Patent Application
20240390108
The present disclosure relates to self-retaining retractors used in oral or dental surgical procedures.
The importance of surgical retractors is well known in surgical procedures. Surgical retractors are very important because they determine the exposure of the operative field. Surgical retractors are available in many sizes, shapes, and styles. Surgical retractors can be hand-held or self-retaining dependent upon the site requiring the operation. Retractors used in oral or dental surgical procedures are primarily involved in moving mucoperiosteal flaps away and holding them away from a surgical site to improve both visibility and access to the surgical site. They aid in providing an ingress for removing foreign bodies or teeth from the oral cavity.
Self-retaining retractors permit a medical practitioner a hands-free operation during a surgical operation. For oral surgical procedures, there are several types of retractors being used. Common self-retaining retractors used in surgery include: Meyerding, Markham-Meyerding, Gelpi, Cerebellar Jansen, Weitlander and Williams retractors. These are all based on a solid, stainless-steel frame with a self-locking, retaining mechanism. Surgical retractors are typically non-hollow components made from materials that can be placed in an autoclave to be sterilized and so they may be reused for multiple, successive oral surgical procedures. There are a few surgical retractors that have been designed with integrated suction and external light sources mounted upon the tool to allow the oral surgeon to perform an evacuation process at the same time they perform the surgical procedure. Although there are prior art devices that combine suction and an external light source, none have adequately been integrated into standard self-retaining retraction devices. Advancement in surgical techniques and devices have included several devices for suction and retraction as well as “minimally invasive techniques.” However, these devices and techniques, while potentially reducing tissue trauma, lend themselves to increased operating time and thus, increased exposure to anesthesia and infection increases. However, there are no specific self-retaining retractors for the surgical extraction of impacted third mandibular molars.
What is needed is a self-retaining retractor for the surgical extraction of impacted third mandibular molars which integrates an external light source and suction, thereby freeing the operator to perform the intricate tasks of surgery unencumbered by the need to rely upon additional tools and instruments during the operation.
The present subject matter is directed towards a self-retaining surgical flap retractor and method of using the same for the surgical extraction of impacted third mandibular molars.
In a first aspect, the present subject matter relates to a self-retaining surgical flap retractor for surgical extraction of impacted third mandibular molars of a patient, comprising: a first arm having a first handle at a first end of the first arm and having a second end of the first arm; a second arm having a second handle at a first end of the second arm and having a second end of the second arm; a fastener connecting the first arm and the second arm together; a spring or coil situated between the first and the second arm and between the fastener and the respective first ends of the first arm and the second arm that provides an inverse function when the first handle and the second handle are squeezed together thereby opening apart the respective second ends of the first arm and the second arm, wherein a broad, round-edged, and curved flap retractor plate situated at the second end of said second arm is configured to push against the patient's mucoperiosteal flap and keep the mucoperiosteal flap separated from a surgical site of the patient when the first handle and the second handle are squeezed together; a LED light on top of the second end of the second arm for providing illumination to the surgical site; a suction between the respective second ends of the first arm and the second arm having a disposable suction tip at a first end of the suction for providing suction to the surgical site; and a lock formed by squeezing said first handle and said second handle together wherein by said squeezing, the self-retaining surgical flap retractor is configured to maintain a fixed position and alignment within an oral cavity of said patient.
In another aspect, the present subject matter relates to a method for moving mucoperiosteal flaps holding them away from a surgical site during surgical extraction of impacted third mandibular molars of a patient, comprising: providing a self-retaining surgical flap retractor comprising: a first arm having a first handle at a first end of the first arm and having a second end of the first arm; a second arm having a second handle at a first end of the second arm and having a second end of the second arm; a fastener connecting the first arm and the second arm together; a spring or coil situated between the first and the second arm and between the fastener and the respective first ends of the first arm and the second arm that provides an inverse function when the first handle and the second handle are squeezed together, wherein a broad, round-edged, and curved flap retractor plate is situated at the second end of said second arm; a LED light on top of the second end of the second arm for providing illumination to the surgical site; a suction between the respective second ends of the first arm and the second arm having a disposable suction tip at a first end of the suction for providing suction to the surgical site; and a lock formed by squeezing said first handle and said second handle together; placing the respective second ends of the first arm and the second arm inside a mouth of the patient; squeezing the respective first ends of the first handle and the second handle together, thereby opening apart the respective second ends of the first arm and the second arm such that the broad, round-edged, and curved flap retractor plate pushes against the patient's mucoperiosteal flap and keeps the mucoperiosteal flap separated from the surgical site of the patient and a waved surface at the second end of the first arm contacting a tooth of said patient; and locking the first handle and the second handle together such that the self-retaining surgical flap retractor maintains a fixed position and alignment within an oral cavity of said patient.
These and other features of the present subject matter will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification.
Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.
The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the described embodiments or the application and uses of the described embodiments. Any implementation described herein with the words “exemplary” or “illustrative” is not necessarily construed as preferred or advantageous over other implementations.
All of the implementations described below are exemplary implementations provided to enable persons skilled in the art to make or use the embodiments of the disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure, which is defined by the claims. For the purposes of the description herein, there is no intention to be bound by any expressed or implied theory presented in the preceding technical field, background, brief summary or the following detailed description.
It is also to be understood that the specific devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the following specification, are simply exemplary embodiments of the present subject matter defined in the appended claims. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed therein are not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims expressly state otherwise.
The present subject matter is directed towards a self-retaining surgical flap retractor and method of using the same for the surgical extraction of impacted third mandibular molars.
In a first aspect, the present subject matter relates to a self-retaining surgical flap retractor for surgical extraction of impacted third mandibular molars of a patient, comprising: a first arm having a first handle at a first end of the first arm and having a second end of the first arm; a second arm having a second handle at a first end of the second arm and having a second end of the second arm; a fastener connecting the first arm and the second arm together; a spring or coil situated between the first and the second arm and between the fastener and the respective first ends of the first arm and the second arm that provides an inverse function when the first handle and the second handle are squeezed together thereby opening apart the respective second ends of the first arm and the second arm, wherein a broad, round-edged, and curved flap retractor plate situated at the second end of said second arm is configured to push against the patient's mucoperiosteal flap and keep the mucoperiosteal flap separated from a surgical site of the patient when the first handle and the second handle are squeezed together; a LED light on top of the second end of the second arm for providing illumination to the surgical site; a suction between the respective second ends of the first arm and the second arm having a disposable suction tip at a first end of the suction for providing suction to the surgical site; and a lock formed by squeezing said first handle and said second handle together wherein by said squeezing, the self-retaining surgical flap retractor is configured to maintain a fixed position and alignment within an oral cavity of said patient.
In one embodiment, the first arm can be a resting arm which has a waved surface at the second end of the first arm, said waved surface configured for contacting a tooth of said patient. In this regard, the waved surface can be configured for contacting a buccal side of the tooth of the patient.
In another embodiment, the lock used in the present retractor is a serrated lock.
In a further embodiment, the LED light used in the present retractor is detachable. Further, the LED light can be situated on a flat surface of the broad, round-edged, and curved flap retractor plate. In this regard, a diameter of the broad, round-edged, and curved flap retractor plate can be about 2.5 to about 3 cm.
In one embodiment, the self-retaining surgical retractor can be made from stainless steel.
In another aspect, a second end of the suction used in the present retractor can be attached to the first arm or the second arm in a groove in the first arm situated between the fastener and the respective second ends of the first arm or the second arm.
In an embodiment, the self-retaining surgical retractor can be configured for application to a right side or a left side of the patient's mouth.
In another embodiment, at rest, the first arm and the second arm are approximately parallel to one another.
