Patent ID: 6605037
Filing Date: 2003-08-12
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
An inflatable retraction apparatus for retracting an organ inside a body to gain access to an adjacent tissue, the apparatus comprising:an inflatable chamber formed from a single thin envelope, the inflatable chamber capable of being collapsed for insertion into the body through an incision of the body and capable of being expanded to a predetermined shape for retracting the organ; an inflation mechanism adapted to selectively inflate the chamber to the predetermined shape, while the inflatable chamber is in place within the body, the inflation mechanism including at least one inflation tube attached to the inflatable chamber in fluid communication therebetween; and an inflatable maintaining lattice operatively enveloping the inflatable chamber and in operative association with the inflation mechanism, the inflatable maintaining lattice defining a plurality of single layered access windows around the inflatable chamber, the inflatable maintaining lattice being configured and adapted to maintain the inflatable chamber in substantially the predetermined shape after an aperture is pierced in at least one of the plurality of access windows of he inflatable chamber to provide access to the tissue.