Articulating endoscopic surgical apparatus

A surgical apparatus comprising:

• an axial handle portion;
• an endoscopic portion extending axially from said handle portion;
• an articulating section pivotably connected to a distal end portion of said endoscopic portion;
• a retractor assembly operatively associated with said articulating section and including a pair of cooperating rod members movable between a closed position and an open position.
• means associated with said handle portion and said endoscopic portion for moving said pair of cooperating rod members between said closed position and said opened position, said moving means including knob means mounted for rotation relative to said handle portion, and driving means threadably associated with said knob means movable in an axial direction in response to rotation of said knob means;
• and
• means associated with said handle portion and said endoscopic portion for pivoting said articulating section relative to a longitudinal axis of said endoscopic portion within an angular degree of rotation.

A surgical apparatus comprising:

• an axial handle portion;
• an endoscopic portion extending from said handle portion;
• an articulating section pivotably connected to a distal end portion of said endoscopic portion;
• a retractor assembly operatively associated with said articulating section and including a plurality of interleaved blade members movable between a closed position and an open position.
• means associated with said handle portion and said endoscopic portion for moving said plurality of interleaved blade members between said closed position and said open position, said moving means including knob means mounted for rotation relative to said handle portion, and driving means threadably associated with said knob means movable in an axial direction in response to rotation of said knob means;
• and
• means associated with said handle portion and said endoscopic portion for pivoting said articulating section relative to a longitudinal axis of said endoscopic portion within an angular degree of rotation.

A surgical apparatus comprising:

• (a) an axial handle portion
• (b) an endoscopic portion extending axially from said handle portion;
• (c) an articulating section pivotably connected to a distal end portion of said endoscopic portion;
• (d) a retractor assembly operatively associated with said articulating section and including at least two cooperating retractor members movable between a closed position and an open position;
• (e) means for moving said pair of cooperating retractor members between said closed position said open position, said means including;
• (i) a knob member mounted for rotation relative to said handle portion;
• (ii) a driving member threadably associated with said knob member for moving axially in-response to rotation of said knob member;
• and
• (iii) an elongated control rod extending from said driving member to said retractor assembly;
• and
• (f) means for pivoting said articulating section relative to the longitudinal axis of said endoscopic portion within an angular degree of rotation, said means including:
• (i) camming means movable with respect to said handle portion between a proximal position and a distal position;
• and
• (ii) linkage means associated with said endoscopic portion for connecting said camming means with said articulating section.

A surgical apparatus comprising:

• a handle portion;
• an endoscopic portion extending axially from said handle portion;
• tool means disposed adjacent a distal end of said endoscopic portion;
• and
• fluid delivery means, integral with said surgical apparatus, for passing fluid through said endoscopic portion to an operative site.