TISSUE RETRACTOR, TISSUE RETRACTOR KIT AND METHOD OF USE THEREOF

Abstract

A tissue retractor for retracting tissue opened by an incision, said tissue retractor including a base support unit having a topside and an underside. The topside comprises at least one securing mechanism and the underside is adapted to be conformable and to be removably attachable to a surface proximate to the incision. The tissue retractor also includes at least one tissue hook having a tissue engagement portion and a mounting portion, wherein the tissue engagement portion is capable of engaging at least the periphery of the incision. The tissue retractor also includes at least one retractable member substantially inelastic in its central longitudinal axis and bendable in any axes deviating from said central longitudinal axis. The retractable member is adapted to receive the mounting portion of the tissue hook, wherein said retractable member is adapted to be removably attachable to said securing mechanism on the topside of the base support unit, and wherein said retractable member is retractable away from the incision, such that the tissue engagement portion retracts tissue it is engaged to.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The various aspects of the present invention will be further described with reference to the following figures in which:

FIGS. 1A-1H illustrate various exemplary embodiments of a tissue retractor according to the present invention;

FIGS. 2A-2D illustrate an exemplary embodiment of a tissue retractor including a hook and loop fastener strip;

FIGS. 3A-3E illustrate exemplary embodiments of tissue retractors including ratchets;

FIGS. 4A-4D illustrate various exemplary embodiments of base support units capable of having a plurality of retractable members;

FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a base support unit; and

FIGS. 6A-6B illustrate exemplary embodiments of tissue retractors in use.

Claims

1. A tissue retractor comprising: a base support unit having a topside and an underside, wherein the topside comprises at least one securing mechanism and the underside is adapted to be conformable and to be removably attachable to a surface proximate to an incision;at least one tissue hook having a tissue engagement portion and a mounting portion, wherein the tissue engagement portion is capable of engaging at least a portion of the periphery of tissue opened by the incision; anda retractable member substantially inelastic in its central longitudinal axis and flexible in at least one axis deviating from said central longitudinal axis, wherein the retractable member is adapted to receive the mounting portion of the at least one tissue hook, wherein said retractable member is adapted to be removably attachable to said securing mechanism on the topside of the base support unit, and wherein said retractable member is retractable away from the incision, such that the tissue engagement portion retracts tissue to which it is engaged.

2. The retractor of claim 1, wherein the mounting portion of the tissue hook comprises an aperture.

3. The retractor of claim 2, wherein the mounting portion further comprises a shock prevention element connecting the aperture to the tissue engagement portion.

4. The retractor of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the retractable member comprises any one of a hook and loop fastener strip.

5. The retractor of claim 4, wherein a first end of the hook and loop fastener strip is attached to the topside of the base support unit, and a second end of the hook and loop fastener is secured to the first end via the aperture of the mounting portion.

6. The retractor of claim 5, wherein the first end of the hook and loop fastener is further removably attachable to the securing mechanism on the topside of the base support unit.

7. The retractor of claim 1, wherein the securing mechanism of the topside of the base support unit comprises any one of an adhesive and a hook and a loop fastener strip.

8. The retractor of claim 7, wherein the base support unit further comprises an opening that surrounds the incision thereby providing access to the tissue beneath the base support unit.

9. The retractor of claim 8, wherein the opening is formed by at least one of a perforation and a cut-out that extends from the topside through to the underside of the base support unit.

10. The retractor of claim 7, wherein the securing mechanism of the topside of the base support unit adapted to secure any one of a hook and a loop fastener strip comprises a shape selected from the group consisting of a continuous strip, a discrete element and a combination thereof.

11. The retractor of claim 10, wherein the surface of the topside adapted to secure any one of a hook and a loop fastener strip is proximate to the opening.

12. The retractor of claim 10, wherein the surface shape of the at least one continuous fastener strip and the at least one discrete element is selected from the group consisting of rectangular shapes, triangular shapes, elliptical shapes and any combination thereof.

13. The retractor of claim 1, wherein the securing mechanism comprises an adhesive.

14. The retractor of claim 1, wherein the retractable member is a plastic strap.

15. The retractor of claim 14, wherein the securing mechanism on the topside of the base support unit comprises a releasable pawl.

16. The retractor of claim 15, wherein the plastic strap comprises a plurality of ratchet teeth adapted to releasably engage the pawl as the plastic strap is retracted away from the incision.

17. The retractor of claim 16, wherein the mounting portion comprises at least one of a sleeve and a flexible cord adapted to be mountable on an end of the plastic strap.

18. The retractor of claim 14, wherein the base support unit further comprises an opening that surrounds the incision thereby providing access to the tissue beneath the base support unit.

19. The retractor of claim 18, wherein the at least one securing mechanism comprising a releasable pawl is proximate to the opening.

20. The retractor of claim 1, wherein the underside of the base support unit is adapted to be removably attachable to said surface using an adhesive.

21. The retractor of claim 20, wherein the adhesive used is a medical grade adhesive.

22. The retractor of claim 21, wherein the medical grade adhesive is selected from the group consisting of acrylic adhesives, silicone-based adhesives, urethane adhesives, synthetic rubber adhesives and natural rubber adhesives.

23. The retractor of claim 1, wherein the underside of the base support unit comprises at least one suction cup adapted to be removably attachable to said surface.

24. The retractor of claim 1, wherein the base support unit is an incision drape.

25. The retractor of claim 24, wherein the incision drape is a medical grade plastic.

26. The retractor of claim 25, wherein the incision drape is adapted to be antimicrobial and to adhere to the wound edge, thereby providing a sterile surface.

27. A base support unit of a tissue retractor that retracts tissue opened by an incision comprising: a topside; andan underside being adapted to be conformable and to be removably attachable to a surface proximate to the incision;wherein said base support unit is adapted to form an opening, which extends from the topside through to the underside, and said opening surrounds the incision thereby providing access to the tissue surface opened by the incision beneath the base support unit.

28. The base support unit of claim 27, further comprising at least one securing mechanism removably attachable to the topside.

29. The base support unit of claim 28, wherein the at least one securing mechanism is arranged proximate to the opening.

30. The base support unit of claim 29, wherein the opening is formed by at least one of a perforation and cut-out that extends from the topside through to the underside of the base support unit.

31. The base support unit of claim 29, wherein the securing mechanism of the topside comprises a surface adapted to secure a hook or a loop fastener strip.

32. The base support unit of claim 27, wherein the securing mechanism comprises a releasable pawl.

33. The base support unit of claim 27, wherein the base support unit is an incision drape.

34. The base support unit of claim 27, wherein the underside of the base support unit is adapted to be removably attachable to said surface using an adhesive.

35. The base support unit of claim 34, wherein the adhesive used is a medical grade adhesive.

36. The base support unit of claim 35, wherein the medical grade adhesive is selected from the group consisting of acrylic adhesives, silicone-based adhesives, urethane adhesives, synthetic rubber adhesives and natural rubber adhesives.

37. The base support unit of claim 27, wherein the underside of the base support unit is adapted to be removably attachable to said surface using suction cups.

38. The retractor of claim 33, wherein the incision drape is a medical grade plastic.

39. The retractor of claim 38, wherein the incision drape adapted to be antimicrobial and to adhere to the wound edge, thereby providing a sterile surface.

40. A tissue retractor kit comprising: at least one base support unit said base support unit comprising: a topside; andan underside being adapted to be conformable and to be removably attachable to a surface proximate to an incision; wherein said base support unit is adapted to form an opening, which extends from the topside through to the underside, and said opening surrounds the incision thereby providing access to the tissue surface opened by the incision beneath the base support unit;at least one securing mechanism removably attachable to the topside and proximate to the opening; andat least one tissue hook and a corresponding retractable member, wherein each tissue hook comprises: a tissue engagement portion and a mounting portion, said tissue engagement portion being capable of engaging at least a portion of the periphery of tissue opened by the incision; and wherein each retractable member is at least substantially inelastic in its central longitudinal axis and flexible in at least one axis deviating from said central longitudinal axis, said retractable member being adapted to receive the tissue hook at its mounting portion, wherein said retractable member is adapted to be removably attachable to said securing mechanism, and wherein said retractable member is retractable away from the incision, such that the tissue engagement portion retracts tissue to which it is engaged.

41. The kit of claim 40, wherein the opening of the base support unit is formed by at least one of a perforation and a cut-out that extends from the topside through to the underside of the base support unit.

42. The kit of claim 40, wherein the securing mechanism of the topside of the base support unit comprises a surface adapted to secure a hook or a loop fastener strip.

43. The kit of claim 40, wherein the securing mechanism comprises a releasable pawl.

44. The kit of claim 40, wherein the base support unit is a surgical grade clear plastic.

45. The kit of claim 40, wherein the underside of the base support unit is adapted to be removably attachable to said surface using an adhesive.

46. The kit of claim 45, wherein the adhesive used is a medical grade adhesive.

47. The kit of claim 45, wherein the medical grade adhesive is selected from the group consisting of acrylic adhesives, silicone-based adhesives, urethane adhesives, synthetic rubber adhesives and natural rubber adhesives.

