Laparoscopic retractor and sheath

• US 5,178,133 A
• Filed: 03/26/1991
• Issued: 01/12/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Louis T. Pena
• Original Assignee: Louis T. Pena
• Inventors: Pena, Louis T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hirsch, Paul J.
• Application Number:
  US07/674,892
• Time in Patent Office: 658 Days
• Field of Search: 128/20, 128/844, 604/105, 604/106, 604/107, 604/108, 604/109, 24/569
• US Class Current: 600/203
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00142 with means for preventing contamination, e.g. by using a sanitary sheath
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0218 for minimally invasive surgery A61B17/0281, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence

Abstract

A laparoscopic retractor is shown for manually maneuvering tissue which would otherwise obstract the view from the operative site. Laparoscopy is a method of visually examining the peritoneal cavity by means of a long slender endoscope (laparoscope) equipped with sheath, obturator, biiopsy forceps, a sphygmo-manometer bulb and tubing, and a syringe. The laparoscope is introduced into the peritoneal cavity by a small incision in the abdominal wall. Laparoscopic surgery is surgery done through the tube of a laparoscope. The retractor is an instrument which is sized for insertion through the laparoscope tube and comprises a pair of arms, which are opened with a scissors motion, and a supporting handle. The arms preferably have a membrane or sheath supported between them which is spread apart by opening the arms. In a preferred embodiment, the arms are covered by a tubular latex sheath, similar to a condom, which is spread apart on opening movement of the arms of the instrument. The instrument is inserted, with the arms closed, through the laparoscopic tube into the peritoneal cavity. After the tissue or organ has been located by viewing the laparoscope, the arms of the instrument are opened by operation of the handle to spread the covering membrane. The opened arms, with membrane stretched therebetween, is then moved to displace the tissue or organ to allow the surgeon optimal viewing of the surgical field.

Claims

1. A laparoscopic retractor for manually maneuvering tissue which would otherwise obstruct the view from the operative site comprising

an elongated, small-diameter body operable to be inserted through a small incision or through a laparoscopic tube into the peritoneal cavity,

said body having exactly two operating arms pivotally supported on one end in a closed position for insertion into the peritoneal cavity and operable to support an expandable sheath, and

means on the other end of said body operatively connected to said operating arms to move said arms to an opened position, in a substantially planar relation when inserted in the peritoneal cavity and to retract said arms to a closed position for removal therefrom,

said body including means comprising an enlarged body portion with a peripheral groove adapted to receive the open end of a closed end tubular sheath when installed thereon for use and a retaining nut movable to secure said sheath in said groove,

said two arms when moved to an opened position being operable to stretch a tubular sheath when installed thereon for manually maneuvering tissue which would otherwise obstruct the view from the operative site and when moved to a closed position being removable the operation site.

2. A laparoscopic retractor according to claim 1 in which

said operatively connected means includes an actuating rod extendably and retractably movable in said body,

means to extend and retract said rod, and

means interconnecting said rod and said arms to pivot said two arms to an open position on extension of said rod and to a closed position on retraction of said rod.

3. A laparoscopic retractor according to claim 1 in which

said operatively connected means includes an actuating rod extendably and retractably movable in said body,

rotatable threaded means to extend and retract said rod,

a knob for rotating said rotatable threaded means, and

means for interconnecting said rod and said arms to pivot said two arms to an open position on extension of said rod and to a closed position on retraction of said rod.

4. A laparoscopic retractor according to claim 1 in which

said operatively connected means includes an actuating rod extendably and retractably movable in said body,

rotatable threaded means to extend and retract said rod,

a knob for rotating said rotatable threaded means, and

pivotal links interconnecting said rod and said two arms to pivot the same to an open position on extension of said rod and to a closed position on retraction of said rod.

5. A laparoscopic retractor assembly for manually maneuvering tissue which would otherwise obstruct the view from the operative site comprising

an elongated, small-diameter body operable to be inserted through a small incision or through a laparoscopic tube into the peritoneal cavity,

said body having exactly two operating arms pivotally supported on one end in a closed position for insertion into the peritoneal cavity and operable to support an expandable sheath,

a sheath supported on said two operating arms comprising a tubular surgical latex closed at one end and having a diameter slightly larger than said body, and smaller than the laparoscopic tube or incision, and having an open end with an O-ring secured thereon,

means on the other end of said body operatively connected to said two operating arms to move said arms to an opened position with said sheath extending therebetween, in a substantially planar relation, when inserted in the peritoneal cavity and to retract said two arms to a closed position for removal therefrom, and

said body including means comprising an enlarged body portion with a groove receiving said O-ring on the open end of said closed end tubular sheath and a retaining nut tightened to secure said sheath in said groove while said arms are moved to an opened and to a closed position.

6. A laparoscopic retractor according to claim 5 in which

said tubular surgical latex is about 14-15 mm in diameter at the smaller closed end and about 315 mm long.

7. A laparoscopic retractor according to claim 5 in which

said operatively connected means includes an actuating rod extendably and retractably movable in said body,

means to extend and retract said rod, and

means interconnecting said rod and said two arms to pivot said arms to an open position on extension of said rod and to a closed position on retraction of said rod.

8. A laparoscopic retractor according to claim 5 in which

said operatively connected means includes an actuating rod extendably and retractably movable in said body,

rotatable threaded means to extend and retract said rod,

a knob for rotating said rotatable threaded means, and

means interconnecting said rod and said two arms to pivot said arms to an open position on extension of said rod and to a closed position on retraction of said rod.

9. A laparaoscopic retractor according to claim 5 in which

said operatively connected means includes an actuating rod extendably and retractably movable in said body,

rotatable threaded means to extend and retract said rod,

a knob for rotating said rotatable threaded means, and

pivotal links interconnecting said rod and said two arms to pivot the same to an open position on extension of said rod and to a closed position on retraction of said rod.