissue;
• a multi-lumen catheter configured to receive the navigation probe,
• wherein the multi-lumen catheter comprises:
• a first lumen configured to enable a flow of a fluid,
• a second lumen configured to receive the navigation probe, and
• an expandable membrane situated toward a distal end of the first lumen to form an expandable cavity,
• wherein the expandable cavity is configured to expand or contract based on the flow of the fluid through the first lumen;
• a fluid line, coupled to the first lumen, that is configured to:
• supply the fluid to the first lumen to enable the expandable cavity to expand, or
• withdraw the fluid from the first lumen to enable the expandable cavity to contract;
• and
• a surgical sheath configured to be received within the tissue when the expandable cavity is expanded,
• wherein the expandable membrane, when the expandable cavity is expanded and the surgical sheath is received within the tissue, is received within the surgical sheath.

A surgical procedure associated with accessing a region of interest comprising:

• creating an incision in a tissue;
• inserting a multi-lumen catheter with a navigation probe in the incision in the tissue,
• wherein the multi-lumen catheter comprises:
• a first lumen configured to enable a flow of a fluid,
• a second lumen configured to receive the navigation probe, and
• an expandable membrane situated to form an expandable cavity based on the flow of the fluid;
• locating the region of interest using the navigation probe;
• supplying, via the first lumen, the fluid to the expandable cavity,
• wherein the fluid is supplied to the expandable cavity to cause the expandable membrane to apply a relatively uniform force against the tissue of the incision;
• inserting a surgical sheath within the incision and over the expandable membrane;
• withdrawing the fluid from the expandable cavity;
• and
• removing the multi-lumen catheter from the surgical sheath to create a corridor of access, through the surgical sheath, to the region of interest.

A surgical instrument system comprising:

• a navigation probe that enables a region of interest to be located within a tissue;
• a multi-lumen catheter configured to receive the navigation probe,
• wherein the multi-lumen catheter comprises:
• a first lumen configured to enable a flow of a first fluid,
• a second lumen configured to receive the navigation probe, and
• a first expandable membrane situated toward a distal end of the first lumen to form a first expandable cavity,
• wherein the first expandable cavity is configured to expand or contract based on the flow of the first fluid through the first lumen;
• a primary fluid line, coupled to the first lumen, that is configured to:
• supply the first fluid to the first lumen to enable the first expandable cavity to expand, or
• withdraw the first fluid from the first lumen to enable the first expandable cavity to contract;
• and
• a second expandable membrane to form a second expandable cavity,
• wherein the second expandable membrane is coaxial to the first expandable membrane at the distal end of the first lumen, and
• wherein the second expandable cavity is configured to expand or contract based on a flow of second fluid to or from the second expandable cavity;
• a secondary fluid line, coupled to the second expandable cavity, that is configured to:
• supply the second fluid to the second expandable cavity to cause the second expandable cavity to expand, or
• withdraw the second fluid from the first lumen to enable the second expandable cavity to contract;
• and
• a surgical sheath configured to be received within a tubular structure formed by the second expandable cavity when the second expandable cavity is expanded,
• wherein the surgical sheath is configured to form a corridor of access to the region of interest.

A surgical procedure associated with accessing a region of interest comprising:

• creating an incision in a tissue;
• inserting a surgical instrument with a navigation probe in the incision in the tissue,
• wherein the surgical instrument comprises:
• a multi-lumen catheter that includes:
• a first lumen configured to enable a flow of first fluid,
• a second lumen configured to receive the navigation probe, and
• a first expandable membrane situated to form a first expandable cavity based on the flow of the first fluid, and
• a second expandable membrane situated to form a second expandable cavity based on a flow of a second fluid;
• locating the region of interest using the navigation probe;
• supplying, via a primary fluid line coupled to the first lumen, the first fluid to the first expandable cavity,
• wherein the first fluid is supplied to the first expandable cavity to cause the second expandable membrane to apply a relatively uniform force against the tissue of the incision;
• supplying, via a second fluid line coupled to the second expandable cavity, the second fluid to the second expandable cavity,
• wherein the second fluid is supplied to the second expandable cavity to cause the second expandable membrane to form a tubular structure that provides a flexible barrier between the tissue and the first expandable cavity;
• withdrawing the first fluid from the first expandable cavity to reduce friction between the first expandable membrane and the tubular structure formed by the second expandable membrane;
• removing the multi-lumen catheter from the tubular structure without removing the second expandable membrane from the incision;
• and
• inserting a surgical sheath into the tubular structure to create a corridor of access, through the surgical sheath, to the region of interest.