Patent ID: 8221349

Claim:
A device for performing a surgical procedure, the device comprising: an elongate element having a distal end; and an inflatable structure coupled to the distal end of the elongate element, wherein the inflatable structure comprises: a first lobe, a proximal end of the first lobe being contiguous with the distal end of the elongate element; a second lobe, a proximal end of the second lobe being contiguous with a distal end of the first lobe; a third lobe, a proximal end of the third lobe being contiguous with a distal end of the second lobe; a first neck region defined at a junction between the second lobe and the third lobe, wherein a maximum wall thickness of the first neck region is greater than a minimum wall thickness of the second lobe, and wherein the maximum wall thickness of the first neck region is greater than a minimum wall thickness of the third lobe; and a second neck region is defined at a junction between the first lobe and the second lobe, wherein a maximum wall thickness of the second neck region is greater than a minimum wall thickness of the first lobe, and wherein the maximum wall thickness of the second neck region is greater than the minimum wall thickness of the second lobe, and wherein an axial length of the first lobe is at least equal to a sum of an axial length of the second lobe and an axial length of the third lobe, and wherein when the inflatable structure is in a final inflated, distended state, the second neck region is fully pushed out such that the second lobe and the third lobe merge into a single distal lobe thereby forming an outwardly tapered profile.