Patent ID: 8105236
Filing Date: 2012-01-31
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A method of creating a surgical access passage, comprising: percutaneously inserting to a surgical site an elongate member comprising a proximal end, a distal end, and a plurality of retractor members each having an inner surface that together define a lumen of the elongate member, the lumen having a first cross-sectional dimension that is substantially constant between the proximal end and the distal end of the elongate member, wherein the inner surfaces of the retractor members are positioned around a stylet in an insertion configuration in which the stylet also includes a proximal portion extending proximally from the proximal end of the elongate member and a distal end extending distally from the distal end of the elongate member, wherein percutaneously inserting the elongate member includes guiding the stylet and elongate member in the insertion configuration to position the distal end of the elongate member at the surgical site so that the lumen of the elongate member provides the surgical access passage to the surgical site when the stylet is removed from the lumen; removing the stylet from the lumen of the elongate member after percutaneously inserting the elongate member; inserting an expandable body into the lumen of the elongate member after removing the stylet, wherein the expandable body has a length that is substantially the same as a length of the elongate member from the proximal end to the distal end of the elongate member; expanding the expandable body along the length of the expandable body to move the plurality of retractor members radially outward to any second cross-sectional dimension on a continuum that is equal to or less than a maximum cross-sectional dimension, wherein the plurality of retractor members move simultaneously away from one another so that the second cross-sectional dimension of the lumen is substantially constant from the proximal end to the distal end of the elongate member and expansion of the expandable body provides gradual tissue dilation along the length of the elongate member as the plurality of retractor members move radially outward; and contracting the expandable body and removing the expandable body from the surgical access passage.