Patent ID: 8157831

Claim:
An apparatus for creating an anatomical working space in a patient comprising: an elongate guide member defining a bore therein, the guide member including a ring portion and a rigid U-shaped portion longitudinally extending from the ring portion and having a generally U-shaped cross-sectional configuration, the U-shaped portion including a pair of opposing walls substantially parallel to each other; a tunneling member having a bore therein configured and dimensioned to receive a laparoscope, the bore extending to a distal end including an opening and a plurality of longitudinal slits extending proximally from the opening to allow for radial expansion of the opening to permit passage of the laparoscope beyond the distal end of the tunneling member, the tunneling member being received in the bore of the elongate guide member for tunneling through tissue of the patient; and a balloon having an inflatable space and being attached to the guide member so that the laparoscope is insertable through the tunneling member beyond the open distal end thereof and into the balloon, wherein the U-shaped portion of the guide member partially encloses the tunneling member.