In the embodiment of
In operation, the self-retaining surgical retractor, when deployed by the medical practitioner will be initially inserted into the oral cavity in a closed configuration. When proximal to the surgical site, the medical practitioner squeezes the right side handle (10) and the left side handle (9) together, a movement as shown by the inward arrows, the distal arms will expand out as shown by the outward arrows such that the flap retracting arm (2) on the left side of the self-retaining surgical retractor is pushed against the patient's mucoperiosteal flap and the broad round edged and curved flap retractor plate (8) keeps the mucoperiosteal flap separated from the surgical site. Both arms (2, 4) have small grooves providing an anchor point to affix the disposable suction tip holder (3). As shown in
Additionally, the LED light (1) is provided on the flat side of the broad round edged and curved flap retractor plate (8) and is turned on to provide illumination to the surgical site. The LED light (1) is detachable from the flat side of the flap retracting plate (8). The location of the attached LED light allows the medical practitioner to properly view the surgical area without the need for additional tools. Further, the location of the LED light (1) on the flat side of the flap retracting plate (8) eliminates the need for an assistant to provide a separate lighting device, thereby reducing the time needed to perform the procedure.
The location of the disposable suction tip holder (3) allows for the medical practitioner to properly evacuate smoke, debris, liquids, and other objects from the surgical area without the need for additional tools. Further the location of the disposable suction tip holder (3) also eliminates the need for an assistant to provide a separate suction device, thereby also reducing time needed to perform the procedure.
According to the exemplary embodiment of
Accordingly, the present subject matter relates to a method for moving mucoperiosteal flaps holding them away from a surgical site during surgical extraction of impacted third mandibular molars of a patient, comprising: providing a self-retaining surgical flap retractor comprising: a first arm having a first handle at a first end of the first arm and having a second end of the first arm; a second arm having a second handle at a first end of the second arm and having a second end of the second arm; a fastener connecting the first arm and the second arm together; a spring or coil situated between the first and the second arm and between the fastener and the respective first ends of the first arm and the second arm that provides an inverse function when the first handle and the second handle are squeezed together, wherein a broad, round-edged, and curved flap retractor plate is situated at the second end of said second arm; a LED light on top of the second end of the second arm for providing illumination to the surgical site; a suction between the respective second ends of the first arm and the second arm having a disposable suction tip at a first end of the suction for providing suction to the surgical site; and a lock formed by squeezing said first handle and said second handle together; placing the respective second ends of the first arm and the second arm inside a mouth of the patient; squeezing the respective first ends of the first handle and the second handle together, thereby opening apart the respective second ends of the first arm and the second arm such that the broad, round-edged, and curved flap retractor plate pushes against the patient's mucoperiosteal flap and keeps the mucoperiosteal flap separated from the surgical site of the patient and a waved surface at the second end of the first arm contacting a tooth of said patient; and locking the first handle and the second handle together such that the self-retaining surgical flap retractor maintains a fixed position and alignment within an oral cavity of said patient.
In an embodiment of the present methods, the self-retaining surgical flap retractor can independently maintain the fixed position and alignment within the oral cavity of said patient, permitting hands-free keeping of the mucoperiosteal flap separated from the surgical site of the patient.
In another embodiment of the present methods, said first arm is a resting arm which has a waved surface at the second end of the first arm and said waved surface contacts a tooth of said patient. In this regard, the waved surface can contact a buccal side of the tooth of the patient. Further, the lock can be a serrated lock and the self-retaining surgical retractor can be made from stainless steel.
In one aspect, a second end of the suction can be attached to the first arm or the second arm in a groove in the first arm situated between the fastener and the respective second ends of the first arm or the second arm. In another aspect, the self-retaining surgical retractor can be applied to a right side or a left side of the patient's mouth. Further, at rest, the first arm and the second arm are approximately parallel to one another.
It is to be understood that the method and device for using a self-retaining surgical flap retractor for the surgical extraction of impacted third mandibular molars is not limited to the specific embodiments described above but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the generic language of the following claims enabled by the embodiments described herein, or otherwise shown in the drawings or described above in terms sufficient to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the claimed subject matter.
