Abstract: A method of providing access to tissue for a surgical instrument through a body wall is provided. The method includes providing an expandable retractor having a flexible sheath, the retractor being in a collapsed state; introducing the retractor into the body and placing the retractor adjacent the tissue; expanding the retractor; deploying the flexible sheath by engaging the flexible sheath with a tool and driving the flexible sheath through the body wall with the tool; and inserting the surgical instrument from outside the body through the flexible sheath to provide access to the tissue by the surgical instrument.

Abstract: A method of providing access to tissue for a surgical instrument through a body wall is provided. The method includes providing an expandable retractor having a flexible sheath, the retractor being in a collapsed state; introducing the retractor into the body and placing the retractor adjacent the tissue; expanding the retractor; deploying the flexible sheath by engaging the flexible sheath with a tool and driving the flexible sheath through the body wall with the tool; and inserting the surgical instrument from outside the body through the flexible sheath to provide access to the tissue by the surgical instrument.

Abstract: A method of providing access to tissue for a surgical instrument through a body wall is provided. The method includes providing an expandable retractor having a flexible sheath, the retractor being in a collapsed state; introducing the retractor into the body and placing the retractor adjacent the tissue; expanding the retractor; deploying the flexible sheath by engaging the flexible sheath with a tool and driving the flexible sheath through the body wall with the tool; and inserting the surgical instrument from outside the body through the flexible sheath to provide access to the tissue by the surgical instrument.

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.

Abstract: A balloon anchor provides for the anchoring of a surgical instrument, such as conventional trocar sheath, within a puncture opening formed by a trocar. When used on a trocar sheath, the anchor is secured to the smooth outer surface of the sheath for extension through the puncture opening as the trocar within the sheath forms the opening. Adhesive or mechanical means are provided to secure the balloon the instrument. No modification to the structure of the instrument is required. Once in place within the opening, the balloon is inflated to the interior of the tissue to anchor the instrument in place. Certain embodiments also provide for inflation of the balloon within and/or to the exterior of the opening.

Abstract: A method of separating tissue layers using an inflatable balloon, in which endoscopic visualization may be carried out through the balloon during inflation.

Abstract: An apparatus for retracting an organ inside the body to gain access to an adjacent tissue Includes an inflatable main chamber having a thin, flexible main envelope. Inflation of the main chamber within the body results in retraction of body tissues or organs to retracted conditions. During use an aperture may be formed in the main envelope to provide access through the main chamber to body tissue. An inflatable secondary chamber defines a cage positioned within or around the main chamber and maintains retraction of organs retracted by the main chamber notwithstanding formation of an aperture in the main envelope.

Abstract: An apparatus for retracting an organ inside the body to gain access to an adjacent tissue includes a main chamber which is positionable within the body and inflatable to an expanded condition to retract a body organ. The apparatus includes an inflatable additional chamber which when inflated maintains the main chamber in the expanded condition, and the organ in the retracted condition, notwithstanding release of the main chamber from the inflated condition.

Abstract: An apparatus is described for laparoscopically retracting an organ inside the body to provide surgical access to adjacent tissue. The apparatus includes a thin, flexible envelope which encloses a chamber. The envelope is laparoscopically insertable in a collapsed state into a body cavity, and the chamber is inflatable to an expanded state following introduction of the envelope into the body. Inflation of the chamber causes retraction of adjacent tissue. An elastomeric seal is insertable into the chamber following inflation and is attachable to part of the envelope inside the chamber following inflation of the chamber. The seal provides a gas-tight seal to maintain the chamber in the expanded state, and to maintain the organ in the retracted state, notwithstanding the piercing of an aperture in the part of the envelope covered by the seal.

Abstract: An inflatable apparatus for organ retraction includes a main envelope which forms a main chamber. An additional chamber is formed by attaching the periphery of an additional envelope to the outside or the inside of the main envelope. The part of the surface of the main envelope that is not covered by the additional envelope provides a plurality of windows, which, after the additional chamber is inflated, may be at least partially removed to provide apertures through which treatment or observation can be carried out.

Abstract: In a method for retracting an organ inside the body to provide access for treating a tissue, a retractor having a main envelope which defines a main chamber is positioned in a collapsed state adjacent to the organ to be retracted. The main chamber is subsequently inflated to retract the adjacent organ. A surgical instrument is passed through the main envelope into the main chamber to contact the tissue for treatment.

Abstract: Retraction of an organ or tissue plane to be retracted is performed to gain access for a surgical instrument to treat an organ or tissue plane to be treated. An inflatable retractor, including a main envelope enclosing a main chamber, is provided with the main envelope in a collapsed state. The main envelope of the retractor is placed adjacent the organ or tissue plane to be retracted. The main chamber is inflated to an expanded state to retract the organ or tissue plane to be retracted. An aperture is pierced in the main envelope to provide access for the surgical instrument passed into the main chamber to contact an organ or tissue plane to be treated while the main chamber is maintained in the expanded state, notwithstanding the aperture pierced in the main envelope. The organ or tissue plane to be retracted and the organ or tissue plane to be treated may be different parts of the same organ or tissue plane.

Abstract: An inflatable retractor including a main envelope enclosing a main chamber is provided. The main envelope is provided in a collapsed state. An elastomeric window is also provided. The main envelope of the inflatable retractor is placed adjacent the organ inside the body, and the main chamber is expanded to an expanded state to retract the organ. Following inflation of the main chamber to the expanded state, the elastomeric window is attached to the main envelope inside the main chamber to cover part of the main envelope. The surgical instrument is passed into the main chamber. An aperture is pierced in the pan of the main envelope covered by the elastomeric window to provide access for the surgical instrument to contact the tissue. The elastomeric window provides a gas-tight seal to maintain the main chamber in the expanded state.

Abstract: Apparatus for retracting an organ inside the body to gain access to an adjacent tissue. The apparatus comprises an expandable cage and an expansion element. The expandable cage is capable of being inserted into the body through a small incision or puncture in a collapsed state. The expansion element is for selectively expanding the expansible cage inside the body to an expanded state. The expansion element includes an envelope enclosing a fluid-inflatable chamber. The expansible cage includes an additional envelope mounted inside the inflatable chamber and enclosing an additional fluid-inflatable chamber. The expansible cage is additionally capable of maintaining the expanded state independently of the expansion element after the expansible cage has been expanded by the expansion element to the expanded state.

Abstract: A method for retracting an organ inside the body in the course of treating adjacent tissue. An inflatable retractor is provided. The inflatable retractor includes a flexible wall which may be expanded into place within the body, and which enclosed a main chamber. The inflatable retractor also includes an envelope attached to the flexible wall. The envelope and part of the flexible wall enclose an additional chamber. The inflatable retractor is placed in a collapsed state adjacent to the organ, and is inflated to expand the flexible wall and to retract the organ. Finally, an aperture is pierced in a part of the flexible wall of the retractor remote from the additional chamber to provide access to the tissue.