O-ring for incrementally adjustable incision liner and retractor
First Claim
1. An O-ring for use in an adjustable surgical wound protector including a tubular sleeve, said O-ring comprising a non-circular radial cross-section with opposed surfaces so as to enable a snap-action rolling of said O-ring in predetermined increments for rolling a portion of said tubular sleeve on itself about said O-ring to shorten said sleeve in predetermined increments and to resist subsequent lengthening.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An O-ring is provided for use in an adjustable surgical wound protector having a stacked or astroidal cross-section and a resilient configuration for squeezing into an oblong shape that is insertable into a surgical incision. In one embodiment a astroidal cross-section O-ring includes a torsional preloading to enhance snap-action rolling of the O-ring about the cross-sectional center in predetermined increments.
173 Citations
37 Claims
- 1. An O-ring for use in an adjustable surgical wound protector including a tubular sleeve, said O-ring comprising a non-circular radial cross-section with opposed surfaces so as to enable a snap-action rolling of said O-ring in predetermined increments for rolling a portion of said tubular sleeve on itself about said O-ring to shorten said sleeve in predetermined increments and to resist subsequent lengthening.
- 10. An O-ring for use in an adjustable surgical wound protector including a tubular sleeve, said O-ring comprising a non-circular radial cross-section having at least one centroid disposed between opposed surfaces so as to enable a snap-action rolling of said O-ring in predetermined increments for rolling a portion of said tubular sleeve on itself about said O-ring to shorten said sleeve in predetermined increments and to resist subsequent lengthening.
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17. An adjustable surgical wound protector, comprising:
- an elongate open-ended tube formed of a pliable material that is impervious to solid and fluid contaminants for inserting lengthwise into a surgical incision;
two O-rings, one each secured around the open ends of said tube having a resilient configuration for overlapping the inner edge of the wound and for squeezing into an oblong shape that is insertable with a lengthwise portion of the sleeve adjacent to one of said O-rings in said surgical incision; and
wherein at least one O-ring comprises a non-circular radial cross-section with opposed surfaces so as to enable a snap-action rolling of said O-ring in predetermined increments for rolling a portion of said tubular sleeve on itself about said O-ring to shorten said tube in predetermined increments and to resist subsequent lengthening. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
- an elongate open-ended tube formed of a pliable material that is impervious to solid and fluid contaminants for inserting lengthwise into a surgical incision;
- 27. An O-ring for use in an adjustable surgical wound protector including a tubular sleeve, said O-ring comprising a stack of at least two individual O-rings arranged so that said stack comprises opposed surfaces so as to enable a snap-action rolling of said stack in predetermined increments for rolling a portion of said tubular sleeve on itself about said stack to shorten said tube in predetermined increments and to resist subsequent lengthening, whereby the sleeve length can be adjusted before or after placement in the wound.
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32. An adjustable surgical wound protector, comprising:
- an elongate open-ended tube formed of a pliable material that is impervious to solid and fluid contaminants for inserting lengthwise into a surgical incision;
two O-rings, one each secured around the open ends of said tube having a resilient configuration for overlapping the inner edge of the wound and for squeezing into an oblong shape that is insertable with a lengthwise portion of the sleeve adjacent to one of said O-rings in said surgical incision; and
wherein at least one O-ring comprises a stack of at least two individual O-rings arranged so that said stack comprises opposed surfaces so as to enable a snap-action rolling of said stack in predetermined increments for rolling a portion of said tubular sleeve on itself about said stack to shorten said tube in predetermined increments and to resist subsequent lengthening, whereby the sleeve length can be adjusted before or after placement in the wound.
- an elongate open-ended tube formed of a pliable material that is impervious to solid and fluid contaminants for inserting lengthwise into a surgical incision;
- 33. An O-ring for use in an adjustable surgical wound protector including a tubular sleeve, said O-ring comprising an astroidal cross-section having a centroid and a torsional preloading so as to enable a snap-action rolling of said O-ring in predetermined increments for rolling a portion of said tubular sleeve on itself about said O-ring to shorten said sleeve in predetermined increments and to resist subsequent lengthening.
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35. An adjustable surgical wound protector, comprising:
- an elongate open-ended tube formed of a pliable material that is impervious to solid and fluid contaminants for inserting lengthwise into a surgical incision;
two O-rings, one each secured around the open ends of said tube having a resilient configuration for overlapping the inner edge of the wound and for squeezing into an oblong shape that is insertable with a lengthwise portion of the sleeve adjacent to one of said O-rings in said surgical incision; and
wherein at least one O-ring comprises an astroidal cross-section having a centroid and a torsional preloading so as to enable a snap-action rolling of said O-ring in predetermined increments for rolling a portion of said tubular sleeve on itself about said O-ring to shorten said sleeve in predetermined increments and to resist subsequent lengthening. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37)
- an elongate open-ended tube formed of a pliable material that is impervious to solid and fluid contaminants for inserting lengthwise into a surgical incision;
Specification