Surgical dilator, retractor and mounting pad

Inventors

Heiges, Bradley A. • Lane, II, David E.

Assignees

Curiteva Inc

Abstract

A retractor having an elongated body that provides access to a surgical location within a patient. The elongate body includes a plurality of segments that are connected to one another through a plurality of ratcheting mechanisms. The ratcheting mechanisms permit relative movement of the segments with respect to one another when expander dilators are inserted within the retractor. The segments are surrounded and retained by a resilient elastomeric sleeve or bands. The distal end surfaces of the segments include thin edges that are configured to mobilize, dissect, split and retract the terminal tissues in the surgical area. The retractor may be used in conjunction with a shim.

Core Innovation

The invention provides a system for providing access to a surgical location within a patient. The system includes an elongated body comprised of a plurality of segments, including a first pair of elongated members and a second pair of elongated members arranged oppositely about each other, with stepped surfaces and recessed channels running parallel to a longitudinal axis.

The first pair of elongated members hingedly cooperate with the second pair of elongated members along one surface and cooperate in an interdigiting manner along a second surface. The segments are arranged to selectively provide radial separation along each plane when the first and second pairs of elongated members are selectively engaged, with the first pair arranged oppositely about a first plane and the second pair arranged oppositely about a second plane having a different orientation about the longitudinal axis than the first plane.

The system further includes a shim configured to removeably engage with at least one portion of the elongate body. The invention additionally describes a handle configured to secure to the shim, an elastomeric pad attached to a patient having a slit that conforms to an outer surface of an elongated body near its proximal end, and an anchoring device that connects the elongated body to an elastomeric pad and frictionally engages the elongated body with the pad to firmly anchor the elongated body to a position fixed relative to the patient.

Claims Coverage

The provided excerpt contains three independent claims. Across these claims, the central coverage focuses on a segmented access device with oppositely arranged elongated members that hinge and interdigitate along stepped surfaces and recessed channels, combined with selective radial separation in two planes and a removable shim that can be secured and anchored relative to a patient.

The claim set (as provided) covers a removable-shim access system built from a segmented elongated body whose member pairs include stepped surfaces and recessed channels, hinged/interdigitating cooperation, and selective radial separation in differently oriented planes.

Stated Advantages

Documented Applications

No documented applications found