Balloon dissection instruments

摘要

Balloon loaded dissection devices with elongate balloons and a pushing member are described 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 non-elastic 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. The support tube may have a transparent shroud attached to its distal end. There is an open space between the distal end of the support tube and the end of the shroud allowing access to adjacent tissue. The shroud may perform blunt dissection and/or retraction to clear an open space for viewing or for performing surgical procedures. The support tube receives a scope or other surgical instrument. By using the guide rod or scope as a pushing member the apparatus may be advanced alongside the vessel targeted for dissection from attached tissue. A balloon cover which may be elastic or resilient surrounds the balloon and facilitates compression of the balloon after it is deflated. The devices may also have an ergonomic handle which provides the surgeon greater control of the dissector, and is adapted to receive and to provide supplementary support for a scope instrument, and can also hold a light source for the scope instrument.