Expandable tissue dilator for dilating tissue around a spinal column

Abstract

An expandable tissue dilator for dilating tissue around a spinal column includes a housing and a shaft at least partially positioned distally of the housing and adapted to pierce a tissue around the spinal column. An expandable member attached to the housing expands around a portion of the shaft to dilate the pierced tissue in a single-pass dilation resulting in a reduction of any traumatic impingement of nerves or muscle tissue and reduction in procedure time.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An expandable tissue dilator for dilating tissue around a spinal column, comprising:
 a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end;   an expandable balloon disposed on the distal end of the shaft;   an inner tube disposed inside the shaft and attached to the expandable balloon; and   an outer tube that at least partially surrounds the inner tube;   wherein the expandable balloon is configured to receive the fluid via a space between the inner tube and the outer tube.   
     
     
         2 . The expandable tissue dilator of  claim 1 , wherein the expandable balloon is a non-compliant balloon. 
     
     
         3 . The expandable tissue dilator of  claim 1 , further comprising a hub disposed at the proximal end of the shaft and configured to receive the inner tube and the outer tube. 
     
     
         4 . The expandable tissue dilator of  claim 3 , wherein the hub comprises a central chamber and an offset chamber, wherein the central chamber and the offset chamber intersect in order to allow fluid flow to the expandable balloon. 
     
     
         5 . The expandable tissue dilator of  claim 1 , wherein the expandable balloon is configured to expand such that a diameter of the expandable balloon in an expanded position is substantially the same as a diameter of the shaft. 
     
     
         6 . The expandable tissue dilator of  claim 1 , further comprising a luer connector configured to receive the fluid from an external inflation device, wherein the luer connector is further attached to the hub in to provide the fluid to the expandable balloon. 
     
     
         7 . The expandable tissue dilator of  claim 1 , further comprising a switch that is configured to move between an open position and a closed position, wherein pressure within the expandable balloon is maintained when the switch is at the closed position. 
     
     
         8 . The expandable tissue dilator of  claim 7 , wherein the switch is configured to move an occulating ball to press against a flexible tube within the hub to maintain pressure within the expandable balloon. 
     
     
         9 . The expandable tissue dilator of  claim 1 , wherein the inner tube is configured to receive a guide wire. 
     
     
         10 . The expandable tissue dilator of  claim 1 , wherein the inner tube contains an insulated middle region, an uninsulated proximal region, and an uninsulated distal region, wherein the inner tube is further configured to provide neuromonitoring capabilities after insertion into a patient. 
     
     
         11 . An expandable tissue dilator for dilating tissue around a spinal column, comprising:
 a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end;   an expandable balloon disposed on the distal end of the shaft;   an inner tube disposed inside the shaft and attached to the expandable balloon; and   an outer tube attached to the expandable balloon,   wherein the inner tube is comprised of an electrically conductive material and is configured to indicate the presence of a nerve as the expandable dilator traverses through soft tissue of a patient.   
     
     
         12 . The expandable tissue dilator of  claim 11 , wherein the expandable balloon is a non-compliant balloon. 
     
     
         13 . The expandable tissue dilator of  claim 11 , further comprising a hub disposed at the proximal end of the shaft and configured to receive the inner tube and the outer tube. 
     
     
         14 . The expandable tissue dilator of  claim 13 , further comprising a luer connector configured to receive the fluid from an external inflation device, wherein the luer connector is further attached to the hub in to provide the fluid to the expandable balloon. 
     
     
         15 . The expandable tissue dilator of  claim 13 , wherein the hub comprises a central chamber and an offset chamber, wherein the central chamber and the offset chamber intersect in order to allow fluid to flow to the expandable balloon. 
     
     
         16 . The expandable tissue dilator of  claim 11 , wherein the expandable balloon is configured to expand such that a diameter of the expandable balloon in an expanded position is substantially the same as a diameter of the shaft. 
     
     
         17 . The expandable tissue dilator of  claim 11 , further comprising a switch that is configured to move between an open position and a closed position, wherein pressure within the expandable balloon is maintained when the switch is at the closed position. 
     
     
         18 . The expandable tissue dilator of  claim 17 , wherein the switch is configured to move an occulating ball to press against a flexible tube within the hub to maintain pressure within the expandable balloon. 
     
     
         19 . The expandable tissue dilator of  claim 11 , wherein the inner tube is configured to receive a guide wire. 
     
     
         20 . The expandable tissue dilator of  claim 11 , wherein the inner tube contains an insulated middle region, an uninsulated proximal region, and an uninsulated distal region.