The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 14, 1999
Filed:
Mar. 23, 1998
George D Hermann, Los Gatos, CA (US);
General Surgical Innovations, Inc., Palo Alto, CA (US);
Abstract
Balloon loaded dissection devices with elongate balloons and a pushing member are disclosed for creating a tunnel alongside an elongate vessel in the body. The devices may utilize an elongate balloon of any suitable length which may be formed of an elastic or nonelastic material. The balloon may be of double walled construction and may be provided with a central lumen which may receive a guide rod, scope or other surgical instrument. The device may have a support tube secured to the inner wall of the balloon to provide columnar support for the apparatus. The support tube receives the guide rod, scope or other surgical instrument and may have a stop member to translate pushing force applied to the guide rod or scope to pushing force on the apparatus. By using the guide rod or scope as a pushing member the apparatus may be advanced alongside the vessel it is desired to dissect free from attached tissue. A balloon cover which may be elastic or resilient is provided to surround the balloon and facilitate compression of the balloon after it is deflated.