Patent ID: 7749241
Filing Date: 2010-07-06
Classification: A61B,A61M

Abstract:
1. A method of creating a tunnel near an anatomical structure within a body comprising the steps of: making an incision in the body proximate the anatomical structure; providing a surgical apparatus including: an elongate shaft having proximal and distal ends, the elongate shaft having sufficient rigidity to push through body tissue free of naturally occurring openings in the body tissue alongside an elongate structure, a handle operably mounted on the proximal end of the elongate shaft, the handle including a receptacle configured to releasably receive an instrument, wherein the receptacle defines an elongated slot laterally spaced from the elongated shaft, an elongate balloon capable of assuming deflated and inflated states on the elongate shaft, the elongate balloon having an axial length substantially greater than a transverse diameter of the elongate balloon when the elongate balloon is in the inflated stale, the balloon defining an inflatable interior space into which a fluid is introduced to inflate the balloon, the distal end of the elongate shaft located inside the inflatable interior space, and a fluid passageway in communication with the inflatable interior space in the elongate balloon for communicating an inflation fluid to the elongate balloon; inserting the surgical apparatus through the incision; advancing the surgical apparatus through layers of tissue to the location of the anatomical structure; and inflating the balloon to form a tunnel by dissecting tissue away from the elongate structure.