Surgery – Specula – Retractor
Reexamination Certificate
2000-07-12
2001-06-05
Hirsch, Paul J. (Department: 3732)
Surgery
Specula
Retractor
C600S205000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06241658
ABSTRACT:
FIELD
This invention is related to a medical device and more specifically to a medical retractor with a suction device integral thereto.
BACKGROUND
It is a common goal in modern surgical procedures to perform operations with the minimal level of invasion possible. It is a well documented observation that recovery time, patient discomfort and medical expense all decrease with minimally invasive medical procedures. It is therefore an ongoing goal to minimize the size of the incision necessary for surgery. One limitation to furthering the minimization of the incision for many surgical procedures, particularly those involving the abdomen, is the necessity to create an incision which is sufficiently large to allow the surgeon to adequately access the surgical site without compromising the field of view and without the surgeon being hindered by complicated apparatus which limit the ability of the surgeon to access the surgical area.
In a typical abdominal procedure an incision is made and the various tissue is retracted by a rigid device as shown and described, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,998,217; 4,971,038; D320,658; D343,235 or D343,236. In addition to the retractor, which necessarily breeches the surgical area, various equipment must be available in, and near, the surgical site including a surgical knife such as a scalpel or laser, a light source, irrigation and Suction equipment etc. It has been a long felt desire to eliminate or consolidate surgical equipment without compromising the ability of the surgeon to perform an operation.
Examples of consolidated surgical equipment are provided in, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,159,921 wherein described is a flexible compartment which can be formed to various shapes as described. While this device has certain advantages, the size prohibits use in minimally invasive surgery due to the thickness of the device. U.S. Pat. No. 5,755,660 describes a surgical retractor wherein a suction apparatus is fixed to the outer portion of the retractor. This apparatus is undesirable since the suction device abuts into the field of view and the tubing breaches the surgical area which can be a burden to the surgeon and attendants.
There has been a long felt need in the art for a retractor with a suction device integral thereto which does not require the incision to be enlarged and which does not interfere with the operation.
SUMMARY
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved suction retractor.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a medical device which assist in minimally invasive procedures.
A particular feature of the present invention is the simplicity in use and the minimization of tools required in and around an incision.
These and other features, as will be apparent, are provided in a suction retractor for use in surgical procedures. The suction retractor comprises a handle wherein the handle comprises a couple for attachment to a suction tube. A retractor plate is contiguous to the handle and a retractor blade is contiguous to the retractor plate. The retractor blade further comprises a plurality of suction ports. A continuous channel interior to the handle, retractor plate and retractor blade connects the couple to the plurality of suction ports.
Yet another embodiment is provided in a suction retractor for use in surgical procedures. The suction retractor comprises a handle wherein the handle comprises a couple for attachment to a suction tube. A retractor blade is attached to the handle and the retractor blade comprises a plurality of suction ports. A continuous channel is interior to the handle and the retractor blade and the continuous channel connects the couple to the plurality of suction ports.
Yet another embodiment is provided in a suction retractor for use in surgical procedures. The suction retractor comprises a handle wherein the handle comprises a couple for attachment to a suction tube. A retractor plate is contiguous to the handle. The suction retractor further comprises a retractor blade wherein the retractor blade comprises at least two suction ports and no more than eight suction ports. The retractor blade and retractor plate form an obtuse angle. The suction retractor further comprises a continuous channel interior to the handle, the retractor plate and the retractor blade wherein the continuous channel connects the couple to the plurality of suction ports.
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Guy Joseph T.
Hardaway/Mann IP Group
Hirsch Paul J.
Nexsen Pruet Jacobs & Pollard LLC
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