Patent ID: 6312442
Filing Date: 2001-11-06
Classification: A61B,A61F,A61M

Abstract:
A method for a lauaroscopic hernia repair through the preperitoneal space in a body having an abdominal area with an abdominal wall and a preperitoneal area underlying the abdominal wall, comprising making an incision in the abdominal wall into the preperitoneal area, introducing an inflatable balloon in a deflated condition into the incision and into the preperitoneal area, inflating the balloon to create a dissected preperitoneal space, deflating the balloon, removing the balloon from the dissected preperitoneal space, inflating the dissected preperitoneal space with a gas, introducing a graft into the dissected preperitoneal space and positioning the same so that it overlies the area of the hernia and deflating the dissected preperitoneal space while permitting the graft to remain in contact with the area of the hernia in general alignment with the hernia to provide reinforcement for the abdominal wall in the area of the hernia, the hernia being an internal hernia having a hernia sac extending through an inguinal ring of the inguinal floor, the graft introduced including a sheet-like disk having a central portion and a tail secured to the central portion, securing the tail to the hernia sac, dissecting the hernia sac in a region which is spaced from the portion of the hernia sac to which the tail is secured to provide distal and proximal portions of the hernia sac which are separated from each other to permit the tail to be carried with the distal portion of the hernia sac through the inguinal ring, closing the proximal portion of the hernia sac, the deflating of the dissected preperitoneal space permitting the graft to contact the inguinal floor and to be disposed between the inguinal floor and the overlying tissue.