Patent ID: 8491471

Claim:
A surgical retractor device for maintaining a surgical corridor, the device comprising: a tube of thermally responsive material that is pliable and expansive when heated to a temperature that is above body temperature, and that is rigid when cooled to body temperature; a balloon that is removably fitted in the tube; and a coaxial fluid supply line that is sealingly secured to an opening of the balloon, and that is structured and dimensioned to circulate fluid through the inside of the balloon, the fluid supply line comprising an inner tube within an outer tube, the opening of the balloon being secured to an end of the outer tube, the inner tube extending into the balloon, and a distal end of the inner tube being capped and secured to an inside surface of the balloon; wherein the tube can be inserted through a skin surface to a point of surgical interest while the tube has a relatively narrow diameter compared to its diameter in an expanded state; wherein the fluid can enter the balloon through at least one opening through a wall of the inner tube, and can exit through the opening of the balloon between the inner tube and the outer tube; and wherein the fluid of desired temperature and pressure can be circulated through the fluid supply line, to heat the balloon and the tube so as to render the tube pliable, to expand the balloon and the tube while the tube is pliable, and to cool the balloon and the tube so as to render the tube rigid.