Retractor

• US 7,445,597 B2
• Filed: 02/27/2003
• Issued: 11/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Atropos Limited
• Original Assignee: Atropos Limited
• Inventors: Bonadio, Frank, Butler, John, Gill, Aoibheann, Young, Derek William, Reid, Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): RAMANA, ANURADHA
• Application Number:
  US10/374,523
• Publication Number:
  US 20040049100A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,077 Days
• Field of Search: 600204-210, 128/849, 128/856
• US Class Current: 600/208
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/32 Devices for opening or enlarging the visual field, e.g. of a tube of the body dilators A61M29/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0206 with antagonistic arms as supports for retractor elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0218 for minimally invasive surgery A61B17/0281, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0293 with ring member to support retractor elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3421 Cannulas
• 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 2017/00265 Hand assisted surgery, i.e. minimally invasive surgery with at least part of an assisting hand inside the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00557 inflatable A61B2017/22051 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0225 flexible, e.g. fabrics, meshes, or membranes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/3419 Sealing means between cannula and body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/3429 having a unitary compressible body, e.g. made of silicone or foam
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/3488 Fixation to inner organ or inner body tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/3492 against the outside of the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/50 Supports for surgical instruments, e.g. articulated arms

Abstract

A retractor (101) for retracting the margins of a wound opening (103) comprises an inner anchoring O-ring (105) attached to a cylindrical sleeve (106) at a distal end and a reinforcing O-ring (109) attached to a proximal end of the sleeve (106). The sleeve (106) is led between an inner ring part (110) and a corresponding recess (116) in an outer ring part (111). The outer ring part (111) has anchor formations (120) over which the proximal end of the sleeve (106) is attached to anchor the sleeve (106). To retract the wound opening (103) the sleeve (106) is pulled while the guide rings (110, 111) are moved against the tissue surrounding the wound opening (103). This pulls the inner O-ring (105) against the inside of the tissue adjacent the wound opening (103), and retracts the wound opening (103). The sleeve (106) is manipulated locally for maximum retraction efficiency.

Claims

1. A method of retracting and sealing an incision for hand-assisted laparoscopic procedures, comprising:

making an incision in a patient;

providing a wound retractor system including a distal ring, a proximal ring, a sleeve extending between the distal ring and the proximal ring and fixedly coupled to both the proximal ring and distal ring, and a proximal receiver including a recess;

inserting the distal ring through the incision such that the sleeve extends through the incision and the proximal ring is located outside of the incision;

retracting the incision with the sleeve;

coupling a portion of the proximal ring to the recess of the proximal receiver so that the receiver restricts movement of the proximal ring and an actual length of the sleeve between the distal ring and the proximal receiver is shortened; and

coupling a hand access device to the proximal receiver.

2. A method of retracting and sealing an incision for hand-assisted laparoscopic procedures according to claim 1, wherein the coupling of a hand access device to the proximal receiver includes a snap-type engagement.

3. A method of retracting and sealing an incision for hand-assisted laparoscopic procedures according to claim 1, wherein the coupling of a portion of the proximal ring to the recess includes coupling the proximal ring to a plurality of recesses of the proximal receiver.

4. A method of retracting and sealing an incision for hand-assisted laparoscopic procedures according to claim 1, wherein the retracting of the incision includes inverting at least a portion of the sleeve prior to said coupling of a portion of the proximal ring to the recess of the proximal receiver.

5. A method of retracting and sealing an incision for hand-assisted laparoscopic procedures according to claim 4, wherein the coupling of a portion of the proximal ring to the recess helps to maintain the inverted portion of the sleeve in an inverted state.

6. A method of retracting and sealing an incision for hand-assisted laparoscopic procedures, comprising:

making an incision in a patient;

providing a wound retractor system including a distal ring, a proximal ring, a sleeve extending between the distal ring and the proximal ring and fixedly coupled to both the proximal ring and distal ring, and a proximal receiver including a recess;

inserting the distal ring through the incision such that the sleeve extends through the incision and the proximal ring is located outside of the incision;

retracting the incision with the sleeve; and

inverting at least a portion of the sleeve prior to coupling a portion of the proximal ring to the recess of the proximal receiver so that the receiver restricts movement of the proximal ring and an actual length of the sleeve between the distal ring and the proximal receiver is shortened.

7. A method of retracting and sealing an incision for hand-assisted laparoscopic procedures according to claim 6, further including coupling a hand access device to the proximal receiver.

8. A method of retracting and sealing an incision for hand-assisted laparoscopic procedures according to claim 7, wherein the coupling of a hand access device to the proximal receiver includes a snap-type engagement.

9. A method of retracting and sealing an incision for hand-assisted laparoscopic procedures according to claim 6, wherein the coupling of a portion of the proximal ring to the recess includes bringing the sleeve into engagement with the proximal receiver.

10. A method of retracting and sealing an incision for hand-assisted laparoscopic procedures according to claim 6, wherein the coupling of a portion of the proximal ring to the recess includes drawing the portion of the sleeve beyond a proximal end of the proximal receiver.

11. A method of retracting and sealing an incision for hand-assisted laparoscopic procedures according to claim 6, wherein the coupling of a portion of the proximal ring to the recess helps to maintain the inverted portion of the sleeve in an inverted state.

12. A method of retracting and sealing an incision for hand-assisted laparoscopic procedures according to claim 6, wherein the coupling of a portion of the proximal ring to the recess includes bringing the proximal ring into direct contact with the recess.