Flexible, selectively rotatable tissue retractor and method for using the retractor
First Claim
1. A retractor for manipulating an object, the retractor comprising:
- a retractor body having proximal and distal ends;
a retraction device having;
a head connected at the distal end of the retractor body; and
flexible needles of a shape memory material having a memory shape, at least one of the flexible needles having a needle body, the memory shape of the needles including a portion with an arcuate shape housed, at least partially, within the head;
an actuation device connected to the proximal end of the retractor body and operatively connected to the needles, the actuation device, upon actuation thereof, moving the needles out of the head and withdrawing the needles into the head; and
a rotation joint;
having a slot shaped to accept a portion of the needle body;
having at least one engaging surface corresponding to a surface of the needle body; and
coupling the proximal end of the retractor body to the distal end of the retractor body and allowing the distal end of the retractor body and the retraction device to rotate independent of the proximal end of the retractor body, whereby rotation of the needle body causes rotation of the distal end of the retractor body and the flexible needles relative to the proximal end of the retractor body.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A retractor for manipulating an object, the retractor includes a retractor body with proximal and distal ends, a retraction device with a head connected at the distal end of the retractor body and flexible needles of a shape memory material having a memory shape, the memory shape of the needles including a portion with an arcuate shape housed, at least partially, within the head. The retractor further includes an actuation device connected to the proximal end of the retractor body and operatively connected to the needles, the actuation device, upon actuation thereof, moving the needles out of the head and withdrawing the needles into the head and a rotation joint allowing the distal end of the retractor body and the retraction device to rotate independent of the proximal end of the retractor body.
16 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A retractor for manipulating an object, the retractor comprising:
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a retractor body having proximal and distal ends; a retraction device having; a head connected at the distal end of the retractor body; and flexible needles of a shape memory material having a memory shape, at least one of the flexible needles having a needle body, the memory shape of the needles including a portion with an arcuate shape housed, at least partially, within the head; an actuation device connected to the proximal end of the retractor body and operatively connected to the needles, the actuation device, upon actuation thereof, moving the needles out of the head and withdrawing the needles into the head; and a rotation joint; having a slot shaped to accept a portion of the needle body; having at least one engaging surface corresponding to a surface of the needle body; and coupling the proximal end of the retractor body to the distal end of the retractor body and allowing the distal end of the retractor body and the retraction device to rotate independent of the proximal end of the retractor body, whereby rotation of the needle body causes rotation of the distal end of the retractor body and the flexible needles relative to the proximal end of the retractor body. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A retractor for manipulating an object, the retractor comprising:
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a retractor body having proximal and distal ends; a retraction device having; a head connected at the distal end of the retractor body; and flexible needles of a shape memory material having a memory shape, the memory shape of the needles including a portion with an arcuate shape housed, at least partially, within the head; an actuation device connected to the proximal end of the retractor body and operatively connected to the needles, the actuation device, upon actuation thereof, moving the needles out of the head and withdrawing the needles into the head; and a rotation joint coupling the proximal end of the retractor body to the distal end of the retractor body and allowing the distal end of the retractor body and the retraction device to rotate independent of the proximal end of the retractor body, wherein the rotation joint comprises; a swivel bushing fixedly coupled to the distal end of the retractor body, the swivel bushing comprising a slot accepting a portion of a needle body and having at least one engaging surface corresponding to a flat surface of the needle body, the engaging surface of the swivel bushing and the flat surface of the needle body allowing a rotation of the needle body to generate a corresponding rotation of the swivel bushing; and a swivel coil coupler fixedly coupled to the proximal end of the retractor body and rotationally freely coupled to the swivel bushing. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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20. A retractor for manipulating an object, the retractor comprising:
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a retractor body having proximal and distal ends; a retraction device having; a head connected at the distal end of the retractor body; and flexible needles of a shape memory material having a memory shape, at least one of the flexible needles having a needle body with at least one engaging surface, the memory shape of the needles including a portion with an arcuate shape housed, at least partially, within the head; an actuation device connected to the proximal end of the retractor body and operatively connected to the needles, the actuation device, upon actuation thereof, moving the needles out of the head and withdrawing the needles into the head; and a rotation joint; having a slot shaped to accept a portion of the needle body; having at least one engaging surface corresponding to the at least one engaging surface of the needle body; and coupling the proximal end of the retractor body to the distal end of the retractor body and allowing the distal end of the retractor body and the retraction device to rotate independent of the proximal end of the retractor body, whereby the engaging surface of the rotation joint and the engaging surface of the needle body cooperate to allow a rotation of the needle body to cause a rotation of the distal end of the retractor body and the flexible needles relative to the proximal end of the retractor body.
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Specification