Wound retractor

• US 7,540,839 B2
• Filed: 08/06/2003
• Issued: 06/02/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Atropos Limited
• Original Assignee: Atropos Limited
• Inventors: Mulhall, Michael, McManus, Ronan Bernard, Bonadio, Frank, Butler, John
• Primary Examiner(s): RAMANA, ANURADHA
• Application Number:
  US10/635,017
• Publication Number:
  US 20040073090A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,127 Days
• Field of Search: 600204-210
• US Class Current: 600/208
• 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 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

Abstract

A surgical wound retractor comprises a retracting member for insertion into a wound opening and a proximal member for location externally of a wound opening A clamp is used to clamp the retracting member to the proximal member.

Claims

1. A wound retractor device, comprising:

a longitudinal axis;

a distal ring;

a proximal assembly including a first member having a radially inner portion and a radially outer portion, and a second member having a radially inner portion and a radially outer portion, the second member including a plurality of interconnected segments which are independently movable to facilitate localized release of the sleeve; and

a wound retracting sleeve extending at least between the distal ring and the proximal assembly and slidably received between the radially outer portion of the first member and the radially inner portion of the second member.

2. A wound retractor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sleeve is a generally cylindrical sleeve.

3. A wound retractor as claimed in claim 1, further including a securing portion configured to fix the sleeve at a desired axial length between the distal ring and the proximal assembly.

4. A wound retractor as claimed in claim 3, wherein the securing portion includes formations on the second member configured to receive a portion of the sleeve.

5. A wound retractor as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the first member is located within a recess of the second member.

6. A wound retractor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the segments are manually manipulable between a clamped rest position and a release position.

7. A wound retractor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the distal ring is of resilient material.

8. A wound retractor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the distal ring is an O-ring.

9. A wound retractor as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the proximal assembly includes a material with a low coefficient of friction.

10. A wound retractor as claimed in claim 9, said material with a low coefficient of friction is polytetrafluroethylene.

11. A wound retractor as claimed in claim 1, further including a sealing device coupled to the proximal assembly so as to allow the wound retractor to be used in laparoscopic surgery.

12. A wound retractor as claimed in claim 11, wherein the sealing device includes a hand access device that extends across a central opening provided by the retractor.

13. A wound retractor as claimed in claim 1, further including a capping device coupled to the proximal assembly, the capping device extending across a central opening provided by the retractor.

14. A wound retractor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first member includes a ring having a circular cross-section.

15. A wound retractor as claimed in claim 14, wherein the second member includes a ring shape.

16. A wound retractor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the radially outer portion of the first member is curved.

17. A wound retractor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sleeve is fixed to the distal ring.

18. A wound retractor as claimed in claim 1, further including a clamp to assist in securing the sleeve to the proximal assembly.

19. A wound retractor device, comprising:

a longitudinal axis;

a distal ring;

a proximal assembly including a first member having a radially outer portion, and a second member having a radially inner portion, the radially outer portion of the first member being located at least partially within a recess in the radially inner portion; and

a generally cylindrical wound retracting sleeve extending at least between the distal ring and the proximal assembly, through the proximal assembly between the radially outer portion of the first member and the radially inner portion of the second member, and proximally beyond the proximal assembly, a portion of the sleeve extending proximally beyond the proximal assembly forming a gripping portion for pulling the sleeve to shorten an axial length of the sleeve located between the distal ring and the proximal assembly.

20. A wound retractor as claimed in claim 19, wherein the distal ring is of resilient material.

21. A wound retractor as claimed in claim 19, wherein at least a portion of the proximal assembly includes polytetrafluroethylene.

22. A wound retractor as claimed in claim 19, further including a sealing device coupled to the proximal assembly so as to allow the wound retractor to be used in laparoscopic surgery.

23. The wound retractor as claimed in claim 22, wherein the sealing device is coupled to the proximal assembly via a snap-type engagement.