Patent Application
20170065268
The invention relates to a surgical retractor blade, and more particularly to a retractor blade for use in chest area surgery.
Retraction apparatus are used during surgical operations to access internal organs and bone structures. Such retraction apparatus include surgical retractor blades. Such surgical retractor blades may be placed into an incision of the patient. The blades may hold the incision open in order for a surgeon to access organs and other biological structures via the incision.
Various aspects of this disclosure are directed to retraction apparatus and/or surgical retractor blades of such apparatus. For example and without limitation, various aspects of this disclosure provide asymmetric, surgical retractor blades that may better align with patient's anatomy and/or a desired incision shape, than symmetric, surgical retractor blades.
The following discussion presents various aspects of the present disclosure by providing examples thereof. Such examples are non-limiting, and thus the scope of various aspects of the present disclosure should not necessarily be limited by any particular characteristics of the provided examples. In the following discussion, the phrases “for example,” “e.g.,” and “exemplary” are non-limiting and are generally synonymous with “by way of example and not limitation,” “for example and not limitation,” and the like.
As utilized herein, “and/or” means any one or more of the items in the list joined by “and/or”. As an example, “x and/or y” means any element of the three-element set {(x), (y), (x, y)}. In other words, “x and/or y” means “one or both of x and y.” As another example, “x, y, and/or z” means any element of the seven-element set {(x), (y), (z), (x, y), (x, z), (y, z), (x, y, z)}. In other words, “x, y and/or z” means “one or more of x, y, and z.”
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular examples only and is not intended to be limiting of the disclosure. As used herein, the singular forms are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises,” “includes,” “comprising,” “including,” “has,” “have,” “having,” and the like when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.
It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another element. Thus, for example, a first element, a first component or a first section discussed below could be termed a second element, a second component or a second section without departing from the teachings of the present disclosure. Similarly, various spatial terms, such as “upper,” “lower,” “side,” and the like, may be used in distinguishing one element from another element in a relative manner. It should be understood, however, that components may be oriented in different manners, for example a component may be turned sideways so that its “top” surface is facing horizontally and its “side” surface is facing vertically, without departing from the teachings of the present disclosure.
In the drawings, various dimensions (e.g., layer thickness, width, etc.) may be exaggerated for illustrative clarity. Additionally, like reference numbers are utilized to refer to like elements through the discussions of various examples.
The discussion will now refer to various example illustrations provided to enhance the understanding of the various aspects of the present disclosure. It should be understood that the scope of this disclosure is not limited by the specific characteristics of the examples provided and discussed herein.
Referring to
As shown in
Retraction system 17 may include a pair of rail clamps 25 (one shown), and each rail clamp 25 being secured to one of a pair of horizontal rails 27 located on each side of a conventional operating table 29. A pair of posts 31 each extending vertically from one adjustable rail clamp 25 provides support for a cross bar 35. Cross bar 35 is secured to one of the posts 31 by a universal joint clamp 37. In addition, one or more lateral arms 39 may be secured to post 31 via a universal clamp 41 to provide further supporting structure in the retraction system 17. The cross bar 35 and lateral arm 39 generally define a frame to retractors 19 may be attached.
As shown in
Referring now to
The proximal end 65 of blade body 63 includes a connector 69 such as, for example, a connection nipple for attachment of retractor blade 61 to retractor arm or handle 21. While depicted as a connection nipple, the retraction system 17 may include other types of connectors 69 which connect or attach blade body 63 to retractor arm or handle 21. As shown, the connection nipple of connector 69 may be cylindrical in shape having an axis 71 about which the blade may move, swivel, or be locked, relative to retractor arm or handle 21. In some embodiments, the connector 69 may detachably couple the blade body 63 to the retractor arm 21. In other embodiments, the connector 69 may permanently attach the blade body 63 to the retractor arm 21.
Blade body 63 includes a lower blade portion 73 and an upper blade portion 75. Lower blade portion 73 is planar in shape having a flat top surface 77 and a flat bottom surface 79. Top surface 77 serves to seat against the incision tissue and rib cage anatomy during retraction movement of blade 61. Top surface 77 may be textured by a plurality of holes 81 passing between top surface 77 and bottom surface 79. The textured surface 77 provides a gripping function with respect to the anatomy and tissue of the patient. Other types of textured surface may be used on top surface 77 instead of holes 81, as will suggest itself, and additional holes may be placed in upper blade portion 75.
Lower blade portion 73 may include a lip member 83 which turns upwardly at the distal end 67 of the blade body for extending under the rib cage. Lip member 83 turns upwardly at an angle (for example, 90 degrees or 45 degrees) from the top surface 77 of the lower blade portion, as best seen in
Referring again to
Lower blade portion 73 extends outwardly from upper blade portion 75 in a wide transverse bend 87. Bend 87 provides an asymmetric configuration of the lower blade portion 73 and the upper blade portion 75. Rather than placing the bend 87 relative to a horizontal line 89 perpendicular to axis 88 which would keep the blade body 63 symmetric, bend 87 is placed relative to a line 91 forming an acute angle 93 with horizontal line 89 causing the blade body to be asymmetric. Thus, the lower blade portion 73 is tilted relative to upper blade portion 75 by an angle represented by angle 93. See also
Referring now to
Referring to
Two retractor blades 61, 62 are used in retraction system 17. The rib cage is lifted up away from the body and retracted back (in the direction of the patient's head). The retractor blades 61, 62 hold and retract flesh, skin muscles, the rib cage, etc. to expose and to gain access to the area beneath and around the rib cage. Of course, the retractor blades 61, 62 may be used to perform surgical procedures on other areas of the body.
The asymmetric shape provides less traumatic retraction pressure to the incision, creating a more even or natural alignment of the blade onto the tissue during retraction. This is because the blade is more closely matching to the anatomy.
Referring to
Referring to
While the foregoing has been described with reference to certain aspects and examples, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted without departing from the scope of the disclosure. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the disclosure without departing from its scope. Therefore, it is intended that the disclosure not be limited to the particular example(s) disclosed, but that the disclosure will include all examples falling within the scope of the appended claims.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62214736 | Sep 2015 | US |
