Retractor and associated method for use in laparoscopic surgery
First Claim
1. A retractor for use in laparoscopic surgery, comprising:
- a substantially rigid tubular outer member;
a retractor member at least partially inserted in said tubular outer member for slidable motion in an axial direction relative thereto, said retractor member being provided with a distal end portion having limited flexibility enabling a bending of said distal end portion upon application of a bending force greater than a predetermined threshold, said distal end portion having a spring bias tending to return said distal end portion to a linear configuration upon relaxation of bending force below said threshold; and
flexing means on said tubular outer member for bending said distal end portion during a distally directed longitudinal stroke thereof relative to said tubular outer member, whereby at least a terminal part of said distal end portion extends at an angle with respect to said tubular outer member.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A retractor for use in laparoscopic surgery comprises a substantially rigid tubular outer member and a retractor member at least partially inserted in the tubular member for slidable motion in an axial direction relative thereto. The retractor member is provided with a distal end portion having limited flexibility which enables a bending of the distal end portion upon application of a bending force greater than a predetermined threshold. In addition, the distal end portion has a spring bias tending to return the distal end portion to a linear configuration upon relaxation of bending force below the threshold. A camming surface is provided on the tubular member at the distal end thereof for bending the distal end portion during a distally directed longitudinal stroke of the retractor member relative to the tubular member, whereby at least a terminal part of the distal end portion extends at an angle with respect to the tubular member.
231 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A retractor for use in laparoscopic surgery, comprising:
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a substantially rigid tubular outer member; a retractor member at least partially inserted in said tubular outer member for slidable motion in an axial direction relative thereto, said retractor member being provided with a distal end portion having limited flexibility enabling a bending of said distal end portion upon application of a bending force greater than a predetermined threshold, said distal end portion having a spring bias tending to return said distal end portion to a linear configuration upon relaxation of bending force below said threshold; and flexing means on said tubular outer member for bending said distal end portion during a distally directed longitudinal stroke thereof relative to said tubular outer member, whereby at least a terminal part of said distal end portion extends at an angle with respect to said tubular outer member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A retraction method for use in laparoscopic surgery, comprising the steps of:
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providing a trocar sleeve; disposing said trocar sleeve in an abdominal wall of a patient; providing a rigid tubular member longitudinally traversed by an elongate retractor member having a distal end portion with a limited flexibility enabling a bending of said distal end portion upon application of a bending force greater than a predetermined threshold, said distal end portion having a spring bias tending to return said distal end portion to a linear configuration upon relaxation of bending force below said threshold; inserting said tubular member through said trocar sleeve so that a distal end of the tubular member projects into an abdominal cavity of the patient; shifting, in a distal direction through said tubular member, said elongate retractor member; continuously bending said distal end portion of said retractor member during said step of shifting so that an increasingly long part of said distal end portion extends outwardly at an angle relative to said tubular member; upon a termination of said step of shifting;
engaging a selected internal body organ of the patient with the part of the retractor member projecting from said tubular member; andupon engaging the selected internal body organ with said retractor member, exerting a force on said tubular member and said retractor member to shift said selected internal body organ. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification