Retractor for performing heart and thorax surgeries

• US 7,507,202 B2
• Filed: 11/28/2005
• Issued: 03/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Karl Storz Se & Co. Kg
• Original Assignee: Karl Storz Se & Co. Kg
• Inventors: Schoellhorn, Joachim
• Primary Examiner(s): Lewis; Ralph A
• Application Number:
  US11/287,717
• Publication Number:
  US 20060089537A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,212 Days
• Field of Search: 600231-233, 600/210, 600/213, 600/222
• US Class Current: 600/232
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0206 with antagonistic arms as supports for retractor elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0237 for heart surgery endoscopic heart surgery A61B2017/00243; endoscopic access devices, i.e. trocars, A61B17/34

Abstract

A retractor has a rail, a first holding arm protruding from this rail at an angle at a second holding arm extending approximately parallel to the first holding arm. A distance between the two arms being modifiable. At least one functional element is mounted on one of these holding arms, which functional element has a section extending transversely to the holding arms and a swivel bracket protruding from this transverse section. The functional element being pivotable about a pin extending roughly parallel to the arms via the swivel bracket, a swiveled position can be set by grasping the function element with a hand. A locking mechanism serves for locking the functional element in a swiveled position.

Claims

1. A retractor comprising

a rail,

a first holding arm protruding from said rail at an angle,

a second holding arm extending from said rail approximately parallel to said first holding arm,

a distance between said first and said second holding arms being adjustable,

at least one functional element mounted on one of said two holding arms,

said functional element having a locking section extending transversely to said holding arm and extending away from said holding arm on a side opposite to a site of a surgery,

a swivel bracket protruding from said functional element,

said functional element being pivotable about a pin extending roughly parallel to said holding arms via said swivel bracket,

wherein a swiveled position of said functional element about said pin can be set by grasping it with a hand, and

an elongated rack having a plurality of teeth along a length thereof, the rack pivotally mounted at one end to said swivel bracket, said teeth engageable with said locking section of said functional element for locking said functional element in said swiveled position.

2. The retractor of claim 1, wherein said rack, along with a locking catch, form a click mechanism.

3. The retractor of claim 2, wherein said locking catch is formed by a notch in said functional element.

4. The retractor of claim 3, wherein said locking catch is beveled on a site facing said rack.

5. The retractor of claim 1, wherein said rack points away from said retractor roughly at a right angle to a longitudinal axis of a holding arm.

6. The retractor of claim 5, wherein said rack has a T-shaped handle on an end facing away from said retractor.

7. The retractor of claim 1, wherein said functional element can be moved along said holding arm.

8. The retractor of claim 1, wherein said functional element can be removed from said holding arm.

9. The retractor of claim 1, wherein said functional element is capable of attachment to any one of said two holding arms.

10. The retractor of claim 1, wherein said functional element having at least partially a countered surface on an area where it is at an edge of a surgery site in a body.

11. The retractor of claim 10, wherein said countered surface has a crossed herring bone pattern.

12. The retractor of claim 10, wherein said countered surface structure has pyramid-shaped elevations with a rhombus-shaped base.

13. The retractor of claim 1, wherein said functional element is mounted on one of said two holding arms and a valve is mounted on the other one of said two holding arms.