SURGICAL RETRACTOR

• US 20110172495A1
• Filed: 03/23/2011
• Published: 07/14/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Cook Medical Technologies, LLC (Cook Group Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Cook Medical Technologies, LLC (Cook Group Incorporated)
• Inventors: Armstrong, David N.
• Application Number:
  US13/069,783
• Publication Number:
  US 20110172495A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/233
• 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 17/0293 with ring member to support retractor elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0225 flexible, e.g. fabrics, meshes, or membranes

Abstract

A biocompatible deformable retractor provides desired advanced organ retaining during surgical procedures. The retractor is generally self-retaining once deployed and provides surgical field without the interference from the retained organs. The deployed retractor may adopt convex, planar, or concave configurations inside a body cavity. The retractor comprises a deformable resilient frame and a deformable membrane, is approximately planar or a non-planar convex shape in its natural un-deformed configuration. The membrane can be transparent to provide additional viewing capability of the retained organs.

Claims

1. A biocompatible deformable retractor comprising,

a deformable resilient frame comprising a border around a majority or all of a perimeter around a central opening, and a deformable membrane secured around at least a portion of the border to form a restraining structure across the central opening,

wherein the retractor is approximately planar or a non-planar convex shape in its natural un-deformed configuration.

2. The retractor of claim 1 wherein the frame has a cross section through the frame that is round, oval, semi-circular, triangular, or polygonal having a perimeter of about 0.25 cm to about 10 cm.

3. The retractor of claim 1 further comprising a cushion around the frame.

4. The retractor of claim 1 wherein the membrane is transparent.

5. The retractor of claim 1 further comprising perforation through the membrane.

6. The retractor of claim 1 wherein the retractor is about round, square, oval, rectangular, oblong, or polyhedral shape.

7. The retractor of claim 1 wherein the retractor is bean, figure of eight, or U-shape.

8. The retractor of claim 1 wherein the retractor in its natural un-deformed configuration has a perimeter of approximately 5 to 200 inches (12.7 to 508 cm).

9. The retractor of claim 1 wherein the retractor is self-extendable.

10. The retractor of claim 1 wherein the membrane comprises a biocompatible sheet, fabric, web, or a combination thereof and the frame comprises polymer, metal, or a combination thereof.

11. A method of using a biocompatible retractor to retract one or more organs in a body cavity to form a working space in a living subject, the method comprising,

deploying a retractor by deforming the retractor, inserting the deformed retractor into the body cavity through a surgical opening, and releasing the retractor in the body cavity to retract the organ in the cavity to form the working space,

performing a surgical procedure in the working space, and

removing the retractor from the body cavity through the surgical opening,

wherein the retractor comprises a deformable resilient frame and a membrane attached to the frame, and

wherein the retractor is self-retaining inside the cavity with the frame pushes against the wall of the cavity while the membrane presses against the organ to form the working space inside the cavity.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the membrane remains attached to the frame throughout the procedure.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the surgical procedure is a laparoscopic surgery.

14. The method claim 11 wherein the surgical procedure is a surgery of the GI tract, urinary system, reproductive system, abdominal wall, or pelvic floor.

15. The method claim 11 wherein the surgical procedure is open laparotomy, mini-laparotomy, pure laparoscopic surgery, hand assisted laparoscopic surgery, or single incision laparoscopic surgery.

16. The method of claim 11 wherein the organ is GI tract, the body cavity is peritoneal cavity, and the working space is pelvic cavity.

17. The method of claim 11 wherein the retractor deployed inside the cavity has a convex shape pushing against the organ to make the working space.

18. The method of claim 11 wherein the retractor is bean shaped and when deployed the concavity of the bean shape is placed over retroperitoneal vessel and/or conduit to prevent compression or occlusion of the vessel and/or conduit.

19. The method of claim 11 further comprising repositioning of the retractor inside the cavity to make another working space.

20. The method of claim 11 further comprising puncturing the membrane by laparoscopic instruments or laparoscopes.

21. A method of making a biocompatible deformable resilient retractor, comprising,

securing a membrane to a deformable resilient frame to form the retractor that is approximately planar or a non-planar convex shape in its natural un-deformed configuration,

wherein the frame comprises a border around a majority or all of the perimeter of a central opening and the membrane is secured around at least a portion of the border to form a restraining structure within the central opening.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the membrane comprises a biocompatible sheet, fabric, web, or a combination thereof and the frame comprises polymer, metal, or a combination thereof.

23. The method of claim 21 further comprising attaching the retractor to a wound retractor or a laparoscopic access device.