Balloon dilator
The design of the flexible airbag retractor solves the problem of over-expansion caused by rigid retractors, achieving uniform support and flexible adaptability, and expanding the application range of the surgical field.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- THE SECOND AFFILIATED HOSPITAL ARMY MEDICAL UNIV
- Filing Date
- 2025-04-23
- Publication Date
- 2026-07-03
AI Technical Summary
Existing intervertebral disc diffusers are rigid mechanical structures with simple mechanical properties and nonlinear force, which can easily lead to over-distraction. Furthermore, their use depends on the doctor's feel and is limited by the maximum distraction range of the machine itself.
The airbag expander, made of flexible material, consists of a support airbag and a connecting tube. The support plate is symmetrically arranged along the center of the airbag. After the support airbag is inflated, it expands to provide uniform support force, avoids over-expansion, and can be retracted to reduce the volume occupied.
It achieves evenly distributed support force, avoids excessive stretching, expands the expansion range, reduces the contraction range, is suitable for more scenarios, and improves the effectiveness of surgical field exposure and ease of use.
Smart Images

Figure CN224441385U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This application relates to the field of surgical assistive medical device technology, and in particular to an airbag inflator. Background Technology
[0002] A space-space diffuser is a medical device commonly used in minimally invasive spinal surgery. It is used to open up the skin, subcutaneous muscles, and other soft tissues, fully exposing the intervertebral space to facilitate surgical procedures. Its main function is to increase the surgical field of vision, reduce surgical risks, and improve surgical outcomes. There are many types and specifications of space-space diffusers; different diffusers can be selected depending on the specific surgical needs.
[0003] Common intervertebral disc diffusers are all rigid mechanical structures with simple mechanical properties and nonlinear force. Their use relies entirely on the doctor's feel, which can easily lead to over-distraction. Utility Model Content
[0004] Based on this, an airbag inflator is provided. The airbag inflator is made of flexible material, which makes the force on the airbag inflator more even during the inflation process, avoids over-inflation, and also improves the user experience.
[0005] Therefore, this application provides an airbag inflator, comprising:
[0006] The support airbag is connected end to end and forms an annular inner cavity, which is used to expose the surgical field of view;
[0007] A connecting tube, one end of which is connected to the support airbag and the other end of which is used to connect to an external inflator, is used to inflate or deflate the support airbag.
[0008] The support plate consists of two pieces that fit against the outer wall of the support airbag, with the two support plates positioned opposite each other along the center of the support airbag.
[0009] In one embodiment, the support airbag is provided with interconnected telescopic sections and support sections, with two telescopic sections arranged opposite to each other, and two support sections also arranged opposite to each other, and the support plate is attached to the outer wall of the support section.
[0010] In one embodiment, the inner diameter of the telescopic section is larger than the inner diameter of the support section.
[0011] In one embodiment, the telescopic section includes a plurality of interconnected folding units, which are rectangular when unfolded.
[0012] In one embodiment, the support airbag is made of polyurethane.
[0013] In one embodiment, the annular inner cavity is rectangular, and the support plate is flat.
[0014] In one embodiment, the support plate is arc-shaped, and the inner cavity of the support plate faces the annular inner cavity.
[0015] In one embodiment, the support plate includes a first plate portion and a second plate portion, the first plate portion and the second plate portion being arranged along the length direction of the support segment, and a foldable hinge being provided between the first plate portion and the second plate portion.
[0016] In one embodiment, a pressure detector is also provided for detecting the pressure of the support airbag.
[0017] In one embodiment, a control center is also included, which is electrically connected to the barometric pressure detector and the external inflator.
[0018] The balloon expander provided in this application includes a supporting balloon, a connecting tube, and a supporting plate. The supporting balloon is connected end to end and forms an annular inner cavity for exposing the surgical field. One end of the connecting tube is connected to the supporting balloon, and the other end is used to connect to an external inflator. The connecting tube is used to inflate or deflate the supporting balloon. Two supporting plates are provided and fit against the outer wall of the supporting balloon, with the two supporting plates positioned opposite each other along the center of the supporting balloon. In use, the application is placed in the area where surgery is required, and then the supporting balloon is inflated by the external inflator. After inflation, the supporting balloon expands, thereby exposing the surgical field. When not in use, the gas in the supporting balloon can be released, thereby reducing the volume occupied by the balloon expander and facilitating storage. This application uses a flexible balloon expander, which is more flexible than the existing rigid mechanical structure. The supporting balloon is subjected to gas pressure on all four sides, which can distribute the pressure to the surrounding area, avoiding excessive force on any one area. At the same time, because the force is evenly distributed around the perimeter, over-expansion can also be avoided. Furthermore, since it uses an airbag inflator, which is equivalent to a rigid mechanical structure, it has a larger expansion range and a smaller contraction range, making it suitable for more scenarios. Attached Figure Description
[0019] Figure 1 This invention provides a schematic diagram of the structure of the first type of airbag inflator after deployment.
[0020] Figure 2 This invention provides a schematic diagram of the structure of the first type of airbag inflator after it has been retracted.
[0021] Figure 3 This invention provides a schematic diagram of the structure of the second type of airbag inflator after deployment.
[0022] Figure 4 This invention provides a schematic diagram of the retracted structure of the second type of airbag inflator.
[0023] Figure 5 This invention provides a schematic diagram of the structure of the third type of airbag inflator after deployment.
[0024] Figure 6 This paper shows a schematic diagram of the retracted structure of the third type of airbag inflator provided in this application.
[0025] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures:
[0026] 1. Support airbag; 11. Annular inner cavity; 12. Telescopic section; 121. Folding unit; 13. Support section; 2. Connecting pipe; 3. Support plate; 31. First plate; 32. Second plate; 33. Foldable hinge. Detailed Implementation
[0027] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this application clearer, the following detailed description is provided in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative and not intended to limit the scope of this application.
[0028] It should be noted that the illustrations provided in this embodiment are only schematic representations of the basic concept of this utility model. Therefore, the drawings only show the components related to this utility model and are not drawn according to the actual number, shape and size of the components. In actual implementation, the form, quantity and proportion of each component can be arbitrarily changed, and the layout of the components may also be more complex.
[0029] The structures, proportions, sizes, etc., illustrated in the accompanying drawings of this specification are only for the purpose of assisting those skilled in the art in understanding and reading the content disclosed in the specification, and are not intended to limit the implementation conditions of this utility model. Therefore, they have no substantial technical significance. Any modifications to the structure, changes in the proportional relationships, or adjustments to the size, without affecting the effects and purposes that this utility model can produce, should still fall within the scope of the technical content disclosed in this utility model.
[0030] The orientations or positional relationships indicated by terms such as "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "middle," "longitudinal," "transverse," "horizontal," "inner," "outer," "radial," and "circumferential" used in this specification are based on the orientations or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings and are only for the purpose of simplifying the description. They do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as limiting the present invention. Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.
[0031] Common intervertebral disc diffusers are all rigid mechanical structures with simple mechanical properties and nonlinear force. Their use relies entirely on the doctor's feel, which can easily lead to over-distraction. Their use is also easily limited by the maximum distraction range of the machine itself.
[0032] To solve the above problems, refer to Figures 1-2 , Figure 1 This diagram shows the structure of the first airbag inflator provided in this application after deployment. Figure 2 This diagram shows the structure of the first type of airbag inflator provided in this application after it has been contracted.
[0033] This application provides a balloon expander, which includes a supporting balloon 1, a connecting tube 2, and a supporting plate 3. The supporting balloon 1 is connected end to end and forms an annular inner cavity 11, which is used to expose the surgical field. One end of the connecting tube 2 is connected to the supporting balloon 1 and the other end is used to connect to an external inflator. The connecting tube 2 is used to inflate or deflate the supporting balloon 1. Two supporting plates 3 are provided and fit against the outer wall of the supporting balloon 1. The two supporting plates 3 are arranged opposite each other along the center of the supporting balloon 1.
[0034] It should be understood that the balloon expander includes a supporting balloon 1, which is made of a flexible material. The supporting balloon 1 is connected end to end to form a ring shape and has an annular inner cavity. When the supporting balloon 1 is inflated, it expands, causing the annular inner cavity to unfold. That is, the unfolded annular inner cavity can be used to expose the surgical field, so as to facilitate the surgeon's operation. The supporting balloon 1 is connected to a connecting tube 2, and the other end of the connecting tube 2 is connected to an external inflator. The external inflator can be manual or automatic, and this application does not impose any restrictions. The external inflator can inflate the supporting balloon 1 through the connecting tube 2.
