Tissue retractors
First Claim
1. A surgical system, comprising:
- a cannula having a proximal end and a distal end;
a flexible fabric adapted to support tissue, the fabric disposed within the cannula;
a deployment member permanently coupled to the flexible fabric and adapted to allow the fabric to be pulled through a port, the deployment member being coupled to the flexible fabric at a substantially central midpoint thereof, and the deployment member extending from the distal end of the cannula such that the deployment member can be pulled distally to advance the fabric out of the distal end of the cannula to allow the fabric to support tissue; and
at least one grasping element coupled to a perimeter of the flexible fabric and adapted to be manipulated to move the flexible fabric and thereby move the tissue, the at least one grasping element extending from the proximal end of the cannula such that the at least one grasping element can be manipulated when the fabric is advanced distally from the cannula to move tissue supported by the fabric.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and devices are provided for performing surgical procedures using tissue retractors. In general, the methods and devices allow a surgeon to use a retractor to capture a large or small amount of tissue in a fabric and to move the fabric to relocate the tissue to one or more convenient locations during the procedure. The flexible nature of the fabric can allow the fabric to be moveable between an open position, in which the fabric can support tissue, and a closed position, in which the fabric can be folded, rolled, or otherwise compressed in size and fit through a port, such as a trocar or an incision in a tissue wall. Furthermore, the position of the fabric and thus the tissue held in the fabric can be adjusted and readjusted by pushing or pulling one or more grasping elements coupled to the fabric.
-
Citations
10 Claims
-
1. A surgical system, comprising:
-
a cannula having a proximal end and a distal end; a flexible fabric adapted to support tissue, the fabric disposed within the cannula; a deployment member permanently coupled to the flexible fabric and adapted to allow the fabric to be pulled through a port, the deployment member being coupled to the flexible fabric at a substantially central midpoint thereof, and the deployment member extending from the distal end of the cannula such that the deployment member can be pulled distally to advance the fabric out of the distal end of the cannula to allow the fabric to support tissue; and at least one grasping element coupled to a perimeter of the flexible fabric and adapted to be manipulated to move the flexible fabric and thereby move the tissue, the at least one grasping element extending from the proximal end of the cannula such that the at least one grasping element can be manipulated when the fabric is advanced distally from the cannula to move tissue supported by the fabric. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
Specification