Patent ID: 6447529
Filing Date: 2002-09-10
Classification: A61B,A61M

Abstract:
An apparatus for creating an anatomic working space alongside an elongate structure comprising:a housing; a first reservoir; a second reservoir; and an elongate bi-directionally expandable balloon having a deflated state and an inflated state, the elongate bi-directionally expandable balloon disposed within the first and second reservoirs when in its deflated state, the elongate balloon comprising: an outwardly expandable left portion, the outwardly expandable left portion disposed within the first reservoir when in its deflated state; an outwardly expandable right portion, the outwardly expandable right portion disposed within the second reservoir when in its deflated state; and an inflation harness for introducing an inflation fluid into the elongate bi-directionally expandable balloon to inflate the elongate bi-directionally expandable balloon from its deflated state to its inflated state, wherein in its inflated state, the outwardly expandable right portion extends in a first direction and the outwardly expandable left portion extends in a second direction.