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:
Aug. 12, 2003
Filed:
Oct. 26, 1998
Frederic H. Moll, San Francisco, CA (US);
Charles Gresl, Jr., San Francisco, CA (US);
Albert K. Chin, Palo Alto, CA (US);
Philip K. Hopper, Laverne, CA (US);
Sherwood Services AG, Schaffhausen, CH;
Abstract
An inflatable retraction apparatus is provided for retracing an organ inside a body to gain access to an adjacent tissue. The apparatus includes an able chamber formed from a single thin envelope, and capable of being collapsed for insertion through an incision and being expanded to a predetermined shape for retracing the organ. An inflation mechanism is adapted to selectively inflate the chamber to the predetermined shape. The inflation mechanism includes at least one inflation tube attached to the inflatable chamber in fluid communication theretween, and an inflatable maintaining lattice operatively enveloping the inflatable chamber and in operative association with the inflation mechanism. The inflatable maintaining lattice defines a plurality of single layered access windows around the inflatable chamber, and is configured and adapted to maintain the inflatable chamber in substantially the predetermined shape after an aperture is pierced in at least one of the plurality of access windows of the inflatable chamber.