Expandable surgical retractor for internal body spaces approached with minimally invasive incisions or through existing orifices
First Claim
1. An expandable surgical retractor comprising:
- a central rod with a first end and a second end;
an end receptacle that articulates with the second end;
a plurality of anchoring plates slidably articulated to the central rod wherein each anchoring plate contains a plurality of openings;
a plurality of flexible wires each with a proximal end and a distal end which may be placed in the plurality of openings; and
a locking mechanism at each opening in the plurality of openings.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An expandable surgical retractor for use in minimal incision surgery is disclosed. The retractor consists of a fiber optic central rod surrounded by flexible wires designed to create an open space for visualization and surgical work within an illuminated surgical field. The flexible wires are disposed via selective pressure of the surgeon and are variable in number. The configuration will allow for both forward and back illumination of the surgical field. The expandable surgical retractor allows for surgical visualization in anatomical areas heretofore too complicated for surgical consideration. Other embodiments of the expandable surgical retractor are contemplated wherein a handle with an aperture may replace the central rod. The flexible wires may fit in openings around the aperture. The handle, in this embodiment, may have a light source and may be adapted to be used in select areas of anatomy. Further, the handle may be transparent.
61 Citations
69 Claims
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1. An expandable surgical retractor comprising:
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a central rod with a first end and a second end;
an end receptacle that articulates with the second end;
a plurality of anchoring plates slidably articulated to the central rod wherein each anchoring plate contains a plurality of openings;
a plurality of flexible wires each with a proximal end and a distal end which may be placed in the plurality of openings; and
a locking mechanism at each opening in the plurality of openings. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An expandable surgical retractor comprising:
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a fiber optic central rod with a first end and a second end;
an end receptacle that articulates with the second end;
a plurality of anchoring plates slidably articulated to the central rod wherein each anchoring plate contains a plurality of openings;
a plurality of flexible wires each with a proximal end and a distal end which may be placed in the plurality of openings; and
a locking mechanism at each opening in the plurality of openings. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. An expandable surgical retractor kit containing:
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a positioning device for a plurality of flexible wires;
a plurality of anchoring plates each of which contains a central opening surrounded by a plurality of openings;
a plurality of flexible wires each with a proximal end and a distal end;
a locking mechanism for the flexible wires for each opening in the plurality of openings; and
instructions for assembly and use. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. An expandable surgical retractor comprising:
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a central rod with a first end and a second end;
a plurality of anchoring plates slidably articulated to the central rod wherein each anchoring plate contains a central a plurality of openings;
a distal anchoring plate which articulates with the second end of the central rod;
a plurality of flexible wires each with a proximal end and a distal end which may be placed in the plurality of openings;
a functional articulation point at the distal end of the flexible wires; and
a locking mechanism at each opening in the plurality of openings. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48)
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49. An expandable surgical retractor comprising:
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a central rod with a first end and a second end;
a plurality of channels around the central rod;
a distal anchoring plate which articulates with the second end of the central rod;
a plurality of flexible wires each with a proximal end and a distal end which may be placed in the plurality of channels;
a functional articulation point at the distal end of the flexible wires; and
a locking mechanism at each opening in the plurality of openings. - View Dependent Claims (50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63)
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64. An expandable surgical retractor comprising:
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a handle with an aperture;
a plurality of openings in the aperture;
a plurality of flexible wires which fit in the openings in the aperture; and
- View Dependent Claims (65, 66, 67, 68, 69)
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Specification