Patent ID: 6468289
Filing Date: 2002-10-22
Classification: A61B,A61M

Abstract:
A method of operating on a patient, said method comprising the steps of forming an opening in the patient's skin, inserting a tubular member through the opening in the patient's skin, moving a leading end portion of the tubular member to a selected location in the patient's body, moving an expandable element outward from the leading end portion of the tubular member while the leading end portion of the tubular member is at the selected location in the patient's body, expanding the expandable element under the influence of fluid pressure while the expandable element is at the selected location in the patient's body, applying force against the patient's body tissue with the expandable element during expansion of the expandable element under the influence of fluid pressure while the expandable element is at the selected location in the patient's body, contracting the expandable element by reducing fluid pressure in the expandable element, moving the contracted expandable element from the patient's body through the tubular member, and, thereafter, moving a tool outward from the leading end portion of the tubular member to the selected location in the patient's body where the expandable element was expanded under the influence of fluid pressure.