[0035] Two support plates 3 are provided, and the two support plates 3 are arranged opposite each other along the center of the support airbag 1. The support plates 3 can be used to support the spine or soft tissues such as skin, subcutaneous muscles and so on. The support plates 3 are connected to the outer wall of the support airbag 1, and the connection method can be adhesive or other methods. The setting of the support plates 3 can provide support for the spine or soft tissues such as skin, subcutaneous muscles and so on, to ensure the surgical field.
[0036] In use, place this device in the surgical area, then inflate the support balloon 1 using an external inflator. Once inflated, the support balloon 1 unfolds, exposing the surgical field. When not in use, the gas in the support balloon 1 can be released, reducing the volume occupied by the balloon expander and facilitating storage.
[0037] This application employs a flexible airbag inflator, which is more flexible than existing rigid mechanical structures. Furthermore, the airbag 1 is subjected to gas pressure on all four sides, distributing the pressure evenly and preventing excessive force on any one area. The even distribution of force also prevents over-inflation. Moreover, because it uses an airbag inflator, compared to a rigid mechanical structure, it has a larger expansion range and a smaller contraction range, making it suitable for a wider range of scenarios.
[0038] In some optional embodiments, the support airbag 1 is provided with interconnected telescopic sections 12 and support sections 13. Two telescopic sections 12 are provided and arranged opposite each other, as are two support sections 13. A support plate 3 is fitted against the outer wall of the support sections 13. The telescopic sections 12 can be folded and extended to expand the surgical field of view, while the support sections 13 can be expanded. The support sections 13 can connect the two telescopic sections 12 to achieve air pressure balance between the two support sections 13. The support plate 3 is located at the support sections 13, thus not affecting the extension and retraction of the telescopic sections 12.
[0039] The connecting pipe 2 is located at the telescopic section 12. There can be two connecting pipes 2, located at opposite ends of the telescopic section 12. When inflating, both connecting pipes 2 can be inflated simultaneously, thereby improving inflation efficiency.
[0040] In some optional embodiments, the inner diameter of the telescopic section 12 is larger than the inner diameter of the support section 13, thereby increasing the supporting force of the telescopic section 12 and improving its supporting effect.
[0041] In some optional embodiments, the telescopic segment 12 includes a plurality of interconnected folding units 121, which are rectangular when unfolded. The plurality of folding units 121 can be expanded or retracted. The rectangular shape of the folding units ensures that the outer and inner walls of the folding units are planar when the telescopic segment 12 is unfolded, reducing the likelihood of the telescopic segment 12 becoming skewed and thus improving the telescopic effect of the telescopic segment 12.
[0042] In some optional embodiments, the supporting airbag 1 is made of polyurethane. Polyurethane has excellent abrasion resistance; good elasticity and flexibility, allowing it to undergo elastic deformation over a wide range and quickly return to its original shape; high strength and high hardness, with different levels of strength and hardness achievable through formulation and manufacturing processes, making it widely applicable from soft to hard materials; excellent chemical corrosion resistance, exhibiting good tolerance to many chemicals and not easily corroded by acids, alkalis, salts, and other chemicals; and good low-temperature flexibility, maintaining good flexibility and mechanical properties even at low temperatures.
[0043] In some alternative embodiments, the annular inner cavity 11 is rectangular and the support plate 3 is flat, which can increase the contact area between the support airbag 1 and the support plate 3, thereby improving the connection effect between the support airbag 1 and the support plate 3.
[0044] In some alternative embodiments, the annular cavity 11 is circular, pentagonal, or hexagonal.
[0045] Reference Figure 3 and Figure 4 , Figure 3 This invention provides a schematic diagram of the deployed structure of the second type of airbag inflator. Figure 4 This diagram illustrates the retracted structure of the second type of airbag expander provided in this application. In some optional embodiments, the support plate 3 is arc-shaped, with its inner cavity facing the annular inner cavity 11. When the support plate 3 is arc-shaped, the support segment 13 is adapted to fit the arc shape of the support plate 3 to improve the stability of the connection between the support plate 3 and the support segment 13. Compared to a flat plate, the arc-shaped arrangement of the support plate 3 can improve patient comfort.
