Illuminating soft tissue retractor

• US 6,142,935 A
• Filed: 03/24/1998
• Issued: 11/07/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Edwards Lifesciences LLC (Edwards Lifesciences Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Heartport, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Flom, James R., Boyd, Stephen W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Jeffrey A.
• Application Number:
  US09/047,122
• Time in Patent Office: 959 Days
• Field of Search: 600/201, 600/204, 600/206, 600/208, 600/235, 600/236, 600/245, 128/850
• US Class Current: 600/206
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/02 for holding wounds open; Tractors specula A61B1/32 ; drainage appliances for wounds A61M27/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0206 with antagonistic arms as supports for retractor elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/025 Joint distractors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0293 with ring member to support retractor elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3417 Details of tips or shafts, e.g. grooves, expandable, bendable; Multiple coaxial sliding cannulas, e.g. for dilating syringe needles A61M5/32; dilators A61M29/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3423 Access ports, e.g. toroid shape introducers for instruments or hands access sites for liquids A61M39/0247
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3431 being collapsible, e.g. made of thin flexible material A61B17/3423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3439 with means for changing the inner diameter of the cannula, e.g. expandable A61B17/3423, A61B17/3431 take precedence; catheters A61M25/0662
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3468 for implanting or removing devices, e.g. prostheses, implants, seeds, wires devices for implanting seeds A61M37/0069
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00243 cardiac
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/3427 for intercostal space
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/3482 inside
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/306 using optical fibres

Abstract

The present invention provides a retractor for providing surgical access through a passage in tissue, together with methods for its use and deployment. The retractor comprises an anchoring frame having an upper surface, a lower surface, and an opening therethrough which defines an axial axis. A flexible tensioning member is attached to the frame, and is extendable from the frame out of the body through the passage when the frame is positioned through the passage and into a body cavity. This tensioning member is selectively tensionable to spread the tissue radially outwardly from the axial axis. Hence, it is the tension imposed on the flexible liner which effects retraction of the tissue, rather than relying on the structural integrity of an artificial lumen.

Claims

1. An illuminating retractor for providing surgical access to a body cavity of a patient through a passage in tissue, the retractor comprising:

a flexible internal anchor having an opening, the internal anchor being insertable through the passage and into the body cavity;

a tissue retracting structure extending proximally from the internal anchor for holding the passage open sufficiently to provide direct visualization of the internal body cavity from outside the patient;

an external anchor on the tissue restraining structure spaced proximally from the internal anchor; and

an illuminating device disposed at the opening in the internal anchor to facilitate visualization through the open passage.

2. An illuminated retractor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the illuminating device comprises a plurality of optical fibers having distal ends oriented toward the body cavity.

3. An illuminated retractor as claimed in claim 2, wherein the plurality of optical fibers are independent of the tissue restraining structure.

4. An illuminated retractor as claimed in claim 2, wherein the plurality of optical fibers are mounted to the tissue restraining structure.

5. An illuminated retractor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the internal anchor comprises an anchoring frame having an opening, the tissue restraining structure comprises a liner extending from the frame at least partially around the opening, and the external anchor is configured to maintain outward radial tension in the liner.

6. An illuminating retractor for providing surgical access to a body cavity of a patient through a passage in tissue, the retractor comprising:

a flexible internal anchor having an opening, the internal anchor being insertable through the passage and into the body cavity;

a flexible tissue restraining structure extending proximally from the internal anchor, the tissue restraining structure configured to be secured in tension outside the body cavity so as to hold the passage open sufficiently to provide direct visualization of the internal body cavity from outside the patient; and

an illuminating device disposed at the opening in the internal anchor to facilitate visualization through the open passage.