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 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 is balloon within and/or to the exterior of the opening.

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 hand-held apparatus and method for insufflating an abdominal cavity includes a compact gas supply unit comprised of a gas cartridge which has a pair of tandem piercable seals positioned inside the cartridge neck and which contains a predetermined mass of compressed gas. A cap having a puncture stem is engaged with the gas supply unit, causing the puncture stem to penetrate the piercable seals and release gas through the puncture tube and into a hollow needle positioned inside the abdomen. The tandem piercable seals are arranged such that as the gas supply unit is engaged with the cap, the puncture stem punctures the first piercable seal and the first piercable seal seals around it before the puncture stem punctures the second piercable seal, thereby preventing accidental loss of gas and preserving the entire mass of gas for insufflation.

Abstract: A hand-held apparatus and method for insufflating an abdominal cavity includes a compact gas supply unit comprised of a gas cartridge which has a pair of tandem piercable seals positioned inside the cartridge neck and which contains a predetermined mass of compressed gas. A cap having a puncture stem is engaged with the gas supply unit, causing the puncture stem to penetrate the piercable seals and release gas through the puncture tube and into a hollow needle positioned inside the abdomen. The tandem piercable seals are arranged such that as the gas supply unit is engaged with the cap, the puncture stem punctures the first piercable seal and the first piercable seal seals around it before the puncture stem punctures the second piercable seal, thereby preventing accidental loss of gas and preserving the entire mass of gas for insufflation.