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EP0573273B1 Expired / Lapsed EP ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Apparatus for developing an anatomic space for laparoscopic hernia repair

Assignee: Mallinckrodt Enterprises Holdings Inc
•
Filing: 1993-06-02
•
Granted: 1998-08-12
•
Expires: 2013-06-02
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Abstract

No abstract record available.

Inventors

  • 👤 Maciej J. Kieturakis
  • 👤 Kenneth H. Mollenauer
  • 👤 Michelle Y. Monfort

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction EP
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-01 15:27
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/32; A61B17/320016; A61B17/02; A61B17/0218; A61B18/00; A61B18/04; A61B18/08; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/0063; A61M; A61M25/00; A61M25/01; A61M25/06; A61M25/0662; A61M25/0668; A61M25/10; A61M25/1002; A61M29/00; A61M29/02; A61B17/34; A61B17/3417; A61B17/3421; A61B17/3439; A61B2017/00535; A61B2017/00557; A61B2017/320044; A61B2017/320048; A61B90/00; A61B90/08; A61B2090/0813; A61B90/36; A61B90/361; A61F2002/0072

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim 201 words
A tunnelling apparatus for creating an anatomic working space between tissue layers in a body comprising: a tubular member (33) having a bore extending therethrough to provide an open distal end; a substantially rigid tunnelling shaft (47) having a blunt distal tip (79) for tunnelling bluntly through tissue, said tunnelling shaft (47) being slidably receivable in said bore of said tubular member (33); a deflated balloon (87) formed into a roll surrounding said tunnelling shaft (47) during tunnelling through tissue; means (101) carried by said balloon (87) for removably securing said balloon (87) to said tunnelling shaft (47); a removable sleeve (106) surrounding at least a portion of said deflated balloon (87) and said tunnelling shaft (47), said sleeve (106) being provided with a weakened region (108) extending longitudinally thereof to permit said sleeve (106) to separate from said deflated balloon (87) thereby releasing said balloon (87); and means for inflating said deflated balloon (87) after tunnelling to a desired location within the body to cause said balloon (87) to progressively unroll and attempt to lie in a plane and to expand to create separation forces between the tissue layers generally perpendicular to said plane to create the anatomic working space.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 18 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said balloon (87) is a non-elastomeric balloon (87) having a predetermined shape.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 15 words
The apparatus of claim 2 therein said balloon (87) is formed from an plastic material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 18 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising means for introducing an insufflation fluid into the created working space.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 36 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said inflation means comprises a flexible tubular member (96) extending from said balloon (87) and a fitting (98) attached to said tubular member (96) for connecting to an inflation source.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 31 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an introducer member (51) having a bore extending therethrough, said tunnelling shaft (47) being slidably mounted in said bore of said introducer member (51).

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