Patents Examined by Daphana Shai
  • Skin seal with inflatable membrane
    Patent number: 5964781
    Abstract: A skin seal or trocar stabilizer with an inflatable balloon in the shape of a dumbbell, where the balloon may be stored within a cannula for easy placement in an incision and inflated to deploy the balloon inside the body, and a portion of the balloon expands inside the cannula, whereby medical instruments may be passed through the skin seal into a laparoscopic work space while the balloon is inflated, thereby allowing the use of normal short surgical instruments during laparoscopic procedures and during insufflation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1999
    Assignee: General Surgical Innovations, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth H. Mollenauer, Michelle Y. Monfort