Retractor assembly and method for surgical procedures

• US 6,254,533 B1
• Filed: 07/07/2000
• Issued: 07/03/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dexterity Surgical, Inc. (Wave Sync Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Dexterity Surgical, Inc. (Wave Sync Corp.)
• Inventors: Fadem, Kalford C., Feiler, Frederic C. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Jeffrey A.
• Application Number:
  US09/611,453
• Time in Patent Office: 361 Days
• Field of Search: 600/184, 600/201, 600/206, 600/207, 600/208, 600/227, 600/231, 600/233, 128/850, 606/213
• US Class Current: 600/208
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0293 with ring member to support retractor elements

Abstract

The present invention covers a surgical wound protector apparatus for the protective support of an incision and support of surgical apparatus utilized within the incision. The apparatus comprises a flexible resilient wound liner sleeve having an open upper end and an open lower end with a rigid annular ring arranged to securely receive the upper end of the resilient sleeve when the sleeve and the ring are applied to an incision of a patient.

Claims

1. A surgical wound protector apparatus for the protective support of an incision and support of surgical apparatus utilized within the incision, comprising:

a flexible resilient wound liner sleeve having an open upper end and an open lower end; and

a rigid annular ring including a channel arranged to securely receive said upper end of said resilient sleeve when said sleeve and said ring are applied to an incision of a patient, said rigid annular ring having a retractor blade and arm attached thereon for assistance during a surgical procedure.

2. The surgical wound protector apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said channel has a retractor blade arm receiver arranged thereon to controllably support said blade thereon when said apparatus in placed about an incision.

3. The surgical wound protector apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said rigid annular ring comprises an annular base and an inner upstanding flange.

4. The surgical wound protector apparatus as recited in claim 3, wherein said rigid annular ring also comprises an outer upstanding flange, extending from said annular base.

5. The surgical wound protector apparatus as recited in claims 3, wherein said inner upstanding flange has a securement lip extending radially outwardly from an upper edge thereof.

6. The surgical wound protector apparatus as recited in claim 1, including a resilient torroidally shaped chamber attached to a lower side of said rigid annular ring to function as a sealant between a wound site of a patient and said rigid ring.

7. The surgical wound protector apparatus as recited in claim 6, wherein said chamber on a lower side of said ring is pressurized.

8. The surgical wound protector apparatus as recited in claim 1, including a dome shaped cover arranged to mate onto a flange of said rigid ring.

9. The surgical wound protector apparatus as recited in claim 8, wherein said rigid ring includes a second flange.

10. The surgical wound protector apparatus as recited in claim 8, wherein said cover has an annular rim, said flange and said annular rim having an O-ring sealingly arranged therebetween.

11. The surgical wound protector apparatus as recited in claim 8, wherein said cover has a sealable port thereon to permit access of surgical apparatus therethrough.

12. A method of supportively protecting a surgical incision comprising the steps of:

placing a resilient wound protecting protractor sleeve within the surgical incision;

arranging a rigid ring around said surgical incision, said ring having an annular base and a flange upstanding therefrom;

rolling-up an upper end of said sleeve so as to tightly engage said incision by said sleeve; and

placing said rolled-up portion of said sleeve securely onto said rigid ring for maintenance of said sleeve about said incision.

13. The method of supportively protecting a surgical incision as recited in claim 12, including the step of:

arranging a retractor blade arm receiver onto said rigid ring.

14. The method of supportively protecting a surgical incision as recited in claim 13, including the step of:

attaching a retractor blade to said receiver on said rigid ring to permit said blade to support and maintain body tissue in the patient being treated.

15. The method of supportively protecting a surgical incision as recited in claim 12, including the step of:

placing a dome cover onto said flange of said ring to enclose said wound site of the patient.

16. The method of supportively protecting a surgical incision as recited in claim 15, including the step of:

arranging a sealably openable port in said dome to permit controlled access to said incision site on said patient.

17. The method of supportively protecting a surgical incision as recited in claim 12, including the step of:

attaching a pressurized torroidally shaped chamber onto a lower side of said ring to sealing mate said ring to a patient being treated.