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EP0449663A2 Expired / Lapsed EP ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Abdominal cavity organ retractor

Assignee: United States Surgical Corp
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Filing: 1991-03-28
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2011-03-28
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Abstract

Abstract A device which can be used in a laparoscopic surgical procedure is disclosed. The device is to be used in the surgical procedure as a retractor i.e. to displace and hold internal organs of a patient away from the organ which is the surgical objective. The device, which is essentially a long thin narrow tube (20), is partially inserted into the abdomen of a patient through a tiny incision in the abdomen wall. Retractor action is accomplished by the movement of levers, slides or buttons (22) located on the end of the tube that remains outside of the patient. These levers, slides or buttons control the opening or closing of components (21), such as finger-like protuberances, that depend from the end of the tube that is within the patient. These protuberances push and hold floppy organs away from the surgical objective so that the surgical team can clearly view the organ using the laparoscope and remove the organ with tiny laparoscopic instruments. In this manner radical incisions, recovery time, and scarring are greatly reduced.

Inventors

  • 👤 Robert W. Bailey

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction EP
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-22 23:27
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/02; A61B17/0218

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim 169 words
A laparoscopic retractor device for displacing tissue and organs within an abdominal cavity, comprising: an elongated tubular body member having an opening at a first end, elongated rod means positioned coaxially within said body member, a plurality of finger members pivotally secured to said rod means at a first end of said rod means adjacent said first end of said body member, an activating mechanism positioned at a second end of said body member and said rod means and cooperatingly engaged with said body member and said rod means to effect movement of said finger members, wherein movement of said activating mechanism from a rest position in a first direction to a set position extends said finger members outside said body member, said finger members pivoting outwardly in a fan-like pattern, and further wherein movement of said activating mechanism from said set position in a second direction to said rest position retracts said finger members into said opening, said finger members pivoting inwardly to retract into said body member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 25 words
A retractor device according to claim 1, wherein said finger members are rigid and cylindrically shaped, said finger members terminating in a rounded spherical end.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 33 words
A retractor device according to claim 1, wherein said rod means comprises a rod member and said activating mechanism is adapted to effect reciprocating movement of said rod member within said body member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 47 words
A retractor device according to claim 3, wherein movement of said activating mechanism in said first direction moves said rod member through said body member towards said first end, and movement of said activating mechanism in said second direction moves said rod member into said body member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 30 words
A retractor device according to claim 1, wherein said finger members are pivotally connected to said body member, such that movement of said rod member pivots said finger members outwardly.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 20 words
A retractor device according to claim 1, wherein said rod member is biased towards said rest position by a spring.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 45 words
A retractor device according to claim 1, wherein said finger members are arranged parallel to each other and disposed along a common diametric line in said rest position, such that movement of said rod member extends said finger members in a substantially planar fan-like pattern.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 39 words
A retractor device according to claim 1, wherein said actuating mechanism comprises a pair of scissor-like handle members, a first handle member being connected to said body member and a second handle member being connected to said rod member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 34 words
A retractor device according to claim 1, wherein said actuating mechanism comprises a pair of finger grips attached to said body member and a push button attached to an end of said rod member.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 17 words
A retractor device according to claim 7, wherein said finger grips are rotatable about said body member.

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