Dissection of tissue by tissue expander

US5655545A · kind A · utility

Inventors

• Gerald W. Johnson · Houston, US
• Jeffrey Johnson · Camden, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Mar 30, 1995
• Grant date: Aug 12, 1997
• Expiry date: Mar 30, 2015

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61B2017/320044
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A surgical procedure for tissue dissection is disclosed in which an incision is made in a human body. A hollow tissue expander is then inserted into the incision to a point where a space or cavity or pocket is desired. Fluid is forced into the expander to cause it to expand an separate two layers of tissue to form the space or cavity or pocket. The expander can be used to dissect or create spaces: (1) within subcutaneous fat; (2) between skin and bone; skin and muscle or skin and fascia; (3) between fat and bone; fat and muscle; fat and fascia; (4) between peritoneum and muscle; peritoneum and fascia; (5) between bladder and other tissue; (6) between nerves and other tissue; (7) between blood vessels and other tissues; (8) between muscle and other tissues. The tissue expander can, in fact, be used any place in the body where a surgeon could or would use other instruments to create spaces in, dissect or separate soft tissues. This use of a tissue expander to dissect tissue, create cavities or pockets, or separate layers of soft tissue can be done: (1) under direct vision; (2) under endoscopic vision; (3) under X-ray vision; (4) under blind conditions by manual palpatation; (5) or an…