KNEE RETRACTOR

• US 3,750,652 A
• Filed: 03/05/1971
• Issued: 08/07/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: John M. Sherwin
• Original Assignee: John M. Sherwin
• Inventors: Sherwin, John M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Laudenslager, Lucie H.
• Application Number:
  US05/121,276
• Time in Patent Office: 886 Days
• Field of Search: 81/72,302 128/17,18,19,20 294/97
• US Class Current: 606/90
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/025 Joint distractors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0268 for the knee

Abstract

This disclosure relates to a surgical retractor for use by an orthopedic surgeon for a controlled distraction of a knee joint through an anterior incision. This retractor generally consists of a pair of screw actuated retractor arms, the tips of which are operatively embedded in the intercondylar region of the patient'"'"''"'"'s knee.

Claims

1. A surgical retractor for use in knee joint distraction comprising:

a. a cross-arm member;

b. a pair of non-planar generally bow-shaped retractor arms each pivotally connected at its upper end thereof to a respective end of said cross-arm member;

c. the lower end of each retractor arm having an elongated offset portion which is angularly outwardly disposed in a laterally extending plane with respect to the upper end thereof, and generally parallel to each other, each off-set portion being juxtaposed the other in the normally closed retractor position; and

d. actuating means operatively connected to said retractor arms for opening and closing them.

2. The retractor set forth in claim 1 wherein each said off-set portion carries adjacent its lower end a sharpened tip extending outwardly in opposed relation to one another in a direction substantially colinear with the travel of the retractor arms, as they are opened, and adapted for insertion into the intercondylar notch of the femur in the knee joint being distracted.

3. The retractor set forth in claim 2 wherein said actuating means comprises;

a. screw means operatively carried by said cross-arm;

b. an actuating link supported on the end of said screw means; and

c. laterally extendable lever arm members pivotally connecting said actuating link with said retractor arms.

4. The retractor set forth in claim 3 wherein said screw means comprises;

a. a threaded shaft; and

b. a thrust bearing interposed between the end of said threaded shaft and the actuating link.