Add-on retractor element for retractor system
AssigneeWarsaw Orthopedic, Inc.
InventorsSteven D. DeRidder, Charles S. Sullivan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A retractor assembly for percutaneous surgery in a patient that includes first and second retractor portions positionable opposite one another in an incision of the patient. A working channel extends between the first and second retractor portions and provides access to a location within the patient adjacent to distal ends of the first and second retractor portions. The first and second retractor portions are movable relative to one another to adjust the size of the working channel. An add-on retractor element is provided that is mounted to the first and second retractor portions and spans the gap between the first and second retractor portions to prevent creep of soft tissue into the working channel when the retractor portions are separated.
Claims18
A retractor assembly for percutaneous surgery in a patient, comprising:
- a first retractor portion including a first elongate body extending between a proximal end and an opposite distal end, said first elongate body further including a first sidewall extending between said proximal and distal ends of said first retractor portion;
- a second retractor portion including a second elongate body extending between a proximal end and an opposite distal end, said second elongate body further including a second sidewall extending between said proximal and distal ends of said second retractor portion, wherein said first and second retractor portions define a working channel therebetween and are movable away from one another to adjust a size of said working channel;
- and
- an add-on retractor element including a flexible body member extending partially around said first and second sidewalls, wherein said body member of said add-on retractor element spans a gap between said first and second retractor portions as said first and second retractor portions are moved away from one another to increase said size of said working channel, wherein said body member of said add-on retractor element is elongated and extends between a distal end and an opposite proximal end, said body member further including opposite sides extending from said distal end to said proximal end, wherein said opposite sides define a first width of said body member at said distal end of said body member and a second width of said body member at said proximal end of said body member, and said first width is greater than said second width.
A retractor assembly for percutaneous surgery in a patient, comprising:
- a first retractor portion including a first elongate body extending between a proximal end and an opposite distal end and including a first sidewall, said first sidewall extending between a first pair of longitudinal edges and including a first external surface positioned between said first longitudinal edges and a first internal surface opposite said first external surface;
- a second retractor portion including a second elongate body extending between a proximal end and an opposite distal end and including a second sidewall, said second sidewall extending between a second pair of longitudinal edges and including a second external surface positioned between said second longitudinal edges and a second internal surface opposite said second external surface, said first and second internal surfaces defining a working channel extending between said proximal and distal ends of said first and second elongate bodies of said first and second retractor portions, said working channel being adjustable upon relative movement of said first and second retractor portions;
- and
- an add-on retractor element extending around said first and second external surfaces, wherein said add-on retractor element includes a flexible, elongate body member that slides around said first and second external surfaces and maintains positioning relative to said first and second retractor portions so that said body member spans a gap between respective ones of said first pair and said second pair of longitudinal edges as said first and second retractor portions are adjusted to separate from one another, wherein said body member of said add-on retractor element is elongated and extends between a distal end and an opposite proximal end, said body member further including opposite sides extending from said distal end to said proximal end, wherein said opposite sides define a first width of said body member at said distal end of said body member and said opposite sides define a second width of said body member at said proximal end of said body member, wherein said first width is greater than said second width.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.