[0046] Reference Figure 5 and Figure 6 , Figure 5 This diagram shows the structure of the third type of airbag inflator provided in this application after deployment. Figure 6 This diagram illustrates the retracted structure of the third type of airbag inflator provided in this application. In some optional embodiments, the support plate 3 includes a first plate portion 31 and a second plate portion 32, which are arranged along the length of the support segment 13. A foldable hinge 33 is provided between the first plate portion 31 and the second plate portion 32. The first plate portion 31 and the second plate portion 32 can be folded together, further reducing the folded volume of this application and making it suitable for more scenarios.
[0047] At this time, the support plate 3 can be a flat plate or an arc-shaped plate, and this application does not impose any restrictions.
[0048] In some optional embodiments, a pressure detector is also provided to detect the air pressure of the support airbag 1. The pressure detector is located inside the support airbag 1, which can directly detect the air pressure of the support airbag 1, and at the same time, it can avoid external interference and protect the pressure detector.
[0049] In some optional embodiments, a control center is also provided, which is electrically connected to a pressure detector and an external inflator. The pressure detector can feed back pressure information to the control center, and the control center can control the external inflator based on the feedback, which can improve the inflating effect of the airbag inflator.
[0050] The technical features of the above embodiments can be combined in any way. For the sake of brevity, not all possible combinations of the technical features in the above embodiments are described. However, as long as there is no contradiction in the combination of these technical features, they should be considered to be within the scope of this specification.
[0051] The embodiments described above are merely illustrative of several implementation methods of this application, and while the descriptions are relatively specific and detailed, they should not be construed as limiting the scope of the utility model patent. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various modifications and improvements without departing from the concept of this application, and these all fall within the protection scope of this application. Therefore, the protection scope of this patent application should be determined by the appended claims.
Claims
1. A balloon dilator, comprising: Comprising: A support airbag (1), connected end to end and forming an annular inner cavity (11), and the annular inner cavity (11) is used to expose the surgical field; A connecting pipe (2), one end of which is connected to the support airbag (1) and the other end is used to connect to an external inflator, and the connecting pipe (2) is used to inflate or deflate the support airbag (1); Support plates (3), there are two of them and they are attached to the outer wall of the support airbag (1), and the two support plates (3) are arranged opposite to each other along the center of the support airbag (1).
2. The balloon dilator of claim 1, wherein, The support airbag (1) is provided with telescopic sections (12) and support sections (13) which are connected to each other. There are two telescopic sections (12) and they are arranged opposite to each other. There are also two support sections (13) and they are arranged opposite to each other. The support plates (3) are attached to the outer wall of the support sections (13).
3. The balloon dilator of claim 2, wherein, The inner diameter of the telescopic section (12) is larger than the inner diameter of the support section (13).
4. The balloon dilator of claim 2, wherein, The telescopic section (12) includes a plurality of folding units (121) that are interconnected, and the folding units (121) are rectangular when expanded.
5. The airbag inflator according to claim 1, characterized in that, The material of the support airbag (1) is polyurethane.
6. The balloon dilator of claim 2, wherein, The annular inner cavity (11) is rectangular, and the support plates (3) are flat plates.
7. The balloon dilator of claim 2, wherein, The support plates (3) are arc-shaped, and the inner cavity of the support plates (3) faces the annular inner cavity (11).
8. The balloon dilator of claim 6 or 7, wherein, The support plate (3) includes a first plate portion (31) and a second plate portion (32), the first plate portion (31) and the second plate portion (32) are arranged along the length direction of the support section (13), and a foldable hinge (33) is provided between the first plate portion (31) and the second plate portion (32).
9. The balloon dilator of claim 1, wherein, A pressure detector is also provided, and the pressure detector is used to detect the air pressure of the support airbag (1).
10. The balloon dilator of claim 9, wherein, It also includes a control center, and the control center is electrically connected to the pressure detector and the external inflator.