US 4,617,916 AGranted

Retractor apparatus

AssigneeMinnesota Scientific, Inc.

InventorsBruce A. LeVahn, Robert E. Olson

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Abstract

A rectractor apparatus for attachment to a rail of a surgical table includes first, second and third support rods and first, second and third clamps. The first support rod is attached to the rail of the surgical table and permits movement about and along a vertical axis of the first rod. The second rod is attached to an upper section of the first rod with the second clamp. The second clamp permits movement of the second support rod about an axis of the first rod and about an axis of the second support rod and permits pivotal movement of the second rod with respect to the first rod about a pivotal axis of the second clamp. The third clamp clamps the third rod to the second rod and permits movement of the third rod along and about the axis of the second rod and about the axis of the third rod and permits movement about a pivotal axis of the third clamp. The third rod includes first and second spaced apart leg portions that extend over the surgical table on opposite sides proximate the incision for support of retractors.

Claims24

Dependent claims

A retractor apparatus for attachment to a rail of a surgical table for attaching retractors thereto to hold back tissue proximate an incision in a body, the apparatus comprising:

a first rigid support rod having a lower section and an upper section;
first clamping means for clamping the lower section of the first support rod to the surgical table and permitting movement about the lower sections's axis and movement along the lower section's axis;
a second rigid support rod having a first end portion and a second end portion;
second clamping means for clamping and connecting the first end portion of the second rod with the upper section of the first support rod, said second clamping means having means for permitting movement about an axis of the upper section of the first support rod and about an axis of the first end portion of the second support rod and having means for permitting pivotal movement between the second rod and the first rod about an axis extending through said second clamping means;
a third rigid support rod for attaching a retractor thereto and having first and second leg portions extending along opposite sides of the incision;
and
third clamping means for clamping and connecting the second end portion of the second rod with the third rigid support rod, said third clamping means permits movement about the axis of the second end portion of the second rod and permitting movement about an axis of the third rigid support rod.

4 more elements

A retractor support apparatus for attachment to a rail of a surgical table, the apparatus comprising:

a retractor support rod section;
an extension rod section;
means for pivotally connecting the retractor support rod section and the extension rod section including a first pivotal clamping member having a frusto-conical recess on a first side and a pivot bore on a second side communicating with the frusto-conical recess, the first clamping member being fixedly attached to the extension rod section;
a second pivotal clamping member having a frusto-conical portion extending from a first side of the second pivotal clamping member and in frictional engagement with the frusto-conical recess, the second clamping member having a threaded bore disposed in coaxial alignment with the bore of the first pivotal member and being fixedly attached to the retractor support rod section;
and
a bolt having a threaded end extending through the bores of the first and second pivotal clamping members and in threaded communication with the threaded bore such that turning of the bolt places the first and second clamping members in a clamping position.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.