Patent ID: 7186214

Claim:
An access instrument for accessing an anatomic space between anatomic surfaces in a patient's body comprising: an elongated access instrument body formed of an elastomer extending between an access instrument body proximal end and an access instrument body distal end, the elongated access instrument body having an access instrument body axis, an access instrument body width in a width direction with respect to the access instrument body axis, and an access instrument body thickness in a thickness direction substantially orthogonal to the width direction, the access instrument body width exceeding the access instrument body thickness enabling bending of the access instrument body in the thickness direction and resisting bending of the access instrument body in the width direction, the elongated access instrument body enclosing an inflation lumen extending from the access instrument body proximal end through the access instrument body to an inflation lumen distal end opening and a working lumen extending from the access instrument body proximal end through the access instrument body to the access instrument body distal end; and a distal header coupled to the access instrument body distal end comprising a header body supporting a header plate extending laterally of the access instrument body axis in the width direction to an atraumatic plate rim, the header plate having a first plate side bounded by the atraumatic plate rim, the header body enclosing a header lumen extending between the working lumen at the access instrument body distal end and a working lumen exit port through the first plate side, and an inflatable balloon mounted to the plate and adapted to be inflated by introduction of inflation media through the inflation lumen distal end opening into an inflation space between the balloon and at least a portion of the first plate side, wherein the balloon supported by the header plate substantially surrounds the working lumen exit port and comprises a proximal balloon segment enclosing a proximal balloon segment inflation space and a distal balloon segment enclosing a distal balloon segment inflation space; and the inflation lumen of the access instrument body comprises a proximal balloon segment inflation lumen having an inflation lumen distal end opening into the proximal balloon segment inflation space and a distal balloon segment inflation lumen having an inflation lumen distal end opening into the distal balloon segment, whereby the proximal and distal balloon segments can be selectively inflated by inflation media introduced into the proximal or distal balloon segment inflation space, whereby the inflation of the inflatable balloon expands an anatomic space between anatomic surfaces and disposes the working lumen exit port spaced from an anatomic surface.