Deep tissue surgical retractor apparatus and method of retracting tissue

• US 6,468,207 B1
• Filed: 09/15/2000
• Issued: 10/22/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Coopersurgical Incorporated (The Cooper Cos., Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Lone Star Medical Products, Inc. (The Cooper Cos., Inc.)
• Inventors: Fowler, James M. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Jeffrey A.
• Application Number:
  US09/663,562
• Time in Patent Office: 767 Days
• Field of Search: 600/210, 600/213, 600/217, 600/219, 600/231, 600/232, 600/233
• US Class Current: 600/233
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0206 with antagonistic arms as supports for retractor elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0293 with ring member to support retractor elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/06061 Holders for needles or sutures, e.g. racks, stands hand-held holding instruments A61B17/0483; holders for articles A61B50/20; racks for syringes or for hypodermic or infusion needles A61M5/008

Abstract

A retractor system having a blade assembly with notches for receiving a portion of a surgical retractor stay. A retractor system having a cam lock mechanism and/or a ratchet mechanism to restrict movement of the paddle arms. A retractor system having pinions to engage an elastic band to aid the frame and paddle arms to automatically self-position during a surgical procedure.

Claims

1. A surgical retractor system for use in surgery comprising:

a frame;

a blade assembly having a blade member for retracting tissue and having an extension having a plurality of notches, wherein the notches are adapted to receive a portion of a surgical retractor stay; and

a paddle arm having a first end and a second end, the second end connected to the blade member and the first end pivotally connected to the frame.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the paddle arm is removably connected to the blade assembly.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the paddle arm is formed as a unitary member with the blade assembly.

4. The system of claim 1 comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of aluminum, stainless steel, polycarbonate, polyphenylene ether and nylon.

5. A surgical retractor system for use in surgery comprising:

a frame including an aperture having an edge with teeth;

a hub having a bore; and

a pin received by the bore and the aperture, wherein the pin couples the hub to the frame.

6. The system of claim 5, further comprising:

a blade assembly; and

a paddle arm having a first end connected to the hub and a second end connected to the blade assembly.

7. The system of claim 5 comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of aluminum, stainless steel, polycarbonate, polyphenylene ether and nylon.

8. The system of claim 5, wherein the frame is articulated.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the frame comprises frame members hingedly connected to each other.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the frame has a portion comprised of flexible metal or plastic.

11. The system of claim 5, wherein the hub further comprises a pinion.

12. A surgical retractor system for use in surgery comprising:

a frame having an aperture;

a hub having a bore;

a pin received by the bore and the aperture, wherein the pin couples the hub to the frame, wherein the pin has a stud and the aperture has an indentation for receiving the stud and further wherein the stud and indentation cooperate to provide a cam locking mechanism.

13. A surgical retractor system for use in surgery comprising:

a frame having an aperture;

a hub having a bore;

a pin received by the bore and the aperture, wherein the pin couples the hub to the frame;

a blade assembly; and

a paddle arm having a first end connected to the hub and a second end connected to the blade assembly, wherein the blade assembly further comprises an extension having notches for receiving a portion of a surgical retractor stay.

14. A surgical retractor system for use in surgery comprising:

a frame having an aperture;

a hub having a bore; and

a pin received by the bore and the aperture, wherein the pin couples the hub to the frame,

wherein the aperture includes a plurality of teeth and the hub includes a plurality of projections, the pluralities of teeth and projections cooperating to provide a ratchet mechanism.

15. A surgical retractor system for use in surgery comprising:

a frame having an aperture and a plurality of notches adapted to receive a portion of a surgical retractor stay;

a hub having a bore; and

a pin received by the bore and the aperture, wherein the pin couples the hub to the frame.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the flange is concave.

17. A surgical retractor system for use in surgery comprising:

a frame having a plurality of apertures,

a plurality of hubs, each hub having a bore and a pinion;

a pin received by one of the hub bores and one of the apertures, wherein the pin couples the hub to the frame; and

an elastic band adapted to cooperate with the pinions of two hubs.

18. A surgical retractor system for use in surgery comprising:

a frame having an aperture and a plurality of teeth;

a hub having a bore and a plurality of projections;

a pin received by the bore and the aperture, wherein the teeth and projections cooperate to provide a ratchet mechanism.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the pin has a stud and the aperture has an indentation for receiving the stud and further wherein the stud and indentation cooperate to provide a cam locking mechanism.

20. The system of claim 18, further comprising:

a blade assembly; and

a paddle arm having a first end connected to the hub and a second end connected to the blade assembly.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the blade assembly further comprises an extension having notches for receiving a portion of a surgical retractor stay.

22. The system of claim 18, wherein the frame further comprises a flange having a plurality of notches adapted to receive a portion of a surgical retractor stay.

23. The system of claim 18, wherein the flange is concave.

24. The system of claim 18 comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of aluminum, stainless steel, polycarbonate, polyphenylene ether and nylon.

25. The system of claim 18, wherein the frame is articulated.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the frame comprises frame members hingedly connected to each other.

27. The system of claim 25, wherein the frame has a portion comprised of flexible metal or plastic.

28. The system of claim 18, wherein the hub further comprises a pinion.

29. The system of claim 28, further comprising an elastic band adapted to cooperate with the pinion of the hub and another pinion of a second hub.

30. A surgical retractor system for use in surgery comprising:

(a) a blade assembly having a blade member and an extension having a plurality of notches adapted to receive a portion of a surgical retractor stay;

(b) a frame having a plurality of apertures and a plurality of teeth substantially surrounding each aperture, each aperture including an indentation;

(c) a hub having a bore and a plurality of projections; and

(d) a pin having a stud, the pin received by the bore and one of the apertures, wherein the pin couples the hub and frame, and the teeth and the projections cooperate to provide a ratchet mechanism, and wherein the stud and indentation cooperate to provide a cam locking mechanism.

31. A method of retracting tissue at an incision during a surgical procedure using a retractor frame having an aperture, a hub having a bore, and a pin received by the bore and the aperture and coupling the hub to the frame, wherein the pin has a stud and the aperture has an indentation for receiving the stud and further wherein the stud and indentation cooperate to provide a cam locking mechanism, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) applying a retractor frame conformed to fit a surface of a patient'"'"'s body;

(b) attaching a paddle arm to the frame, the paddle arm having a blade assembly having a blade member that includes an extension adapted to receive a portion of a stay;

(c) adjusting the paddle arm to retract the tissue; and

(d) removing the frame after completing the surgical procedure.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the hub includes a pinion.

33. A method of retracting tissue at an incision during a surgical procedure using a retractor frame having an aperture and a hub, wherein the aperture includes a plurality of teeth and the hub includes a plurality of projections, the pluralities of teeth and projections cooperating to provide a ratchet mechanism, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) applying the retractor frame conformed to fit a surface of a patient'"'"'s body;

(b) attaching a paddle arm to the retractor frame, the paddle arm having a blade assembly having a blade member that includes an extension adapted to receive a portion of a stay;

(c) adjusting the paddle arm to retract the tissue; and

(d) removing the retractor frame after completing the surgical procedure.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the frame includes a second aperture and a second hub, each of the hubs including a pinion, further comprising the step of attaching an elastic band to the pinions of the hubs.