O-ring for incrementally adjustable incision liner and retractor
First Claim
1. An O-ring for use in an adjustable surgical wound protector, comprising:
- a circular torus having a circular cross-section comprising four quadrants wherein material defining two diagonally opposed quadrants is removed, leaving two diagonally opposed recesses and a solid cross-section including a cross-sectional center that is radially equidistant from a central longitudinal axis and a resilient configuration for squeezing into an oblong shape that is insertable into a surgical incision wherein said solid portion of said O-ring defines a first solid quadrant and a diagonally opposed second solid quadrant wherein said first solid quadrant includes a curved outer surface, a curved annular surface, and a sinusoidal surface, and said second solid quadrant includes a curved outer surface, a curved annular surface, and a sinusoidal surface; and
two recesses that are selectively sized and shaped to enable a snap-action rolling of said O-ring about said cross-sectional center in predetermined increments.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An O-ring is provided for use in an adjustable surgical wound protector having a solid cross-section including a cross-sectional center that is spaced from a central longitudinal axis and a resilient configuration for squeezing into an oblong shape that is insertable into a surgical incision. At least one recess is defined in the O-ring that is selectively sized and shaped to enable a snap-action rolling of the O-ring about the cross-sectional center in predetermined increments. The recess may comprise various cross-sectional shapes, such as, at least one circumferential groove, a plurality of circumferentially positioned recesses, or be shaped such that the O-ring comprises a cruciform cross-section. An improved incrementally adjustable apparatus for protecting an incised wound from exposure to bacterial and other harmful contaminants is also provided including a pair of resilient O-rings connected to opposite ends of an impermeable pliable sleeve. One of the O-rings is formed to engage the inner edge of the wound with a portion of the sleeve above the wound capable of being rolled onto the other ring to draw the remaining sleeve portion contiguous with the sides of the wound.
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Citations
9 Claims
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1. An O-ring for use in an adjustable surgical wound protector, comprising:
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a circular torus having a circular cross-section comprising four quadrants wherein material defining two diagonally opposed quadrants is removed, leaving two diagonally opposed recesses and a solid cross-section including a cross-sectional center that is radially equidistant from a central longitudinal axis and a resilient configuration for squeezing into an oblong shape that is insertable into a surgical incision wherein said solid portion of said O-ring defines a first solid quadrant and a diagonally opposed second solid quadrant wherein said first solid quadrant includes a curved outer surface, a curved annular surface, and a sinusoidal surface, and said second solid quadrant includes a curved outer surface, a curved annular surface, and a sinusoidal surface; and
two recesses that are selectively sized and shaped to enable a snap-action rolling of said O-ring about said cross-sectional center in predetermined increments. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. An adjustable surgical wound protector, comprising:
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an elongate open-ended tube formed of a pliable material that is impervious to solid and fluid contaminants for inserting lengthwise into a surgical incision;
two O-rings, one each secured around the open ends of said tube having a resilient configuration for overlapping the inner edge of the wound and for squeezing into an oblong shape that is insertable with a lengthwise portion of the sleeve adjacent to one of said O-rings in said surgical incision; and
wherein at least one O-ring comprises a circular cross-section of comprising four quadrants wherein material defining two diagonally opposed quadrants is removed, leaving two diagonally opposed recesses and at least one recess for enabling selected snap-action rolling of said at least one O-ring for rolling the remaining lengthwise portion of said sleeve on itself about said O-ring to shorten said sleeve in predetermined increments and to resist subsequent lengthening, whereby the sleeve length can be adjusted before or after placement in the wound; and
further wherein said solid portion of said O-ring defines a first solid quadrant and a diagonally opposed second solid quadrant wherein said first solid quadrant includes a curved outer surface, a curved annular surface, and a sinusoidal surface, and said second solid quadrant includes a curved outer surface, a curved annular surface, and a sinusoidal surface.- View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9)
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Specification