ILLUMINATING BALLOON CATHETER AND METHOD FOR USING THE CATHETER

摘要

To perform pelvic surgery, a directionally illuminating balloon catheter enters a bladder. The catheter has a multi-lumen shaft. The balloon defines an interior fluidically connected to a balloon inflation lumen and is inflated therethrough. The balloon comprises a light source, a light-radiating surface adjacent the shaft-balloon junction, and a substantially opaque surface disposed at a portion of the balloon other than the light-radiating surface such that the integrated light source illuminates a distal half of the environment outside the balloon. The balloon is inflated while in the bladder. Light from the light source is directed out through the light-radiating surface to illuminate at least a portion of a procedure area opposite the bladder-prostate junction. With the light illuminating the portion of the procedure area, at least a portion of a pelvic surgery is performed at the portion of the procedure area.

主权项

1. A method for performing pelvic surgery, which comprises:
inserting at least a hollow balloon of a directionally illuminating balloon catheter into a bladder, the catheter having:
a multi-lumen shaft with a distal end, the shaft defining:
a fluid drain lumen; anda balloon inflation lumen, the balloon having a proximal side disposed at the distal end of the multi-lumen shaft to define a shaft-balloon junction, the balloon defining an interior fluidically connected to the balloon inflation lumen and inflated through the balloon inflation lumen, the balloon comprising:
an integrated light source;a light-radiating surface opposite the shaft-balloon junction; anda substantially opaque surface disposed at a portion of the balloon other than the light-radiating surface such that the light source illuminates a distal portion of the environment outside the balloon; inflating the balloon through the balloon inflation lumen while the balloon is in the bladder; directing light from the light source out through the light-radiating surface of the balloon to illuminate at least a portion of a procedure area opposite a bladder-prostate junction; and with the light illuminating the portion of the procedure area, performing at least a portion of a pelvic surgery adjacent the portion of the procedure area.