O-ring for incrementally adjustable incision liner and retractor

• US 6,613,952 B2
• Filed: 07/16/2002
• Issued: 09/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: MCT II, LLC
• Original Assignee: Robert D. Rambo
• Inventors: Rambo, Robert D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lucchesi, Nicholas D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hamilton, Lalita M.
• Application Number:
  US10/196,647
• Publication Number:
  US 20030062051A1
• Time in Patent Office: 413 Days
• Field of Search: 128/845, 128/846, 128/888, 602/42, 602/43, 602/50, 602/60, 602/63, 602/75, 602/901, 600/206, 600/207, 600/208, 600/236
• US Class Current: 602/41
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0293 with ring member to support retractor elements
• 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 90/40 Apparatus fixed or close to patients specially adapted for providing an aseptic surgical environment

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.

Claims

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.

2. An O-ring according to claim 1 wherein said at least one recess comprises at least one circumferential groove.

3. An O-ring according to claim 1 comprising a plurality of circumferentially positioned recesses.

4. An O-ring according to claim 1 wherein said at least one recess yields a cruciform cross-section of said O-ring.

5. An O-ring according to claim 1 wherein said first and second curved annular surfaces are at substantially the same radial distance from said central longitudinal axis, and are vertically oriented so as to be substantially parallel with said central longitudinal axis.

6. An adjustable surgical wound protector, comprising:

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.

7. An adjustable surgical wound protector according to claim 6 wherein said first and second curved annular surfaces are at substantially the same radial distance from said central longitudinal axis, and are vertically oriented so as to be substantially parallel with said central longitudinal axis.

8. An adjustable surgical wound protector according to claim 7 wherein said sinusoidal surfaces extend transversely relative to said central longitudinal axis.

9. An adjustable surgical wound protector according to claim 6 wherein said sleeve is a thin sheet disposed in a generally cylindrical form with overlapping lengthwise margins sealed together.