Soft Tissue Retractor

Abstract

A soft tissue retractor for medical use, formed as a rectangular blade-like retractor element made from shape memory alloy.

Claims

1. A soft tissue retractor, which is formed as an essentially rectangular blade-like retractor element (10) made from shape memory alloy.

2. A soft tissue retractor according to claim 1, characterized in that the retractor element (10) can particularly be coiled about a transverse axis (Q).

3. A soft tissue retractor according to one of the previous claims, characterized in that the retractor element (10) is made from austenitic shape memory alloy.

4. A soft tissue retractor according to one of the previous claims, characterized in that the retractor element (10) is made from a nickel-titanium shape memory alloy.

5. A soft tissue reactor according to one of the previous claims, characterized in that the retractor element (10) shows several openings (20), which are particularly arranged in a grid-like structure.

6. A soft tissue retractor according to claim 5, characterized in that the openings (20) are embodied in a rhomboidal fashion.

7. A soft tissue retractor according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that braces (22) are arranged between the openings (20) which are arranged inclined at an angle (α) from 45° to 75° in reference to the longitudinal axis (l) of the retractor element (10).

8. A soft tissue retractor according to one of the previous claims, characterized in that the retractor element (10) shows a length (l) from 100 mm to 300 mm, preferably from 150 mm to 250 mm, particularly preferred shows a length (l) of approximately 200 mm.

9. A soft tissue retractor according to one of the previous claims, characterized in that the retractor element (10) shows a width (b) from approximately 15 mm to 60 mm, preferably a width (b) of approximately 25 mm or 40 mm or 55 mm.

10. A soft tissue retractor according to one of the previous claims, characterized in that the retractor element (10) shows a thickness (d) of less than 0.5 mm, preferably a thickness (d) of 0.45 mm or 0.35 mm or 0.25 mm or 0.12 mm.

Description

[0018] In FIGS. 1 to 4, various illustrations are shown of the soft tissue retractor according to the invention, which is essentially embodied as a rectangular blade-like retractor element 10. The retractor element 10 shows a length l, a width b, and a thickness d. Furthermore, the retractor element 10 shows a longitudinal axis L, with the longitudinal axis L extending parallel in reference to the length l. A transverse axis Q extends perpendicular in reference to the longitudinal axis, however it does not necessarily intersect it and may for example extend parallel to the width b.

[0019] The retractor element 10 is made from shape memory alloy, for example austenitic shape memory alloy, particularly austenitic nickel-titanium shape memory alloy. Here, the retractor element 10 is particularly produced such that in the unstressed state the retractor element 10 shows the tendency to assume a blade-like form, particularly as shown in FIG. 1.

[0020] The retractor element 10 is embodied such that it can be coiled and can particularly be coiled to form a ring, in which the two longitudinal sides of the essentially rectangular blade-like retractor element 10 respectively form a ring and the two short ends of the retractor element 10 are pushed over the top of each other (particularly see FIGS. 2 to 4). Depending on the length 1 of the retractor element 10, the coiling may occur in several windings, which closely abut each other. As an example, in FIG. 4 the retractor element 10 is coiled to form approximately two windings. The coiling occurs particularly about a transverse axis Q of the retractor element 10.

[0021] In the coiled state, the retractor element 10 can be inserted into the soft tissue of a surgical area. By stressing the material, which tends to return to the blade-like form, the soft tissue is held back around the access to the surgical area. The retractor element 10 can be inserted by means of pliers into the surgical area. Here, particularly the ends of the retractor element 10 overlapping each other are held. As soon as the soft tissue retractor is placed at the desired location, the pliers can release the retractor element 10 and the pliers can then be removed from the surgical area.

[0022] The retractor element 10 may show several openings 20, which are arranged in the present exemplary embodiment in a grid-like structure and for example may be embodied in a rhomboidal fashion. Braces 22 may be arranged between the openings 20, which, for example, may be positioned inclined at an angle a from 45° to 75° in reference to the longitudinal axis L of the retractor element 10.

[0023] The retractor element may show a length from 100 mm to 300 mm, preferably from 150 mm to 250 mm, for example a length l of approx. 200 mm. Depending on the application of the retractor element 10, a retractor element 10 may be selected showing the desired length 1. The retractor element 10 preferably shows a width b from approx. 15 mm to 60 mm, for example a width b of approx. 25 mm or 40 mm or 55 mm. Depending on the application of the retractor element 10, the desired width b may be adjusted optimally. The retractor element 10 shows preferably a thickness d of less than 0.5 mm, for example a thickness of 0.45 mm or 0.35 mm or 0.25 mm or 0.12 mm. The desired thickness d may be selected depending on the application.

LIST OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS

[0024] 10 Retractor element [0025] l Length [0026] b Width [0027] d Thickness [0028] L Longitudinal axis [0029] Q Lateral axis [0030] 20 Opening [0031] 22 Brace [0032] α Angle