| abstract |
A method for use in laparoscopic hernia repair comprises the steps of inserting a distal end of a laparoscope through a patient's abdominal muscles to a point outside of the parietal peritoneum, and inserting through the abdominal muscles a distal end of an elongate instrument provided at that distal end with a balloon in a collapsed configuration, the balloon being transparent to optical radiation. Upon disposition of the balloon between the abdominal muscles and the peritoneum, the balloon is inflated and the instrument is subsequently manipulated from outside the patient to push the inflated balloon against connective tissues between the abdominal muscles and the peritoneum to shift the tissues to form a pre-peritoneal space. During the manipulation of the instrument with the balloon, the laparoscope is to view, through and around the inflated balloon, the connective tissues and other organic structures. |