Endoscopic ports for minimally invasive surgical access and methods of use thereof

摘要

A method for providing an endoscopic port includes inserting a distal portion of an expandable member into soft tissue in a patient's body. The distal portion of the expandable member is inflated to form a passageway in the soft tissue. A rigid tube member is delivered into the passageway formed by the expandable member through the inside of the inflatable member. A port is established between a proximal opening in the rigid tube member and a distal opening in the rigid tube member.

主权项

1. An endoscopic port apparatus comprising:
an inflatable member having a proximal portion and a distal portion, at least the distal portion of the inflatable member being inflatable between a collapsed state and an expanded state in which the inflatable member defines a passageway through the expanded inflatable member extending from the proximal portion to the distal portion; a rigid tube member having an opening at each end; a housing having an interior space configured to receive the rigid tube member; an actuator for exerting a force on the rigid tube member to cause it to move, relative to the inflatable member, from the interior space in the housing into the passageway of the inflatable member such that the rigid tube member can be delivered to the distal portion of the inflatable member when the inflatable member is in the expanded state; and a guide member extending through the inflatable member to increase the rigidity of the inflatable member, the guide member being coupled to an internal distal end portion of the inflatable member, wherein the distal end portion of the inflatable member can be separated from the inflatable member and removed by retracting the guide member through the rigid tube to provide an opening at a distal end of the inflatable member.