Cardiac atrial retractor ring
OwnerBobby S. Priceinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Disclosed are various embodiments for an atrial retractor designed to expose the valves of the heart. The device is made in the shape of an interrupted ring with inset legs to reach into the atria. Segments of the ring, legs, and feet may be made of an elastic material to provide force for retraction of tissue to allow the workspace to be accessible for any surgical procedure to the valves.
Claims20
A cardiac atrial retractor ring operable to be flexed between a compressed position having a first circumference and an expanded position having a second circumference, the first circumference being smaller than the second circumference,
- the cardiac atrial retractor ring comprising a plurality of annular segments arranged circumferentially in a plane about a central point, each respective annular segment of the annular segments being joined to an adjacent annular segment by a corresponding flexing member that is operable to flex inwardly toward the central point to draw the respective annular segment nearer to the adjacent annular segment and to flex outwardly away from the central point to spread the respective annular segment away from the adjacent annular segment,
- wherein the corresponding flexing member is composed of a pair of legs that extend away from the plane when the corresponding flexing member is flexed outwardly away from the central point when the cardiac atrial retractor ring is in the expanded position, the pair of legs is inset toward the central point from the respective annular segment and the adjacent annular segment, and the pair of legs is joined by a foot.
A method for retracting an atrium of a heart, comprising:
- inserting a cardiac atrial retractor ring into the atrium when the cardiac atrial retractor ring is in a compressed position, wherein the cardiac atrial retractor ring is operable to be flexed between the compressed position having a first circumference and an expanded position having a second circumference, the first circumference being smaller than the second circumference, wherein the cardiac atrial retractor ring comprises:
- a plurality of annular segments arranged circumferentially in a plane about a central point, each respective annular segment of the annular segments being joined to an adjacent annular segment by a corresponding flexing member that is operable to flex inwardly toward the central point to draw the respective annular segment nearer to the adjacent annular segment and to flex outwardly away from the central point to spread the respective annular segment away from the adjacent annular segment, and
- wherein the corresponding flexing member includes a pair of legs, the pair of legs is inset toward the central point from the respective annular segment and the adjacent annular segment, and the pair of legs is joined by a foot;
- and
- expanding the cardiac atrial retractor ring into the expanded position, thereby retracting the atrium.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.