Apparatus and method for developing an anatomic space for laparoscopic procedures with laparoscopic visualization

An apparatus for creating an anatomic working space between tissue layers in a body comprising:

• a cannula having a bore extending therethrough and a distal end;
• a hollow obturator having a bore extending therethrough, said obturator insertable through said cannula, said bore sized to accommodate a laparoscope, said obturator being formed of a transparent material;
• and
• a balloon carried by said hollow obturator, said balloon having a neck and an interior space in communication with said neck, said obturator extending through said cannula, said neck secured to said distal end of said cannula.

An apparatus for creating an anatomic working space between tissue layers in a body comprising:

• a cannula having a bore extending therethrough and a distal end;
• a hollow obturator extending through said cannula, said obturator having a bore extending therethrough and being formed of a transparent material;
• a balloon having a neck and an interior space in communication with said neck, said neck secured to said distal end of said cannula;
• a retainer for releasably securing said balloon to said obturator, wherein said balloon is formed with integral longitudinal extending portions which form a part of said retainer;
• and
• means for inflating said balloon after it is disposed between the tissue layers to cause said balloon to progressively expand to create the anatomic working space.

An apparatus for creating an anatomic working space between tissue layers in a body comprising:

• a cannula having a bore extending therethrough and a distal end;
• a hollow obturator extending through said cannula, said obturator having a bore extending therethrough and sized to accommodate a laparoscope, said obturator being formed of a transparent material;
• an opaque baffle disposed in said obturator bore for preventing unwanted reflections from entering a viewing element of a laparoscope when disposed therein;
• a balloon carried by said hollow obturator, said balloon having a neck and an interior space in communication with said neck, said neck secured to said distal end of said cannula, and
• means for forming a fluid tight seal between said balloon neck and said distal end of said cannula.

An apparatus for creating an anatomic working space between tissue layers in a body comprising:

• a cannula having a bore extending therethrough and a distal end;
• a hollow obturator extending through said cannula, said obturator having a bore extending therethrough and sized to accommodate a laparoscope, said obturator being formed of a transparent material;
• and
• a balloon carried by said hollow obturator, said balloon having a neck and an interior space in communication with said neck, said neck secured to said distal end of said cannula, said balloon having side margins laterally extendable between tissue planes.