Surgical retractor device

Abstract

A surgical retractor for abdominoplasty is disclosed. The retractor has a blade which has a pair of wings disposed below a spine which form a surgical window. The pair of wings form a substantially bell curve shape below the spine of the blade. The pair of wings have outer edges which are curved, and which allow the surgical retractor to be rocked by a user to adjust the surgical window. The retractor has a handle which has a grip portion substantially parallel to the spine of the blade and which provides a more ergonomic grip and greater control.

Claims

1. A surgical retractor which comprises: a) a blade; and b) a handle; wherein said blade has a proximal end and a distal end; wherein said blade has a pair of wings; wherein said blade has a spine; wherein said spine has a proximal end and a distal end; wherein said proximal end and said distal end of said blade coincide with said proximal end and said distal end of said spine, respectively; wherein each of said pair of wings depends from said spine; wherein said spine extends from said proximal end to said distal end of said blade; wherein said handle is connected to said blade at said spine; wherein said pair of wings are disposed at least partially below said proximal end of said spine; wherein said pair of wings are mirror images of one another; wherein said pair of wings are disposed at least partially below said proximal end of said spine such that at said proximal end of said blade said pair of wings form a substantially bell curve shape below said proximal end of said spine; wherein said handle comprises an arm portion, a grip portion, a first curve and a second curve; wherein said first curve of said handle is within the same plane as said spine of said blade; wherein said first curve of said handle curves upwardly and above said proximal end of said spine of said blade; wherein said arm portion of said handle extends between said first curve of said handle and said second curve of said handle at approximately ninety degrees to said spine; and wherein said grip portion of said handle extends from said second curve of said handle at approximately ninety degrees to said arm portion and substantially parallel to said spine over a distance sufficient for a user to grip said grip portion in use with his or her fingers.

2. The surgical retractor of claim 1 wherein said pair of wings come to a common point; wherein said common point is at said distal end of said blade; and wherein said blade is for forming a surgical window extending from said substantially bell curve shape below said proximal end of said blade to said common point of said blade.

3. The surgical retractor of claim 2 wherein each of said pair of wings has an outer edge; wherein each said outer edge of each said wing is curved; and wherein said curve of each said outer edge of each said wing is for cooperating with one another to allow the surgical retractor to rock on said outer edges of said pair of wings.

4. The surgical retractor of claim 3 wherein said rocking of said surgical retractor allows the surgical window to extend below said substantially bell curve shape below said proximal end of said blade.

5. The surgical retractor of claim 3 wherein said outer edges of each of said pair of wings comprises a flat portion; wherein said flat portion of each of said pair of wings is for facilitating contacting and gripping the flesh of a patient, and for being captured between the skin and flesh of a patient.

6. The surgical retractor of claim 5 wherein said flat portion of each of said pair of wings has an uppermost surface and a lowermost surface; and wherein said an uppermost surface of said flat portion of each of said pair of wings has a texture for providing additional grip of the flesh.

7. The surgical retractor of claim 2 wherein each of said pair of wings extends entirely below said proximal end and said distal end of said spine of said blade.

8. The surgical retractor of claim 7 wherein each of said pair of wings has an outer edge; and wherein apart from said outer edge of each of said pair of wings, said blade has a substantially smoothed surface without sharp edges.

9. The surgical retractor of claim 8 wherein said blade has a width defined by a distance from one wing to the other wing at a widest separation therebetween; and wherein said surgical window has a width; and wherein said width of said blade is at least as large as said width of said surgical window when said surgical retractor has not been adjusted by rocking.

10. The surgical retractor of claim 1 wherein said arm portion of said handle is rigid and suitable for acting as a lever upon said blade.

11. The surgical retractor of claim 10 wherein said arm portion of said handle is permanently fixed to said blade.

12. The surgical retractor of claim 11 wherein said surgical retractor is made entirely of materials capable of withstanding a heat of 121 degrees Celsius without deforming.

13. The surgical retractor of claim 12 wherein said surgical retractor is made entirely of materials capable of withstanding a heat of 170 degrees Celsius without deforming.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The figures of the drawings are briefly described as follows:

(2) FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of an embodiment of the SURGICAL RETRACTOR DEVICE per se;

(3) FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a PRIOR ART device which is a classic retractor with a 90 Degree Angle;

(4) FIG. 3A is a diagrammatic side elevational view illustrating he device being inserted under a flap of skin in the torso of a human being;

(5) FIG. 3B is a diagrammatic side elevational view illustrating he device being rocked to lift skin of the torso; and

(6) FIG. 4 a diagrammatic perspective view illustrating the device being utilized to allow ample access to the area of the torso normally under the lifted skin so that appropriate surgery may be preformed.

A MARSHALING OF REFERENCE NUMERALS UTILIZED IN THE DRAWINGS

(7) 10 surgical retractor 12 blade 14 handle 16 proximal end of blade 12 18 distal end of blade 12 20 pair of wings of blade 12 22 spine of blade 12 23 substantially bell curve shape below spine 22 of blade 12 24 common point of pair of wings 20 of blade 12 25 surgical window 26 outer edges of pair of wings 20 of blade 12 28 tangental angle of curve of outer edges 26 of pair of wings 20 of blade 12 30 flat portion of outer edges 26 of pair of wings 20 of blade 12 32 top surface of flat portion 30 of outer edges 26 of pair of wings 20 of blade 12 34 bottom surface of flat portion 30 of outer edges 26 of pair of wings 20 of blade 12 36 texture of top surface 32 of flat portion 30 of outer edges 26 of pair of wings 20 of blade 12 38 width of blade 12 40 width of surgical window 25 42 height of surgical window 25 44 arm portion of handle 14 46 grip portion of handle 14 48 first curve of arm portion 44 of handle 14 50 second curve of arm portion 44 of handle 14 100 prior art retractor 102 edge of blade 104 of prior art retractor 100 104 blade of prior art retractor 100 106 serrated edge 102 of prior art retractor 100

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

(8) Referring now to the figures, in which like numerals indicate like parts, and particularly to FIG. 1, disclosed is a surgical retractor 10 which includes:

(9) a) a blade 12; and

(10) b) a handle 14.

(11) The blade 12 has a proximal end 16 and a distal end 18. The blade 12 also has a pair of wings 20. The blade 12 also has a spine 22. Each of said pair of wings 20 extends from the spine 22. The spine 22 extends from the proximal end 16 to the distal end 18 of the blade 12. The handle 14 is connected to the blade 12 at the spine 22. The pair of wings 20 are disposed at least partially below the spine 22.

(12) This structure permits several advantages. By disposing the pair of wings 20 at least partially below the spine 22, and having the handle 14 connected to the blade 12 at the spine, the retractor 10 uses the spine as a central structural support, with the disposition of the pair of wings 20 at least partially below the spine 22 ensuring that the weight of flesh on the retractor (as illustrated in FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 4) does not deform the pair of wings 20.

(13) Detailed Description of the Blade 12

(14) In the preferred construction, and as most clearly illustrated in FIG. 4, the pair of wings 20 are mirror images of one another. This simplifies construction as well as ensuring that the spine 22 is centered in the retractor 10, which enhances structural strength.

(15) Further in the preferred construction, the pair of wings 20 are disposed at least partially below the spine 22 such that at the proximal end 16 of the blade 12 they form a substantially bell curve shape 23 below the spine 22. This substantially bell curve shape mirrors the manner in which flesh naturally falls when held up from a central point, and provides even support for a patient's flesh when in use, reducing stretching and strain on the flesh, as well as preventing slippage by having relatively even gravitational and tension force applied by the flesh on the blade 12 of the retractor 10.

(16) As illustrated in FIG. 1, the pair of wings 20 come to a common point 24. The common point 24 is at the distal end 18 of the blade 12. The blade 12 is for forming a surgical window 25 extending from the substantially bell curve shape 12 below the proximal end 16 of the blade 12 to the common point 24 of the blade 12.

(17) In this manner, the retractor can be contrasted against prior art retractors 100 like those illustrated in FIG. 2. Prior art retractors typically used have an end point which is not the edge of the surgical window, since they are designed to have flesh fall away from them forming the surgical window around the edges 102 the blade 104 of the prior art retractor. In this manner, prior art retractors therefore require a user to continually provide upward holding pressure, and form a surgical window whose length varies with how much upward pressure is applied. The present invention overcomes that by providing a surgical window whose length is kept the same by the passive operation of the blade 12 of the retractor 10.

(18) In order to allow adjustment of the surgical window 25 each of said pair of wings 20 has an outer edge 26. Each outer edge 26 of each wing 20 is curved. The curve of each outer edge 26 of each wing 20 is for cooperating with one another to allow the surgical retractor 10 to rock on the outer edges 26 of the pair of wings 20. This rocking allows the surgical window 25 to be adjusted while the surgical retractor 10 remains self-supporting.

(19) Each curve of the outer edge 26 of each wing 20 has a tangental angle 28. The tangental angle 28 of the curve of the outer edge 26 of each wing 20 is the same as the other wing 20. The rocking of the surgical retractor 10 allows the surgical window 25 to extend below the bell curve shape 23 below the proximal end 16 of the blade 12. The tangental angle 28 of the curve of the outer edge 26 of each wing 20 is at least 15 degrees. The tangental angle 28 of the curve of the outer edge 26 of each wing 20 is at most 45 degrees. This range allows for smooth rocking of the surgical retractor 10 within the dimensions typical of incisions for the preferred surgical uses of the device.

(20) As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 4, the outer edges 26 of each of the pair of wings 20 has a flat portion 30. The flat portion 30 of each of the pair of wings 20 is for better contacting and gripping the flesh of a patient, and for being captured between the skin and flesh of a patient. The flat portion 30 of each of said pair of wings has a top surface 32 and a bottom surface 34. The top surface 34 of the flat portion 30 of each of the pair of wings 20 has a texture for providing additional grip. This contrasts with prior art retractors which because of their limited areas often use serrated edges 106 which can be more damaging to skin and flesh than the present invention.

(21) In the preferred construction, each of the pair of wings 20 extends entirely below the spine 22 of the blade 12. This allows that the spine 22 is the peak of the blade 12. Further, each of the pair of wings 20 has an outer edge 26. Apart from the outer edge 26 of each of the pair of wings 20, the blade has a substantially smoothed surface without sharp edges. This prevents sharp edges or corners from cutting into flesh as mentioned as an advantage of the present invention.

(22) The blade 12 of the surgical retractor 10 has a width 38. The surgical window 25 has a width 40. The width 38 of the blade 12 is at least as large as the width 40 of the surgical window 25 when the surgical retractor 10 has not been adjusted by rocking. This is most clearly illustrated in FIG. 1. This allows that the blade's 12 width 38 can control the size of the surgical window 25 allowing more precision in use.

(23) Moreover, as illustrated in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the surgical window 25 has a height 42. The height 42 of the surgical window 25 is for being adjusted by rocking of the surgical retractor 10. This allows a surgeon using the surgical retractor 10 to choosably adjust the height 42 of the surgical window 25 while the surgical retractor 10 remains self-supporting.

(24) Detailed Description of the Handle 14

(25) Moving now to the handle 14 of the surgical retractor 10, the handle 14 includes an arm portion 44 and a grip portion 46. The arm portion 44 of the handle 14 has a first curve 48. This is best illustrated in FIGS. 1, 3A, and 3B. This allows that the curve of the handle 14 is not contained in the blade 12 as it would be in the prior art blade 104 seen in FIG. 2.

(26) The first curve 48 of the arm portion 44 of the handle 14 is within the same plane as the spine 22 of the blade 12. This allows that the handle can be used for rocking the surgical retractor as illustrated in FIG. 4 without applying a torque on the blade 12 of the retractor such that it would twist instead of rock.

(27) The first curve 48 of the arm portion 44 of the handle 14 curves upwardly and above the spine 22 of the blade 12. This puts the handle 14 in the most ergonomical position, and deters a user from inserting the blade 12 of the surgical retractor 10 deeper than they should, preventing accidents.

(28) Further to the same end, the first curve 48 of the arm portion 44 of the handle 14 is approximately ninety degrees.

(29) As seen in FIG. 1, the arm portion 44 of the handle 14 has a second curve 50. The second curve 50 is further from the proximal end 16 of the blade 12 than the first curve 48. The second curve 50 is closer to the grip portion 46 of the handle 14 than the first curve 48. As most clearly seen in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the second curve 50 of the arm portion 44 of the handle 14 is approximately ninety degrees. Because of this, the grip portion 46 is substantially parallel to the spine 22 of the blade 12.

(30) This provides numerous ergonomic advantages. It allows a user such as a surgical assistant or nurse to hold the grip portion 46 of the retractor more ergonomically and for longer periods, and allows a user to more precisely control the angle of the rocking of the retractor 10 because it mirrors the movement of the grip portion 46.

(31) Further to the same end, the arm portion 44 of the handle 14 is rigid and suitable for acting as a lever upon the blade 12. The arm portion 44 of the handle 14 is permanently fixed to the blade 12. This prevents miscalibration or separation of parts where infectious material could arise.

(32) To ensure that the surgical retractor 10 is capable of being sterilized in a wet autoclave, the surgical retractor 10 is made entirely of materials capable of withstanding a heat of 121 degrees Celsius without deforming.

(33) To ensure that the surgical retractor 10 is capable of being sterilized in a dry autoclave, the surgical retractor 10 is made entirely of materials capable of withstanding a heat of 170 degrees Celsius without deforming.

(34) It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of constructions differing from the types described above.

(35) It will be further understood that in this application, the word “blade” has been used in the manner which it is commonly used in respect to parts of surgical tools for holding flesh and skin away from an incision to allow a surgeon to work, and does not imply a cutting edge which would slice.

(36) It will be further understood that the present invention is suitable for inclusion of various accessories such as cameras and lights which are known in the art, and illustrated in FIG. 2 on a prior art device.

(37) While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodiments of a SURGICAL RETRACTOR DEVICE, accordingly it is not limited to the details shown, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

(38) Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention.