Surgical instrument stabilizer

In combination, a portal sleeve and a stabilizer for stabilizing the portal sleeve comprising

• a portal sleeve for being positioned to extend through an opening in an anatomical cavity wall and having a distal end for being positioned in the anatomical cavity, a proximal end for being positioned externally of the anatomical cavity and a longitudinal axis;
• and
• a stabilizer including body means having a distal end, said body means, including said distal end being, disposed on said portal sleeve for being moved longitudinally, distally along said portal sleeve and into the opening;
• an expandable portion carried by said body means for movement with said body means along said portal sleeve and into the opening, said expandable portion including a distal portion for being disposed adjacent an internal surface of the cavity wall, said expandable portion being movable from a contracted position wherein said expandable portion is disposed close to said portal sleeve to facilitate insertion of said body means in and withdrawal of said body means from the opening and being movable, while positioned in the opening, from said contracted position to an expanded position wherein said expandable portion is disposed further away from said portal sleeve to engage the cavity wall, said expandable portion including a balloon inflatable to said expanded position to engage the internal surface of the anatomical cavity wall at said expandable portion distal portion;
• and means carried by said body means for moving said expandable portion between said contracted and expanded positions.

In combination, a portal sleeve and a stabilizer for stabilizing the portal sleeve comprising

• a portal sleeve for being positioned to extend through an opening in an anatomical cavity wall and having a distal end for being positioned in the anatomical cavity, a proximal end for being positioned externally of the anatomical cavity and a longitudinal axis;
• and
• a stabilizer including body means having a distal end, said body means, including said distal end, being disposed on said portal sleeve for being moved longitudinally, distally along said portal sleeve and into the opening;
• an expandable portion carried by said body means for movement with said body means along said portal sleeve and into the opening, said expandable portion including a distal portion and a proximal portion, said expandable portion having a length to position said expandable portion distal portion adjacent an internal surface of the cavity wall and said expandable portion proximal portion adjacent an external surface of the cavity wall, said expandable portion being movable from a contracted position wherein said expandable portion is disposed close to said portal sleeve to facilitate insertion of said body means in and withdrawal of said body means from the opening and being movable, while positioned in the opening, from said contracted position to an expanded position wherein said expandable portion is disposed further away from said portal sleeve to engage the cavity wall, said expandable portion expanding radially in said expanded position along the length of said expandable portion to engage the anatomical cavity wall along the thickness thereof between the internal and external surfaces;
• and means carried by said body means for moving said expandable portion between said contracted and expanded positions.

In combination, a portal sleeve and a stabilizer for stabilizing the portal sleeve comprising

• a portal sleeve for being positioned to extend through an anatomical cavity wall and having a distal end for being disposed in the anatomical cavity and a proximal end for being disposed externally of the anatomical cavity;
• and
• a stabilizer including body means comprising a first tubular member having a distal end, said tubular member, including said distal end, being disposed on said portal sleeve and movable in a longitudinal direction along said portal sleeve for being inserted in the cavity wall;
• a balloon carried by said body means and formed by a second tubular member receiving said first tubular member, said balloon being movable between a contracted position wherein said balloon is disposed along said body means for facilitating insertion of said body means in the cavity wall and an expanded position wherein said balloon is disposed outwardly from said body means for resisting withdrawal of said body means and said portal sleeve from the cavity wall and means communicating with said balloon for supplying fluid to and allowing removal of fluid from said balloon to move said balloon between said contracted and expanded positions.

A method of establishing an endoscopic portal in a wall of an anatomical cavity comprising the steps of

• positioning a portal sleeve to extend through the cavity wall into the cavity;
• advancing a stabilizer movable between a contracted position and an expanded position distally along the portal sleeve into the cavity wall with the stabilizer in the contracted position, said advancing step including moving the stabilizer to a position where a distal portion of the stabilizer is disposed within the cavity adjacent an internal surface of the cavity wall;
• and
• moving the stabilizer from the contracted position to the expanded position to engage the cavity wall and hold the portal sleeve in the cavity wall, said moving step including expanding the stabilizer at the distal portion to engage the internal surface of the cavity wall.

A method of establishing an endoscopic portal in a wall of an anatomical cavity comprising the steps of

• positioning a portal sleeve to extend through the cavity wall into the cavity;
• advancing a stabilizer movable between a contracted position and an expanded position distally along the portal sleeve into the cavity wall with the stabilizer in the contracted position;
• and
• moving the stabilizer from the contracted position to the expanded position to engage the cavity wall and hold the portal sleeve in the cavity wall, said moving step including expanding the stabilizer to engage tissue along the thickness of the cavity wall.

A method of establishing an endoscopic, portal in a wall of an anatomical cavity comprising the steps of

• positioning a portal sleeve to extend through the cavity wall into the cavity;
• advancing a stabilizer movable between a contracted position and an expanded position distally along the portal sleeve into the cavity wall with the stabilizer in the contracted position;
• and
• moving the stabilizer from the contracted position to the expanded position to engage the cavity wall and hold the portal sleeve in the cavity wall, said moving step including inflating a balloon carried by the stabilizer.