Devices and methods for minimally-invasive surgical procedures

Abstract

Devices, instruments and tools for minimally invasive surgical procedures. Port devices and methods for hemostatically sealing and providing a port through a tissue wall that interfaces with a fluid containing chamber, by minimally invasive techniques. Assemblies, instruments and methods for minimally invasive access to and through a tissue wall that interfaces with a fluid containing chamber, and for visualizing same. Instruments, assemblies and methods for minimally invasive surgical procedures, including ablation.

1 . An assembly usable in performing minimally-invasive ablation procedures, said assembly comprising:
 an elongated shaft;   a balloon fitted over a distal end of said elongated shaft, said balloon being configured to assumed a deflated configuration, as well as an inflated configuration wherein said balloon has an outside diameter greater than an outside diameter of said balloon in said deflated configuration; and   a halo comprising wires configured to be positioned proximal of said balloon in a retracted configuration and movable to a position distal of said balloon in an expanded configuration, wherein, when in said expanded configuration, said halo defines an area larger than a contracted area defined by said halo when in said retracted configuration.   
     
     
         2 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said halo is advanceable over said balloon when said balloon is in said inflated configuration. 
     
     
         3 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said halo comprises superelastic wires that expand a configuration of said halo when moving from said retracted configuration to said expanded configuration. 
     
     
         4 . The assembly of  claim 3 , wherein said superelastic wires slide over said balloon and said balloon deforms somewhat as said halo passes from said retracted configuration to deploy over said balloon to said expanded configuration. 
     
     
         5 . The assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of push rods connected to said halo, said push rods being axially slidable relative to said shaft to move said halo from said retracted configuration position and said deployed, expanded configuration position and vice versa. 
     
     
         6 . The assembly of  claim 5 , further comprising an actuator connected to proximal ends of said push rods, said actuator being slidable over said shaft. 
     
     
         7 . The assembly of  claim 6 , wherein said actuator comprises an extension extending proximally to a proximal end portion of said shaft. 
     
     
         8 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said halo is connectable to a source of ablation energy proximal of said assembly. 
     
     
         9 . The assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a conduit connecting with said balloon and extending proximally of a proximal end of said shaft, said conduit being connectable in fluid communication with a source of pressurized fluid. 
     
     
         10 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said shaft comprises a cannula, said cannula being configured and dimensioned to receive an endoscope shaft therein, with a distal tip of said endoscope being positionable within said balloon. 
     
     
         11 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said shaft comprises a shaft of an endoscope. 
     
     
         12 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said halo is formed of two wires and forms a substantially oval shape when in said expanded configuration. 
     
     
         13 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said halo forms an encircling shape when in said expanded configuration. 
     
     
         14 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said halo is formed of four wires and forms a substantially quadrilateral shape when in said expanded configuration. 
     
     
         15 . An instrument usable in performing minimally-invasive ablation procedures, said instrument comprising:
 an elongated shaft;   a balloon fitted over a distal end of said elongated shaft, said balloon being configured to assume a deflated configuration, as well as an inflated configuration wherein said balloon has an outside diameter greater than an outside diameter of said balloon in said deflated configuration; and   a halo comprising wires configured to be positioned proximal of said balloon in a retracted configuration and movable to a position distal of said balloon in an expanded configuration, wherein, when in said expanded configuration, said halo defines an area larger than a contracted area defined by said halo when in said retracted configuration; and   an endoscope having a distal tip thereof positioned adjacent to an opening of said balloon or within said balloon.   
     
     
         16 . The instrument of  claim 15 , wherein said shaft comprises a shaft of said endoscope. 
     
     
         17 . The instrument of  claim 15 , wherein said shaft comprises a cannula and wherein a shaft of said endoscope is received in said cannula. 
     
     
         18 . The instrument of  claim 15 , wherein said halo is advanceable over said balloon when said balloon is in said inflated configuration. 
     
     
         19 . The instrument of  claim 15 , wherein said halo comprises superelastic wires that expand a configuration of said halo when moving from said retracted configuration to said expanded configuration. 
     
     
         20 . The instrument of  claim 19 , wherein said superelastic wires slide over said balloon and said balloon deforms somewhat as said halo passes from said retracted configuration to deploy over said balloon to said expanded configuration. 
     
     
         21 . The instrument of  claim 15 , further comprising a plurality of push rods connected to said halo, said push rods being axially slidable relative to said shaft to move said halo from said retracted configuration position and said deployed, expanded configuration position and vice versa. 
     
     
         22 . The instrument of  claim 21 , further comprising an actuator connected to proximal ends of said push rods, said actuator being slidable over said shaft. 
     
     
         23 . The instrument of  claim 22 , wherein said actuator comprises an extension extending proximally to a proximal end portion of said endoscope. 
     
     
         24 . The instrument of  claim 15 , wherein said halo is electrically connectable to a source of ablation energy proximal of said instrument. 
     
     
         25 . The instrument of  claim 15 , wherein said halo is connectable to a source of ablation energy proximal of said instrument. 
     
     
         26 . The instrument of  claim 15 , further comprising a conduit connecting with said balloon and extending proximally of a proximal end portion of said shaft, said conduit being connectable in fluid communication with a source of pressurized fluid. 
     
     
         27 . The instrument of  claim 15 , wherein said halo is formed of two wires and forms a substantially oval shape when in said expanded configuration. 
     
     
         28 . The instrument of  claim 15 , wherein said halo forms an encircling shape when in said expanded configuration. 
     
     
         29 . The instrument of  claim 15 , wherein said halo is formed of four wires and forms a substantially quadrilateral shape when in said expanded configuration.