48. The kit of claim 40, wherein the underside of the base support unit is adapted to be removably attachable to said surface using suction cups.

49. A tissue retractor kit comprising: in a first part, at least one base support unit, said base support unit comprising: a topside; andan underside being adapted to be conformable and to be removably attachable to a surface proximate to the incision; wherein said base support unit is adapted to form an opening, which extends from the topside through to the underside, and said opening surrounds an incision thereby providing access to the tissue surface opened by the incision beneath the base support unit;at least one securing mechanism removably attachable to the topside and proximate to the opening; andat least one retractable member; andin a second part, at least one tissue hook adapted to attach to the retracting member; wherein each tissue hook comprises: a tissue engagement portion and a mounting portion, said tissue engagement portion being capable of engaging at least a portion of the periphery of tissue opened by the incision; andwherein each retractable member in the first part is at least substantially inelastic in its central longitudinal axis and flexible in at least one axis deviating from said central longitudinal axis, said retractable member being adapted to receive the tissue hook at its mounting portion, wherein said retractable member is adapted to be removably attachable to said securing mechanism, and wherein said retractable member is retractable away from the incision, such that the tissue engagement portion retracts tissue to which it is engaged.

50. The kit of claim 49, wherein the opening of the base support unit is formed by at least one of a perforation and a cut-out that extends from the topside through to the underside of the base support unit.

51. The kit of claim 49, wherein the securing mechanism of the topside of the base support unit comprises a surface adapted to secure a hook or a loop fastener strip.

52. The kit of claim 49, wherein the securing mechanism comprises a releasable pawl.

53. The kit of claim 49, wherein the base support unit is a surgical grade clear plastic.

54. The kit of claim 49, wherein the underside of the base support unit is adapted to be removably attachable to said surface using an adhesive.

55. The kit of claim 54, wherein the adhesive used is a medical grade adhesive.

56. The kit of claim 54, wherein the medical grade adhesive is selected from the group consisting of acrylic adhesives, silicone-based adhesives, urethane adhesives, synthetic rubber adhesives and natural rubber adhesives.

57. The kit of claim 49, wherein the underside of the base support unit is adapted to be removably attachable to said surface using suction cups.

58. A method of retracting tissue opened by an incision with a tissue retractor comprising a base support unit having a topside and an underside, wherein the topside comprises at least one securing mechanism and the underside is adapted to be conformable and to be removably attachable to a surface proximate to the incision; at least one tissue hook having a tissue engagement portion and a mounting portion, wherein the tissue engagement portion is capable of engaging at least a portion of the periphery of the tissue opened by the incision; and at least one retractable member substantially inelastic in its central longitudinal axis and flexible in at least one axis deviating from said central longitudinal axis, wherein the retractable member is adapted to receive the tissue hook at its mounting portion, wherein said retractable member is adapted to be removably attachable to said securing mechanism on the topside of the base support unit, and wherein said retractable member is retractable away from the incision, such that the tissue engagement portion retracts tissue to which it is engaged, said method comprising: attaching the base support unit on the surface proximate to the incision;connecting the retractable member to the mounting portion of the tissue hook;engaging the tissue hook with at least the periphery of the incision;retracting the retractable member away from the incision, such that the tissue engagement portion of the tissue hook retracts tissue it is engaged with to a predetermined distance; andsecuring the retracted retractable member to the securing mechanism on the topside of the base support unit.

59. The method of claim 50, wherein the attaching of the base support unit is at least is such that the securing mechanism on the topside is at least substantially parallel to the direction of the incision.

60. The method of claim 50, wherein the securing mechanism comprises a hook or loop fastener.

61. The method of claim 50, wherein the retractable member comprises a hook and loop fastener strip.

62. The method of claim 50, wherein the securing mechanism comprises a pawl.

63. The method of claim 53, wherein the retractable member comprises a plastic strap including a plurality of ratchet teeth adapted to releasably engage the pawl.

64. A method of retracting tissue opened by an incision comprising: attaching a base support unit on the surface proximate to the incision, wherein the base support unit comprises: a topside; and an underside being adapted to be conformable and to be removably attachable to a surface proximate to the incision; wherein said base support unit is adapted to form an opening, which extends from the topside through to the underside, and said opening surrounds the incision thereby providing access to the tissue surface opened by the incision beneath the base support unit,wherein the base support unit is positioned such that the opening surrounds the incision and provides access to the tissue surface beneath the base support unit; andattaching at least one securing mechanism onto the topside of the base support unit.