Force-determining retraction device and associated method
First Claim
1. A method of separating incised tissue, comprising:
- engaging at least one retraction member with the tissue at an incision having opposing sides to be separated;
automatically separating the opposing sides of the incision by exerting a force thereon via the at least one retraction member as directed by a controller in operable communication therewith;
measuring, via a measuring device in operable communication with the controller, at least one of a force magnitude, a stress magnitude, a strain magnitude, a force rate, a stress rate, and a strain rate associated with the exerted force on the tissue; and
automatically effecting at least one of a force magnitude relaxation, a stress magnitude relaxation, a strain magnitude relaxation, a force rate relaxation, a stress rate relaxation, and a strain rate relaxation on the tissue in response to the measured at least one of the force magnitude, the stress magnitude, the strain magnitude, the force rate, the stress rate, and the strain rate via the at least one retraction member as directed by the controller.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A retraction device including at least one pair of opposed retraction members, with each retraction member being capable of operably engaging the tissue to be retracted. A drive mechanism is operably engaged with at least one of each pair of retraction members for separating one of each pair of retraction members from the other to retract the tissue. A measuring device is operably engaged with at least one of the drive mechanism and one of each pair of retraction members, for determining and/or controlling a magnitude and/or rate of a force and/or strain imparted to the tissue by the drive mechanism via the retraction members as the tissue is being retracted. Associated devices and methods are also provided.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A method of separating incised tissue, comprising:
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engaging at least one retraction member with the tissue at an incision having opposing sides to be separated; automatically separating the opposing sides of the incision by exerting a force thereon via the at least one retraction member as directed by a controller in operable communication therewith; measuring, via a measuring device in operable communication with the controller, at least one of a force magnitude, a stress magnitude, a strain magnitude, a force rate, a stress rate, and a strain rate associated with the exerted force on the tissue; and automatically effecting at least one of a force magnitude relaxation, a stress magnitude relaxation, a strain magnitude relaxation, a force rate relaxation, a stress rate relaxation, and a strain rate relaxation on the tissue in response to the measured at least one of the force magnitude, the stress magnitude, the strain magnitude, the force rate, the stress rate, and the strain rate via the at least one retraction member as directed by the controller. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A system for separating incised tissue, comprising:
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at least one retraction member capable of operably engaging tissue at a side of an incision having opposing sides, and the at least one retraction member being configured to exert a force on the tissue to separate the opposing sides of the incision; a drive mechanism operably engaged with the at least one retraction member and configured to actuate the at least one retraction member to exert the force in response to a drive signal, such that a separation of the opposing sides of the incision is capable of being performed automatically by the at least one retraction member; a measuring device operably engaged with the drive mechanism and configured to provide a measure signal corresponding to at least one of a force magnitude, a stress magnitude, a strain magnitude, a force rate, a stress rate, and a strain rate associated with the exerted force on the tissue at the side of the incision by the at least one retraction member as the opposing sides of the incision are being separated; and a controller operably coupled to the drive mechanism and the measuring device, the controller being configured to; communicate the drive signal to the drive mechanism to automatically actuate the at least one retraction member to exert the force on the tissue to automatically separate the opposing sides of the incision; receive the measure signal from the measuring device corresponding to at least one of the force magnitude, the stress magnitude, the strain magnitude, the force rate, the stress rate, and the strain rate associated with the exerted force on the tissue, resulting from separating the opposing sides of the incision; and automatically effect at least one of a force magnitude relaxation, a stress magnitude relaxation, a strain magnitude relaxation, a force rate relaxation, a stress rate relaxation, and a strain rate relaxation on the tissue via the at least one retraction member in response to the measured at least one of the force magnitude, the stress magnitude, the strain magnitude, the force rate, the stress rate, and the strain rate. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification