Method of retracting bones
AssigneeGeneral Surgical Innovations, Inc.
InventorPeter Mark Bonutti
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fluid operated retractor for use in surgery. The retractor has a portion which is expandable upon the introduction of fluid under pressure. The expandable portion is made of a material strong enough, and is inflated to enough pressure, to spread adjoining tissues within the body. The retractor is especially useful in fiber optic surgery because it can be inserted percutaneously through a small opening then expanded to a much larger dimension when in the desired location, to retract tissue from within. The retractor may be used to spread a joint such as a knee joint or a shoulder joint, or may be used to separate tissue planes generally, to improve visualization and create a working space for the surgeon.
Claims22
A method of retracting a first bone from a second bone, the first and second bones being connected by cartilage, tendons and/or muscle, to create an operating space between the first and second bones, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a retractor comprising an inflatable bladder, the inflatable bladder being formed of a substantially inelastic material having sufficient strength to withstand inflation pressures sufficient to enable the bladder to retract the first bone from the second bone where the bones are connected to each other by cartilage, tendons and/or muscle;
- making an incision in a body proximate a location of the first and second bones, the incision providing access to the first and second bones;
- introducing the deflated bladder into the incision and directing the deflated bladder to the location of the first and second bones;
- positioning the deflated bladder between the first and second bones;
- and
- inflating the bladder to retract the first bone from the second bone against the counteracting tension provided by the cartilage, tendons and/or muscle to create the operating space.
A method of distracting a joint occurring between first and second bones to create an optical space, the first and second bones being attached to each other by connective tissue to form the joint, the method comprising:
- making an incision in a body adjacent a location of the joint to be distracted;
- providing a deflated bladder, the bladder being formed from a substantially inelastic material having sufficient strength to withstand inflation pressures sufficient to enable the bladder to distract the joint;
- inserting the deflated bladder into the incision and directing the bladder to the joint;
- positioning the bladder between the first and second bones within the joint;
- inflating the bladder within the joint to distract the joint to create an optical space between the first and second bones;
- and
- performing a surgical procedure in the optical space.
A method of retracting a first bone from a second bone, the first and second bones being connected by cartilage, tendons and/or muscle, to create an operating space between the first and second bones, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a retractor comprising an inflatable bladder in the form of a bellows having a plurality of folds, the bladder being formed of a substantially inelastic material;
- introducing the bladder in a deflated state between the first and second bones;
- and
- inflating the bladder to retract the first bone from the second bone against the counteracting tension provided by the cartilage, tendons and/or muscle to create the operating space.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.