Retractor systems, devices, and methods for use

Inventors

Rodriguez-Navarro, Alberto • Fabro, Mariel • Nair, Archana • DATTO, Olgy • Beeby, Ruth • Loomas, Bryan

Assignees

Levita Magnetics International Corp

Abstract

Described here are devices, systems, and methods for moving and/or supporting an internal organ or other tissue, such as during minimally-invasive surgery. Generally, a system for moving and/or supporting tissue may comprise a magnetic control component and a retractor having at least one magnetic portion. The retractor may have a first low-profile configuration for passing through an incision into a surgical site within a patient and a second expansive configuration for engaging tissue. The magnetic control component may be placed over the surgical site external to the patient and generate a magnetic field to manipulate the retractor and engaged tissue.

Core Innovation

A magnetic retractor system is provided for moving at least a portion of an internal organ within a surgical site. The retractor comprises at least one magnetic portion and is passed in a first low-profile configuration through an incision into the surgical site, then transitions within the patient to a second expansive configuration for tissue engagement and organ movement.

An external magnetic control component is placed external to the patient over the surgical site to induce a magnetic field that interacts with the at least one magnetic portion. By inducing the magnetic field, at least a first portion of the retractor is repelled away from the magnetic control component while at least a second portion is simultaneously attracted toward the magnetic control component.

In an alternative cavity-based configuration, engaging the internal organ with a retractor having a first end with a magnetic portion and a second end results in the first end moving the internal organ while the second end pivots against an interior wall of the cavity. The described retractor structures include cradle or platform forms, pivoting, sling or coil/curvilinear forms, linkage members, and magnetic portion arrangements with polarity relationships to control magnetic forces.

Claims Coverage

The provided independent claims cover two methods with three core inventive feature sets: low-profile insertion and transition to an expansive configuration, external magnetic-field-driven repulsion and attraction of retractor portions, and end-specific motion including pivoting against a cavity wall.

Across the independent claims, inventive coverage is directed to magnetic actuation of a retractor for organ movement, including low-profile insertion followed by transition to an expansive configuration, external magnetic-field-driven repelling and attracting of different retractor portions, and a cavity-based retractor arrangement where the first magnetic end moves the organ while the second end pivots against a cavity interior wall.

Stated Advantages

Documented Applications