TISSUE RETRACTORS

• US 20090137877A1
• Filed: 11/26/2007
• Published: 05/28/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Johnson, Gregory W., Minnelli, Patrick J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,517,931 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/204
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0218 for minimally invasive surgery A61B17/0281, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/282 Jaws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3421 Cannulas
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00557 inflatable A61B2017/22051 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00862 elastic or resilient for sutures A61B2017/0618
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0225 flexible, e.g. fabrics, meshes, or membranes

Abstract

Methods and devices are provided for performing surgical procedures using tissue retractors. In general, a surgical retractor device is provided that includes a flexible fabric tissue retractor configured to support tissue. At least one grasping element can be coupled to a perimeter of the flexible fabric, and the grasping elements can be manipulated to couple the flexible fabric to a surgical port, e.g., a trocar, inserted through a body wall and extending into a body cavity. The grasping element can also be configured to move the flexible fabric and thereby move the tissue.

Claims

1. A surgical retractor device, comprising:

a flexible fabric tissue retractor configured to support tissue; and

at least one grasping element coupled to a perimeter of the flexible fabric and configured to be manipulated to couple the flexible fabric to a surgical port inserted through a body wall and extending into a body cavity, and configured to move the flexible fabric and thereby move the tissue.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the surgical port comprises a trocar.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the flexible fabric is configured to be inserted into the body cavity through the surgical port.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the surgical port is configured to be capable of receiving an instrument when the at least one grasping elements is coupled to the surgical port.

5. The device of claim 1, further comprising at least one string coupled to the fabric and configured to be manipulated to position tissue in a substantially fixed position with respect to the fabric.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one grasping element has a shape such that when a longitudinal axis of the at least one grasping element is oriented substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the surgical port, the at least one grasping element and the surgical port can become uncoupled.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one grasping element has a shape such that when a longitudinal axis of the at least one grasping element is oriented at a non-parallel and non-perpendicular angle to a longitudinal axis of the surgical port, the at least one grasping element anchors to the surgical port, thereby securing the flexible fabric to the surgical port in a fixed position.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one grasping element comprises one of an elliptical-shaped grommet, a tab, a fabric loop, a clip, a wraparound tie, a hook, a magnetic clasp, and a clamp.

9. A surgical method, comprising:

inserting a fabric into a body cavity in a first orientation, wherein the fabric includes at least one grasping element;

configuring the fabric in a second orientation configured to retract tissue;

coupling the at least one of the grasping element to a surgical port inserted into the body cavity; and

orienting the grasping element on the surgical port such that a longitudinal axis of the at least one grasping element is not parallel to a longitudinal axis of the surgical port to secure the at least one grasping element to the surgical port in a locked position and retract tissue.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising positioning tissue in the fabric such that the fabric supports the tissue.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein positioning tissue comprises pulling at least one string coupled to the fabric to position tissue in a substantially fixed position with respect to the fabric.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising slackening the at least one string to release the tissue from the substantially fixed position with respect to the fabric.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising orienting the at least one grasping element on the surgical port such that a longitudinal axis of the at least one grasping element is substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the surgical port, thereby moving the at least one grasping element from the locked position to a position where the at least one grasping element can be removed from the surgical port.

14. The method of claim 9, further comprising removing the surgical port from the body cavity, thereby releasing the at least one grasping element from the surgical port.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein inserting the fabric comprises introducing the fabric into the body cavity through a hand assisted laparoscopic surgery port.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein the first orientation is a roll of fabric.

17. A surgical method, comprising:

inserting a fabric through an incision to position the fabric in a body cavity;

positioning tissue in the fabric such that the fabric supports the tissue;

manipulating at least one grasping element coupled to the fabric to attach the at least one grasping element to a surgical port extending into the body cavity; and

anchoring the at least one grasping element to the surgical port, thereby securing the fabric in a fixed position.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising allowing an instrument to extend through the surgical port when the grasping element is anchored to the surgical port.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein manipulating the at least one grasping element comprises using a grasping device to couple the fabric to the surgical port.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein anchoring the at least one grasping element comprises orienting a longitudinal axis of the at least one grasping element at a non-parallel and non-perpendicular angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of the surgical port.

21. The method of claim 17, further comprising releasing the at least one grasping element from the surgical port by removing the surgical port from the body cavity.

22. The method of claim 17, further comprising releasing the at least one grasping element from the surgical port by orienting a longitudinal axis of the at least one grasping element substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the surgical port.

23. The method of claim 17, wherein positioning tissue in the fabric comprises manipulating at least one string coupled to the fabric to move the fabric around the tissue.

24. The method of claim 17, wherein positioning tissue in the fabric comprises manipulating a grasping device to grasp at least one of the tissue and the fabric to place the tissue in the fabric.

25. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

manipulating at least one other grasping element coupled to the fabric to couple the other grasping elements to another surgical port extending into the body cavity; and

anchoring the other grasping element to the other surgical port.