Tissue dissectors

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9492190-B2
Application number	US-201113024041-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 9, 2011
Priority date	Feb 9, 2011
Publication date	Nov 15, 2016
Grant date	Nov 15, 2016

Abstract

A tissue dissector is provided. The tissue dissector includes a cannula and an introducer coaxially coupled to the cannula and movable therein from a retracted position to an extended position. An introducer is coaxially coupleable to the cannula and movable therein from a retracted position to an extended position. The introducer including a generally annular lumen disposed in fluid communication with an inflation port operably disposed on the introducer and in fluid communication with an inflatable balloon that couples to the introducer. The inflatable balloon is movable from a deflated condition for positioning the introducer adjacent target tissue, to an inflated condition for separating the target tissue from nearby tissue and for providing a barrier therebetween such that the nearby tissue is not affected during the electrosurgical procedure.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A tissue dissector, comprising:
a cannula having a longitudinal channel defined therethrough, the cannula having a notch defined along a length thereof; and
an introducer coaxially coupleable to the cannula and movable therein between a retracted position and an extended position, the introducer including:
an elongated shaft having a distal tip configured to pierce tissue;
an outer member having a proximal portion connected to the elongated shaft and a distal portion disposed in spaced relation to the elongated shaft to define an annular lumen between the distal portion of the outer member and the elongated shaft, the annular lumen disposed in fluid communication with an inflation port operably disposed on the introducer and in fluid communication with an inflatable balloon, the inflatable balloon configured to couple to the distal portion of the outer member; and
an annular projection disposed on a distal end of the introducer proximal to the distal tip and configured to be disposed within the longitudinal channel defined through the cannula and to engage a distal end of the longitudinal channel defined through the cannula to maintain the introducer in a fixed position relative to the cannula when the introducer is in the retracted position,
wherein the inflatable balloon is movable between a deflated condition for positioning the introducer adjacent target tissue, and an inflated condition for separating the target tissue from nearby tissue and for providing a barrier therebetween.

2. The tissue dissector according to claim 1 , wherein the annular projection is disposed distal to the inflatable balloon.

3. The tissue dissector according to claim 1 , wherein a proximal end of the introducer includes a handle configured to facilitate movement of the introducer relative to the cannula.

4. The tissue dissector according to claim 1 , wherein the introducer and the cannula are made from a material selected from the group consisting of plastic and stainless steel.

5. The tissue dissector according to claim 1 , wherein the inflation port is positioned within the notch of the cannula.

6. The tissue dissector according to claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the inflatable balloon is made from a material selected from the group consisting of a plastic and a metal.

7. The tissue dissector according to claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the inflatable balloon is made from a plastic and at least a portion of the balloon includes a conductive material.

8. The tissue dissector according to claim 1 , further comprising a temperature sensor operably disposed on an interior wall of the inflatable balloon and configured to monitor a temperature of fluid inside the inflatable balloon, the temperature sensor configured to communicate with one of an audio or visual indicator operably disposed on a proximal end of the introducer.

9. The tissue dissector according to claim 1 , wherein the inflatable balloon is segmented into at least two chambers that are sealed from one another by a divider membrane extending along the elongated shaft of the introducer.

10. The tissue dissector according to claim 9 , wherein at least one of the at least two chambers is configured to receive CO 2 and at least one of the at least two chambers is configured to receive one of saline or water.

11. The tissue dissector according to claim 10 , wherein the at least one generally annular lumen is further defined by two individual lumens each in fluid communication with a respective one of the at least two chambers of the inflatable balloon.

12. The tissue dissector according to claim 11 , wherein the inflation port includes at least one of a multi-valve configuration or a lumen pair configuration, wherein each of the multi-valve configuration and the lumen pair configuration is configured to supply fluid to each of the two individual lumens such that each one of the at least two chambers of the inflatable balloon may be filled independently of the other.

13. The tissue dissector according to claim 1 , wherein a distal end of the outer member is disposed proximal to the annular projection.

14. The tissue dissector according to claim 1 , wherein the proximal portion of the outer member is connected to the elongated shaft proximal to the inflation port.

15. A system for electrosurgically treating tissue, comprising:
a source of electrosurgical energy;
an electrosurgical instrument adapted to operably couple to the source of electrosurgical energy and configured to electrosurgically treat target tissue; and
a tissue dissector, comprising:
a cannula having a longitudinal channel defined therethrough, the cannula having a notch defined along a length thereof; and
an introducer coaxially coupleable to the cannula and movable therein between a retracted position and an extended position, the introducer including:
an elongated shaft having a distal tip configured to pierce tissue;
an outer member having a proximal portion connected to the elongated shaft and a distal portion disposed in spaced relation to the elongated shaft to define an annular lumen between the distal portion of the outer member and the elongated shaft, the annular lumen disposed in fluid communication with an inflation port operably disposed on the introducer and in fluid communication with an inflatable balloon, the inflatable balloon configured to couple to the distal portion of the outer member; and
an annular projection disposed on a distal end of the introducer proximal to the distal tip and configured to be disposed within the longitudinal channel defined through the cannula and to engage a distal end of the longitudinal channel defined through the cannula to maintain the introducer in a fixed position relative to the cannula when the introducer is in the retracted position,
wherein the inflatable balloon is movable between a deflated condition for positioning the introducer adjacent target tissue, and an inflated condition for separating the target tissue from nearby tissue and for providing a barrier therebetween.

Assignees

• Brannan Joseph D
• Haley Kaylen J
• Ladtkow Casey M
• Willyard Richard A
• Covidien Lp

Inventors

• Brannan Joseph D
• Haley Kaylen J
• Ladtkow Casey M
• Willyard Richard A

Classifications

• A61B2017/22074

  the instrument being only slidable in a channel, e.g. advancing optical fibre through a channel · CPC title

• A61B2017/320048

  Balloon dissectors · CPC title

• A61B2017/347

  Locking means, e.g. for locking instrument in cannula · CPC title

• A61B2017/3488

  Fixation to inner organ or inner body tissue · CPC title

• A61B2018/1869

  with an instrument interstitially inserted into the body, e.g. needles · CPC title