TISSUE RETRACTORS

• US 20090137984A1
• 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: Minnelli, Patrick J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,128,559 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/540
• 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 17/34 Trocars; Puncturing needles pointed biopsy instruments A61B10/0233; devices for piercing the ear-lobes A44C7/001; seals or hemostasis valves A61M39/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00557 inflatable A61B2017/22051 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00566 fixation of form upon application of vacuum
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00876 magnetic
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00946 malleable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0212 Cushions or pads, without holding arms, as tissue retainers, e.g. for retracting viscera
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0225 flexible, e.g. fabrics, meshes, or membranes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/02 Devices for expanding tissue, e.g. skin tissue implements for holding wounds open, surgical tractors A61B17/02; implantable mammary prosthesis A61F2/12; dilators A61M29/00

Abstract

Methods and devices are provided for performing surgical procedures using tissue retractors. In general, the methods and devices allow a surgeon to use a retractor to capture a large or small amount of tissue in the retractor and to move the retractor to relocate tissue to one or more convenient locations during a surgical procedure. The retractor can be configured from a pliable state to a substantially rigid state to hold the retractor and the tissue in a substantially fixed position during the procedure.

Claims

1. A surgical retractor device, comprising:

a tissue retractor formed of a flexible biocompatible material defining an internal cavity having a plurality of granules,

wherein the tissue retractor has a first state in which it is selectively conformable to a target tissue in a body cavity in a desired configuration and a second state in which it is substantially rigid and in a substantially fixed conformation.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising a valve located on an outer surface of the tissue retractor, the valve being in fluid communication with the internal cavity such that the valve can selectively allow passage of fluid therethrough.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the tissue retractor is configured from the first state to the second state by removing fluid from within the internal cavity.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the granules are composed of a biocompatible material.

5. The device of claim 1, further comprising at least one conduit in fluid communication with the internal cavity such that fluid can be removed from the internal cavity through the at least one conduit.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the at least one conduit is detachable from the tissue retractor.

7. The device of claim 5, further comprising a valve in fluid communication with the internal cavity and configured to be coupled to the at least one conduit such that when the valve is coupled to the at least one conduit and the valve is in an open position, the at least one conduit is in fluid communication with the internal cavity.

8. The device of claim 1, further comprising at least one tab extending from a central body of the internal cavity.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the tissue retractor is configured to have the internal cavity formed along a perimeter of the tissue retractor with a mesh material disposed within a central opening defined by the internal cavity.

10. A surgical retractor device, comprising:

a biocompatible retractor body having an internal cavity and configured to have a default non-rigid state and to be disposed in a body cavity; and

constrictable material disposed in the internal cavity, wherein constricting the material causes the retractor body to be configured in a rigid state in which the retractor body is effective to support tissue in a body cavity in a selected substantially fixed position.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the material includes biocompatible granules.

12. The device of claim 10, further comprising a valve on the outside surface of the retractor body and coupled to the internal cavity, wherein the valve is adapted to allow fluid to be removed from the internal cavity, thereby causing the retractor body to change to the rigid state.

13. The device of claim 10, wherein the internal cavity extends around at least a portion of a perimeter of the retractor body.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the retractor body includes a flexible fabric disposed within the perimeter of the retractor body.

15. A surgical method, comprising:

inserting a conformable tissue retractor into a body cavity in a first orientation, wherein the retractor has an internal cavity comprising a plurality of granules;

positioning tissue with respect to the tissue retractor in a desired conformation that is different than the first orientation such that the tissue retractor supports a target tissue; and

evacuating a fluid from within the internal cavity such that the granules compact together to maintain the tissue retractor in the desired conformation such that it is able to hold the target tissue in a substantially fixed position.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of evacuating a fluid involves applying a vacuum force to withdraw fluid from within the internal cavity.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising removing the vacuum force and allowing fluid to re-enter the internal cavity to enable the target tissue to be released from the substantially fixed position.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of removing the vacuum force involves opening a valve on the tissue retractor and in fluid communication with the internal cavity.

19. A surgical method, comprising:

introducing a pliable retractor into a body cavity in a first conformable configuration; and

configuring the retractor in a rigid state in a desired orientation with respect to a target tissue such that the retractor is effective to support tissue in the body cavity in a substantially fixed position.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising positioning the retractor in the body cavity such that the retractor supports tissue before configuring the retractor in the rigid state.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the step of configuring the retractor involves introducing a vacuum to the internal cavity.

22. The method of claim 19, further comprising decompressing material disposed in the internal cavity such that the retractor can change from the rigid state to a non-rigid state.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the step of decompressing material involves removing a vacuum from the internal cavity.