# US 5,702,417 A · Balloon loaded dissecting instruments

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- Number: US 5,702,417 A
- Document ID: US5702417A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/447,124
- Filed: 1995-05-22
- Granted: 1997-12-30
- Earliest claimed: 1995-05-22
- Assignees: General Surgical Innovations, Inc.
- Inventors: George D. Hermann
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5702417A

## CPC

- A61M 25/0194: {Tunnelling catheters}
- A61B 1/00082: {Balloons}
- A61B 1/00154: {using guiding arrangements for insertion}
- A61B 17/00008: {Vein tendon strippers (tube strippers A61M1/83)}
- A61B 17/0218: {for minimally invasive surgery (A61B17/0281, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence)}
- A61M 25/104: {used for angioplasty}
- A61M 29/02: Dilators made of swellable material {(balloon catheters for angioplasty A61M25/104)}
- A61B 2017/00243: {cardiac}
- A61B 2017/00557: {inflatable (A61B2017/22051 takes precedence)}
- A61B 2017/22072: {with an instrument channel, e.g. for replacing one instrument by the other}
- A61B 2017/320044: {Blunt dissectors}
- A61M 25/10: Balloon catheters ({A61M25/0125 takes precedence; embolectomy A61B17/22032; retractors A61B17/02;} inflatable balloons for placing stents or stent-grafts A61F2/958 {; stomach balloons for treatment of obesity A61F5/0003; oesophagal tubes A61J15/00})
- A61M 2025/09183: {having tools at the distal tip}
- A61M 2025/1093: {having particular tip characteristics}
- A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)}
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)

## Abstract

Balloon loaded dissection devices with elongate balloon and a pushing member are disclosed for creating a tunnel alongside an elongate vessel in the body. The devices may utilize an elongate balloon of any suitable length which may be formed of an elastic or non-elastic material. The balloon may be of double walled construction and may be provided with a central lumen which may receive a guide rod, scope or other surgical instrument. The device may have a support tube secured to the inner wall of the balloon to provide columnar support for the apparatus. The support tube receives the guide rod, scope or other surgical instrument and may have a stop member to translate pushing force applied to the guide rod or scope to pushing force on the apparatus. By using the guide rod or scope as a pushing member the apparatus may be advanced alongside the vessel it is desired to dissect free from attached tissue. A balloon cover which may be elastic or resilient is provided to surround the balloon and facilitate compression of the balloon after it is deflated.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of dissecting layers of tissue to create a working space between the tissue layers, said method comprising:
providing an elongate balloon tube and a substantially rigid pushing member disposed within the balloon tube, the pushing member being coupled to the balloon tube;
inserting the balloon tube between the layers of tissue;
pushing the balloon tube by pushing the pushing member along a path to be dissected between the layers of tissues; and
inflating the balloon tube before the balloon tube is inserted between the tissue layers to cause the balloon tube to expand and create the working space between the layers of tissue.

### Claim 2

A method of dissecting layers of tissue to create a working space between the tissue layers, said method comprising:
providing an elongate balloon tube and a substantially rigid pushing member disposed within the balloon tube, the pushing member being coupled to the balloon tube;
providing a balloon cover surrounding the balloon tube;
inserting the balloon tube between the layers of tissue;
pushing the balloon tube by pushing the pushing member along a path to be dissected between the layers of tissue;
removing the balloon cover from the balloon tube after the balloon tube has been pushed between the tissue layers along the path to be dissected; and
inflating the balloon tube to cause the balloon tube to expand and create the working space between the layers of tissue.

### Claim 3

A method of dissecting layers of tissue to create a working space between the tissue layers, said method comprising:
providing an elongate balloon tube and a substantially rigid pushing member disposed within the balloon tube, the pushing member being coupled to the balloon tube;
inserting the balloon tube between the layers of tissue;
pushing the balloon tube by pushing the pushing member along a path to be dissected between the layers of tissue;
inserting an endoscope into a central lumen in the balloon tube and viewing the path between the tissue layers through the endoscope as the balloon tube is pushed between the tissue layers along the path to be dissected; and
inflating the balloon tube to cause the balloon tube to expand and create the working space between the layers of tissue.

### Claim 4

A method of dissecting layers of tissue to create a working space between the tissue layers, said method comprising:
providing an elongate balloon tube and a substantially rigid pushing member disposed within the balloon tube, the pushing member being coupled to the balloon tube;
inserting the balloon tube between the layers of tissue;
pushing the balloon tube by pushing the pushing member alongside the saphenous vein in the leg; and
inflating the balloon tube to cause the balloon tube to expand to dissect the saphenous vein free from connective tissues.

### Claim 5

A method of dissecting layers of tissue to create a working space between the tissue layers, said method comprising:
providing an elongate balloon tube and a substantially rigid pushing member disposed within the balloon tube, the pushing member being coupled to the balloon tube;
inserting the balloon tube between the layers of tissue;
pushing the balloon tube by pushing the pushing member along a path to be dissected between the layers of tissue;
inflating the balloon tube to cause the balloon tube to expand and create the working space;
deflating the balloon tube;
repositioning the balloon tube by moving the balloon tube between the tissue layers along the path to be dissected to a point remote from the point where the balloon tube was first inflated; and
inflating the balloon tube again to selectively enlarge the working space between the layers of tissue.