초록 ▼

A fluid operated retractor for use in surgery. The retractor has a portion that 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

A fluid operated retractor for use in surgery. The retractor has a portion that 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.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A method of providing a space between tissue layers in the body for the performance of a surgical procedure, the method comprising the steps of: making an incision in the body; introducing a surgical device through the incision, said surgical device comprising an insertion member and first an

1. A method of providing a space between tissue layers in the body for the performance of a surgical procedure, the method comprising the steps of: making an incision in the body; introducing a surgical device through the incision, said surgical device comprising an insertion member and first and second inflatable bladders, said first inflatable bladder being spaced apart from said second inflatable bladder; advancing the insertion member to position the first inflatable bladder between the tissue layers at a location of a natural tissue plane; inflating said first inflatable bladder to dissect a first layer of tissue from a second layer of tissue along the natural tissue plane; advancing the insertion member to position the second inflatable bladder between the tissue layers; and inflating said second inflatable bladder. 2. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of said first and second inflatable bladders is mounted on a tubular member. 3. The method of claim 1 wherein said first and second bladder positioning steps is carried out at the same time. 4. The method of claim 1 wherein said first bladder remains inflated during the step of inflating said second bladder. 5. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of: deflating at least one of said first and second inflatable bladders; and performing a surgical procedure in the space. 6. The method of claim 5 further comprising the step of removing at least one of said first and second inflatable bladders from the body prior to the step of performing a surgical procedure. 7. The method of claim 1 wherein the space is a working space, said working space being a volume not occupied by said surgical device or other device or by body tissue and sufficiently large to perform a surgical procedure. 8. The method of claim 1 wherein the space is an anatomic space, said anatomic space being a volume not occupied by body tissue. 9. The method of claim 1 wherein the space is an open space, said open space being a volume not occupied by said surgical device or other device or by body tissue. 10. The method of claim 1 wherein said first and second bladders are radially spaced about said insertion member. 11. The method of claim 1 wherein said first and second bladders are axially spaced along said insertion member. 12. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of said first and second bladders is mounted on said insertion member.