Flexible, Selectively Rotatable Tissue Retractor and Method for Using the Retractor
First Claim
1. A retractor for manipulating an object, the retractor comprising:
- a retractor body having proximal and distal ends;
a retraction device having;
a head connected at the distal end of the retractor body; and
flexible needles of a shape memory material having a memory shape, the memory shape of the needles including a portion with an arcuate shape housed, at least partially, within the head;
an actuation device connected to the proximal end of the retractor body and operatively connected to the needles, the actuation device, upon actuation thereof, moving the needles out of the head and withdrawing the needles into the head; and
a rotation joint coupling the proximal end of the retractor body to the distal end of the retractor body and allowing the distal end of the retractor body and the retraction device to rotate independent of the proximal end of the retractor body.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A retractor for manipulating an object, the retractor includes a retractor body with proximal and distal ends, a retraction device with a head connected at the distal end of the retractor body and flexible needles of a shape memory material having a memory shape, the memory shape of the needles including a portion with an arcuate shape housed, at least partially, within the head. The retractor further includes an actuation device connected to the proximal end of the retractor body and operatively connected to the needles, the actuation device, upon actuation thereof, moving the needles out of the head and withdrawing the needles into the head and a rotation joint allowing the distal end of the retractor body and the retraction device to rotate independent of the proximal end of the retractor body.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A retractor for manipulating an object, the retractor comprising:
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a retractor body having proximal and distal ends; a retraction device having; a head connected at the distal end of the retractor body; and flexible needles of a shape memory material having a memory shape, the memory shape of the needles including a portion with an arcuate shape housed, at least partially, within the head; an actuation device connected to the proximal end of the retractor body and operatively connected to the needles, the actuation device, upon actuation thereof, moving the needles out of the head and withdrawing the needles into the head; and a rotation joint coupling the proximal end of the retractor body to the distal end of the retractor body and allowing the distal end of the retractor body and the retraction device to rotate independent of the proximal end of the retractor body. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification