U.S. patent number 3,749,088 [Application Number 05/155,846] was granted by the patent office on 1973-07-31 for surgical retractor device.
Invention is credited to William Kohlmann.
United States Patent |
3,749,088 |
Kohlmann |
July 31, 1973 |
**Please see images for:
( Certificate of Correction ) ** |
SURGICAL RETRACTOR DEVICE
Abstract
A surgical retractor device including a frame means, quick
release means adjustably mounting a plurality of retractor arm
means to said frame means for movement relative thereto, and an
automatically self-adjusting retractor blade means mounted to said
retractor arm means, said retractor blade means automatically
adjusting itself to different lengths and pivotal positions and
including means for locking the retractor blade means in a desired
adjusted position.
Inventors: |
Kohlmann; William (Gauthier,
Metairie, LA) |
Family
ID: |
22557022 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/155,846 |
Filed: |
June 23, 1971 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
600/215; 403/96;
403/327; 600/234; 403/107; 606/218; 74/535; 74/540 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61B
17/0293 (20130101); Y10T 74/20714 (20150115); Y10T
74/20684 (20150115); Y10T 403/32451 (20150115); Y10T
403/32361 (20150115); Y10T 403/602 (20150115) |
Current International
Class: |
A61B
17/02 (20060101); A61b 017/02 (); A61b
001/32 () |
Field of
Search: |
;128/20 ;287/14,58R |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Pace; Channing L.
Claims
I claim:
1. A surgical retractor comprising a frame defining a central
opening, a quick-release mounting means releasably and movably
secured to said frame, a retractor blade support arm slidably
mounted in said mounting means for movement of said retractor blade
support arm transversely of said frame to different retracted
positions, manually operable latch means on said mounting means and
releasably engaging said retractor blade support arm for latching
said retractor blade support arm in said different retracted
positions relative to said frame, elongated retractor blade means
attached at one end thereof to one end of said retractor blade
support arm and its other end projected through said central
opening for disposition in an incised wound to retract and hold the
flesh surrounding the incised wound to enable a surgeon to have
access to the wound, and additional readily manually operable latch
means carried by said mounting means for latching said mounting
means and retractor blade support arm to said frame in different
operative positions along said frame, said mounting means, said
retractor blade support arm and said retractor blade means being
easily and quickly attachable to and removable from said frame as a
unit and by the use of only one hand.
2. A surgical retractor as in claim 1, wherein said retractor blade
means includes a retaining lip means on the attached end portion
thereof to prevent tissue from slipping over said end of said blade
means during performance of surgery on a patient.
3. A surgical retractor as in claim 2, wherein said retaining lip
means on said retractor blade means comprises a generally kidney
shaped flange having an arcuate channel means in one surface
thereof adjacent the concave edge thereof, the one end of said
retractor blade being received in said channel means, a
semicircular boss on the concave edge of said flange, an opening
through said boss for receiving a pivot pin carried by said
retractor arm means, and a plurality of arcuately arranged openings
in the other surface of said flange for engagement with said pin to
latch said retractor blade means against oscillatory movement.
4. A surgical retractor as in claim 3, wherein said means mounting
said retractor arm means to said frame means includes means for
latching said retractor arm against movement relative to said frame
means, said latch means including a clamping pin extended through
one side of said mounting means into engagement with one surface of
said retractor arm means, clamping nut means cooperatively engaged
with the other end of said clamping pin for urging said clamping
pin against one side of said retractor arm means, and clamping arm
means connected to said mounting means and extending on the other
side of said frame means for exerting a force against said frame
means when said clamping nut means is turned against said clamping
pin to securely clamp said frame means and said retractor arm means
between said clamping arm means and said clamping pin.
5. A surgical retractor as in claim 1, wherein a flexible tip is on
said blade means at said other end to prevent tissue necrosis and
the like in tissue when engaged by the blade.
6. A surgical retractor as in claim 5, wherein said flexible tip on
said blade means includes a plurality of snap means along one edge
thereof received through a plurality of openings along the other
end of said retractor blade, said flexible tip being tapered to a
thin edge about the margin thereof.
7. A surgical retractor as in claim 1, wherein said mounting means
includes a channel means extending along said frame means, and said
latch means carried by said retractor arm means includes means
engageable with said channel means to attach said retractor arm
means to said frame means for movement therealong.
8. A surgical retractor as in claim 7, wherein said mounting means
further includes cooperatively interengaged ratchet and pawl means
on said retractor arm means and on said mounting means to enable
the retractor arm means to be adjusted transversely relative to
said frame means, said ratchet and pawl means including a plurality
of ratchet teeth extending along one side of said retractor arm
means and a pawl means pivotally carried by said mounting means and
engageable with said ratchet teeth in a manner to enable said
retractor arm means to be pulled in a first direction to exert
traction on tissue at the edge of an incision and to latch said
retractor arm means against return movement, said pawl means being
operable with one hand to release said retractor arm means for
movement in said return direction.
9. A surgical retractor as in claim 1, wherein said retractor blade
means is collapsible and comprises a plurality of freely slidably
interengaged blade portions including a first blade portion
connected to said retractor arm means for oscillatory movement
relative thereto, a second blade portion having its opposite edges
turned inwardly in a reverse direction to define channel means at
the opposite sides thereof, the opposite edges of said first blade
portion being slidably received in said channel means, and a third
blade portion having the opposite edges thereof turned inwardly in
a reverse direction to define channel means at the opposite edges
thereof, the opposite edges of said second blade portion being
freely slidably received in said channel means of said third blade
portion so that said first, second and third blade portions are
telescopically engaged with one another, and cooperating stop means
on said first and second blade portions for limiting relative
movement between said first and second blade portions in a first
direction, and cooperating stop means on said second and third
blade portions for limiting relative movement between said second
and third blade portions in said first direction.
10. A surgical retractor as in claim 7, wherein said frame means
has a top side and an underside, and said channel means is in the
underside thereof adjacent an outer edge of said frame means, and
said latch means includes a pivotally mounted lever having channel
engaging flange means at one end thereof slidably engaged in said
channel means and a finger engaging portion at the other end
thereof for pivoting said latch means to remove said flange means
from said channel means, and spring means normally urging said
flange means into said channel means to latch said mounting means
to said frame means.
11. A surgical retractor as in claim 1, wherein said frame means is
generally ring-shaped.
12. A surgical retractor comprising a frame defining a central
opening, retractor blade support arm means movably mounted on said
frame for movement transversely of said frame, retractor blade
means pivotally mounted on one end of said retractor blade support
arm means at substantially a right angle thereto and disposed in
said central opening for disposition in an incised wound, and
readily manually operable latch means on said one end of said
retractor blade support arm means and said retractor blade means to
positively latch the retractor blade means in different selected
pivoted positions, said latch means including cooperatively
interengaged projection and recess means on said retractor blade
support arm means and said retractor blade means.
13. A surgical retractor as in claim 12, wherein said latch means
for latching said retractor blade means against pivotal movement
includes an elongate pin means reciprocatably received through a
bore in said retractor arm means and extending at one end beyond
the end of a boss means on said retractor arm means, said retractor
blade means including a plurality of relatively shallow openings or
cavities arranged in an arc in alignment with said pin means so
that said one end of said pin means extends into a selected one of
said openings to latch said blade means against pivotal movement,
the other end of said pin means being engageable with and operable
by a lever means mounted on said retractor arm means.
14. A surgical retractor as in claim 12, wherein is included means
mounting said retractor arm to said frame means, said mounting
means including a channel means extending along said frame means,
and latch means carried by said mounting means and including means
engageable with said channel means to attach said retractor arm
means to said frame means for movement therealong.
15. A surgical retractor as in claim 14, wherein said mounting
means further includes ratchet and pawl means on said retractor arm
means and said mounting means to adjust the transverse position of
said retractor arm relative to said frame means, said ratchet and
pawl means including a plurality of ratchet teeth extending along
one side of said retractor arm means, and a pawl means pivotally
carried by said mounting means and engageable with said ratchet
teeth means in a manner to enable said retractor arm means to be
pulled in a first direction to exert traction on tissue at the edge
of an incision and to latch said retractor arm means against
movement in a reverse direction, said pawl means being operable to
release said retractor arm means for movement in said return
direction.
16. A surgical retractor comprising a frame defining a central
opening, a mounting means movably mounted on said frame for
movement along said frame, a retractor blade support arm slidably
received in said mounting means for movement transversely of said
frame to different retracted positions and movable with said
mounting means along said frame, and a cooperatively interengaged,
manually releasable ratchet and pawl on said retractor blade
support arm and said mounting means to hold said retractor blade
support arm in desired different retracted positions and enabling
said retractor blade support arm to be grasped with one hand and
moved relative to said frame to a desired retracted position
whereat the ratchet and pawl positively hold the retractor blade
support arm against return movement until manually released.
17. A surgical retractor as in claim 12, wherein said retractor
blade means is mounted to said retractor arm means for oscillatory
movement relative thereto.
18. A surgical retractor as in claim 17, wherein means is
cooperatively connected with said retractor arm means and with said
means blade MeAns to latch said retractor blade means against
oscillation.
19. A surgical retractor as in claim 18, wherein said frame means
is generally ring-shaped.
20. A surgical retractor as in claim 16, wherein a channel means
extends along said frame, and latch means is carried by said
mounting means and includes means engageable with said channel
means to attach said retractor arm to said frame for movement
therealong.
21. A surgical retractor as in claim 20, wherein said ratchet and
pawl means includes a plurality of ratchet teeth extending along
one side of said retractor arm means and a pawl means pivotally
carried by said mounting means and engageable with said ratchet
teeth means in a manner to enable said retractor arm means to be
pulled in a first direction to exert traction on tissue at the edge
of an incision and to automatically latch said retractor arm means
against return movement, said pawl means being operable by one hand
to release said retractor arm means for movement in said return
direction.
22. A surgical retractor as in claim 16, wherein a retractor blade
means is on said retractor blade support arm, said retractor blade
means being collapsible and comprising a plurality of freely
slidably interengaged blade portions including a first blade
portion connected to said retractor arm means for oscillatory
movement relative thereto, a second blade portion having its
opposite edges turned inwardly in a reverse direction to define
channel means at the opposite sides thereof, the opposite edges of
said first blade portion being slidably received in said channel
means, and a third blade portion having the opposite edges thereof
turned inwardly in a reverse direction to define channel means at
the opposite edges thereof, the opposite edges of said second blade
portion being freely slidably received in said channel means of
said third blade portion so that said first, second and third blade
portions are telescopically engaged with one another, and
cooperating stop means on said first and second blade portions for
limiting relative movement between said first and second blade
portions in a first direction, and cooperating stop means on said
second and third blade portions for limiting relative movement
between said second and third blade portions in said first
direction.
23. A surgical retractor as in claim 22, wherein said retractor
blade means is pivotally mounted to said retractor blade support
arm, means for latching said retractor blade means against pivotal
movement comprising an elongate pin means reciprocatably received
through a bore in said retractor arm means and extending at one end
beyond the end of a boss means on said retractor arm means, said
retractor blade means including a plurality of relatively shallow
openings or cavities arranged in an arc in alignment With said pin
means so that said one end of said pin means extends into a
selected one of said openings to latch said blade means against
pivotal movement, the other end of said pin means being engageable
with and operable by a lever means mounted on said retractor arm
means.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a surgical retractor device for use, for
example, in abdominal, thoracic and cardiac surgery to produce
traction in any particular direction and to properly retain the
engaged tissues surrounding an incision during the performance of
surgery on a patient.
Prior art retractor devices are limited in their versatility
because they generally do not include means for adjusting the
position of the retractor blade relative to an incision for holding
the tissue in retracted position. The retractor blades are
relatively rigid, non-adjustable means which do not accommodate
themselves to different shape or size incisions, as for example on
different size patients or for different types of incisions.
Moreover, where such prior art retractor devices are made
adjustable for adjusting the position of the retractor blade means
relative to an incision, the adjustment is cumbersome and
relatively difficult to manipulate during performance of surgery on
the patient. Accordingly, even when prior art retractor devices are
made adjustable, the adjustment of such devices is time consuming
and difficult to accomplish and frequently requires the use of both
hands by the surgeon or the like performing surgery on a patient.
Still further, such prior art retractor devices are difficult to
disassemble for sterilization and are relatively difficult to
reassemble once they have been sterilized.
The angular and vertical position of some prior art retractor blade
means are made adjustable with respect to the associated retractor
arm means for adjusting the position of a plurality of tissue
engaging retractor blades around all sides of an incision. However,
the vertical position of such adjustable blade means must be
manually adjusted to either elongate or shorten the retractor blade
means, and the blade means is freely pivotally movable relative to
the retractor arm means and cannot be locked in a desired angular
position.
As a result, with prior art retractor devices unequal forces are
applied to the tissue around an incision and adjustment of the
retractor blade means relative to the tissue around an incision is
difficult and time consuming and takes an undesirable amount of
effort and time on the part of the surgeon in order to exert
traction in a desired direction and in a desired amount on the
tissue surrounding an incision during the performance of surgery on
a patient.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
With the present invention, a plurality of retractor arm means are
mounted to a frame means by a readily manually operable means which
permits both longitudinal and lateral adjustment of the retractor
arm means relative to the frame means and a retractor blade means
is mounted to the retractor arm means for automatic pivotal
movement relative thereto. The retractor blade means includes means
whereby the length of the blade automatically accommodates itself
to different incisions and includes flexible means for reducing the
possibility of tissue necrosis. Means is also provided on the
retractor blade means for preventing engaged tissue from passing
over the top of the blade means during the performance of surgery,
and means is provided cooperatively associated with the retractor
blade means and with the retractor arm means for locking the blade
means in a desired angular position.
The retractor device of the present invention includes means
whereby the retractor arm means and retractor blade means may be
quickly and easily mounted to a frame means through a simple latch
mechanism which is easi y manipulated with only one hand. The
mounting means for mounting the retractor arm means to the frame
means includes a ratchet and pawl mechanism whereby the tractive
force applied around the edge of an incision can be quickly and
easily adjusted simply by pulling on the retractor arm means until
the desired retractive force is applied. The ratchet and pawl
mechanism will then lock the retractor arm means automatically
against movement in the reverse direction.
Further, the mounting means includes means whereby the position of
the retractor arm means and blade means longitudinally of the frame
means may be quickly and easily adjusted and then locked in
position.
The retractor blade means is mounted to the retractor arm means for
pivotal or oscillatory movement relative thereto and includes a
quickly and easily manually operated means for latching or locking
the retractor blade means in any desired angular position relative
to the retractor arm means from 0.degree. to 90.degree.. The
retractor blade means itself includes telescoping or slidably
engaged portions which enables the length of the retractor blade to
automatically adjust itself to different incisions and thus renders
the retractor blade means equally capable of use on a small child
or a large adult patient during the performance of various types of
surgery. A flexible, removable tip means is on the retractor blade
means for reducing the possibility of tissue necrosis, and a flange
or lip means is provided at the top of the retractor blade means
for preventing the engaged tissue at the edge of an incision from
slipping over the top of the retractor blade means.
The retractor device of the present invention requires the use of
only one hand to mount the retractor arm means and retractor blade
means to a frame means and to adjust the retractor arm means and
retractor blade means to any one of several positions relative to
an incision during the performance of surgery on a patient.
Moreover, the retractor device is constructed so as to be easily
assembled and disassembled and accordingly may be prepared for
sterilization much more readily than prior art retractor
devices.
The retractor device according to the present invention may be made
from aluminum, stainless steel, plastic or any other suitable
material.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of this invention to provide a retractor device
which is economical and simple in construction and which is readily
adjustable to several positions for adjusting the location and
amount of tractive force applied to the tissue surrounding an
incision during the performance of surgery.
Another object of this invention is to provide a retractor device
which requires the use of only one hand to mount a retractor arm
means and associated retractor blade means to a frame means and to
adjust the position of the retractor arm means and retractor blade
means relative to the frame means and to the tissue surrounding an
incision.
A still further object of this invention is to provide a retractor
blade means which is automatically self-adjusting to different
vertical and angular positions.
An even further object of this invention is to provide a retractor
blade means which includes means for adjusting the angular position
thereof and for locking the blade in an adjusted angular
position.
Yet another object is to provide a retractor blade means which
includes telescopically engaged portions arranged to automatically
adjust the length of the retractor blade means so as to accommodate
the retractor blade to different size and shape incisions.
Yet another object of this invention is to provide a retractor
blade means which includes a removable flexible tip portion for
preventing tissue necrosis and which includes a lip or flange means
for preventing the tissue at the edge of an incision from slipping
over the top of the retractor blade means.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the retractor device according to the
present invention positioned relative to an incision.
FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the retractor device shown in FIG.
1.
FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of the retractor device of one
retractor arm means and retractor blade means in the retractor
device of FIG. 1.
FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a portion of the
retractor arm means and retractor blade means of the retractor
device seen in FIG. 3.
FIG. 5 is a top perspective view of the retractor blade means in
one adjusted angular position relative to the retractor arm
means.
FIG. 6 is a top persepctive view similar to FIG. 5 with the
retractor blade means in a second adjusted angular position.
FIG. 7 is a sectional view in elevation of a portion of the device
shown in FIG. 6 and illustrates the mechanism for latching or
locking the retractor blade means in a desired adjusted angular
position.
FIG. 8 is a bottom perspective view of the operating lever means
used to manipulate the latch in FIG. 7.
FIG. 9 is a front view of the lever means seen in FIG. 8.
FIG. 10 is a top perspective view of the retractor arm means with
the latch means removed therefrom.
FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of the retractor blade
means and illustrates the relative order in which the
telescopically engaged portions are assembled to the carrier
blade.
FIG. 12 is a side view of a portion of the retractor arm means and
retractor blade means with the mounting means thereon for mounting
the retractor arm means to a frame means.
FIG. 13 is a view similar to FIG. 12 with the mounting means about
to be positioned on a frame means and showing the position of the
latch means for mounting the retractor arm means to a frame
means.
FIG. 14 is a bottom view of the retractor arm means mounted on a
frame means shown in phantom line.
FIG. 15 is a sectional view of the retractor arm means taken along
line 15--15 in FIG. 12.
FIG. 16 is a sectional view of the retractor arm means and is taken
along line 16--16 in FIG. 12.
FIG. 17 is an enlarged sectional view of the mounting means for
mounting the retractor arm means to the frame means.
FIG. 18 is an exploded perspective view of the mounting means.
FIG. 18A is a side view of the latch means shown in FIG. 18.
FIG. 19 is a top perspective view of the retractor arm means
showing one form of ratchet means in the side of the arm means
wherein the ratchet means is removable.
FIG. 20 is a view in section taken along line 20--20 in FIG. 3.
FIG. 21 is a top perspective view of the flexible tip portion which
is mounted to the end of the retractor blade means.
FIG. 22 is a bottom perspective view of the flange or lip means
which is positioned at the top of the retractor blade means for
preventing the tissue at the edge of an incision from passing over
the top of the retractor blade means.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals
refer to like parts throughout the several views, the retractor
device is indicated generally at 1 in FIGS. 1 and 2 and comprises a
generally oval shaped one-piece frame means 2 substantially
rectangular in cross section, having a flat relatively smooth upper
surface 3 and a flat relatively smooth bottom surface 4 with a
channel 5 therein extending completely around the frame means. A
plurality of retractor means 6 are mounted to the frame means 2 and
each comprises a mounting means 7, a retractor arm 8 and a
retractor blade 9.
As seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the retractor blades 9 are engaged with
the tissue at the edge of an incision 10 and hold the tissue in
retracted position. A further retractor means 11 is mounted to the
frame means at one end thereof and includes a retractor arm 12,
mounting means 7 and fixed retractor blade 13.
Referring now to FIG. 3, each retractor arm 8 is elongated and is
substantially rectangular in cross section. A plurality of
finger-grip portions 14, 15 and 16 are on one end of the retractor
arm 8 for aiding in grasping the retractor arm to adjust it
laterally relative to the frame means 2. A pair of downwardly
projecting, substantially rounded bosses 17 and 18 project
perpendicularly from the underside of the retractor arm 8 at the
opposite end thereof.
An elongate pin 19 is press fitted or otherwise suitably secured at
one end thereof in a shallow recess 20 in the boss 17 and projects
downwardly therefrom a substantial distance. A latching pin 21 is
reciprocatably mounted in a bore 22 extending through boss 18 and
is connected to be reciprocated by a lever 23 on top of the
retractor arm 8. A plurality of ratchet teeth 24 extend along one
side of the retractor arm 8 for cooperation with a pawl mechanism
25 in the mounting means 7 for enabling the retractor arm 8 to be
adjusted laterally with respect to the frame 2 and latched in an
adjusted position relative thereto. A retaining or clamping hook 26
on the mounting means 7 extends under the frame means 2, and a
clamping nut 27 is on top of the mounting means 7 for clamping the
mounting means and retractor arm 8 to the frame means 2 in a
desired adjusted position relative thereto.
The retractor blade means 9 is automatically self-adjusting and
comprises a carrier blade 28 and a pair of telescopically engaged
blades 29 and 30, telescopically received over the carrier blade
28. The carrier blade 28 includes an elongate boss 31 on the
concave side thereof having a bore 32 therethrough through which
the pin 19 is received for pivotally mounting the blade to the arm
8. The carrier blade is held to the pin 19 by means of an annular
collar 33 fitted on the end of the pin 19 below the boss 31 and
secured to the pin by means of a set screw 34. An arcuate,
generally kidney shaped retaining flange or lip 35 is disposed
between the upper edge of carrier blade 28 and the bottom ends of
bosses 17 and 18 and is held in spaced relationship to the bottom
ends of bosses 17 and 18 by means of a spacer collar 35 disposed
about the pin 19 and in engagement with the bottom of boss 17. The
retaining flange or lip 35 projects rearwardly a substantial
distance beyond the convex side of carrier blade 28 and prevents
tissue at the edge of an incision from riding up over the top of
the blade 28. A semicircular boss 37 as on the concave edge of
retaining lip 35 and has a bore 38 therethrough through which the
pin 19 is received. A relatively shallow arcuate notch or groove 39
is formed in the underside of retaining lip 35 adjacent the concave
edge thereof and the upper edge of blade 28 is received therein. A
plurality of relatively shallow spaced apart holes or openings 40
are in the top surface of retaining lip 35 and are arranged in an
arc in line with the pin 21 and cooperate with the lower end of the
pin which extends into a respective one of the openings 40 to lock
the blade 9 in a given angular position.
The opposite edges 41 and 42 of blade 29 are reversely bent over
the concave surface thereof to define a pair of channel means 43
and 44 slidably received over the opposite edges of carrier blade
28 so that the blade 29 is freely slidably received on blade 28 and
is held thereon by the inturned edges 41 and 42. The edge 42
includes an enlarged portion 45 defining a shoulder 46 which
cooperates with a short pin 47 adjacent one corner of the carrier
blade 28 to limit downward movement of the blade 29 relative to
blade 28. The opposite edges 48 and 49 of blade 30 are similarly
reversely bent to define a pair of channels 50 and 51 slidably
received over the edges 41 and 42 of blade 29 so that the blade 30
is freely slidably received on the blade 29 and is held thereon by
the inturned edges 48 and 49. A relatively short inturned tab 52 is
formed at the upper inner corner of edge 48 and cooperates with a
shoulder 53 on edge 41 of blade 29 to limit downward movement of
blade 30 relative to blade 29. A flexible blade tip 54 is attached
to the bottom edge of blade 30 by means of a plurality of laterally
projecting snap buttons 55 received through a plurality of aligned
openings 56 adjacent the bottom edge of blade 30. The flexible tip
54 is tapered down to a very thin feather edge around the
peripheral edge thereof so as to define a soft flexible portion at
the lower end of the retractor blade for engaging the tissue in an
incision.
Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 11, the manner of assembly of the
retractor blade 9 is shown. Blade 29 is first positioned on blade
28 by sliding the opposite edges of blade 28 into the channels 43
and 44 at opposite edges of blade 29. Blade 29 then falls or slides
down blade 28 until shoulder 46 comes into contact with stop pin
47. Blade 30 is then similarly positioned over the opposite edges
of blade 29 and falls or slides downwardly along blade 29 until
stop tab 52 comes into contact with shoulder 53 on blade 29. The
flexible blade tip 54 is then put on the lower edge of blade 30 by
snapping the buttons or tabs 55 through the openings 56 along the
bottom edge of blade 30. The retaining lip or flange 35 is then
positioned on top of blade 28 with upper edge of blade 28 received
in notch or channel 39. The pin 19 on retractor arm 8 is then
inserted through bore 38 in retaining lip 35 and bore 32 in blade
28 and the retaining collar is positioned over the lower end of pin
19 and fixed thereto by means of the set screw 34.
Referring to FIGS. 7 through 10, the mechanism for locking the
retractor blade in an adjusted angular position, including lever 23
and pin 21, can best be seen. A vertically downwardly extending
pivot arm 57 projects from the underside of lever 23 at
approximately the mid-portion thereof and has a laterally extending
opening or bore 58 formed therethrough adjacent the lower end
thereof for receiving a pivot pin 59. An operating arm 60 extends
laterally from the lower end of pivot boss or arm 57 and is
received at its outer end in a shallow notch or recess 61 formed
adjacent the upper end of pin 21 for reciprocating the pin 21 in
bore 22 when the lever 23 is pivoted about pivot pin 59. The pivot
arm 57, operating arm 60 and upper end of pin 21 are received in an
elongate cavity or recess 62 in the upper surface of retractor arm
8. The undersurface of lever 23 is upwardly tapered from
approximately the mid-portion thereof to the rearward end thereof
as at 63 for providing clearance so that the lever may be pivoted
about the pin 59. A coil spring 64 is received in a shallow cavity
65 adjacent one end of the cavity 62 in the upper surface of
retractor arm 8 and is in engagement at one end with the tapered
surface 63 of lever 23 to maintain the lever 23 and operating arm
60 in the position shown in FIG. 7 with the lower end of pin 21
received in an opening 40 to lock the retractor blade in an
adjusted position. When the rearward end of lever 23 is depressed
against the bias of spring 64, the operating arm 60 is raised and
causes the pin 21 to be raised, removing the lower end thereof from
the opening 40 so that the retractor blade is free to pivot and
seek its own position relative to the tissue engaged at the edge of
an incision. When the retractor blade has assumed its natural
angular position, the lever 23 is released and the pin 21 moves
downwardly under the influence of spring 64 into one of the
openings 40 to lock the retractor blade in its angular
position.
Referring now to FIGS. 12 through 18 and particularly to FIG. 18,
details of construction of the mounting means 7 for adjustably
mounting the retractor arm 8 to the frame 2 can be seen. The
mounting means 7 comprises a one-piece body 66 having a relatively
short upstanding boss 67 projecting vertically upwardly from the
upper surface thereof and externally threaded at 68. A bore 69 is
formed through the boss 67 and body 66. A pair of spaced apart legs
70 and 71 depend from opposite corners of one side of body 66, and
the clamping hook or arm 26 extends laterally from the lower end of
leg 70 under the body 66 in spaced offset relationship thereto. A
similar clamping arm 72 extends laterally under the body 66 in
spaced relationship thereto from the lower end of the other
depending leg 71. The clamping arms 26 and 72 are spaced downwardly
from the undersurface of body 66 a distance substantially equal to
the thickness of the frame means 2. A longitudinally extending
channel 73 is formed in the undersurface of body 66 extending from
the front to the rear thereof for slidably receiving the retractor
arm 8 therethrough and has a depth substantially equal to the
thickness of the retractor arm 8. A clamping shaft or pin 74 is
reciprocatably received through bore 69 in body 66 and extends
upwardly beyond the upper end of boss 67. The upper end 75 of pin
74 is of reduced diameter and is received through a central opening
76 in the center of clamping nut 27. A suitable retaining means
such as a circlip 77 or the like is received in a shallow
circumferential notch 78 adjacent the upper end of reduced diameter
portion 75 for preventing accidental removal of nut 27 from the
threaded boss 67 and thus avoiding the possibility of the nut 27
being accidentially removed during the performance of surgery on a
patient and dropped into the incised wound in the patient. The
lower end of clamping pin 74 includes an enlarged flattened portion
79 for engaging the upper surface of retractor arm 8 and clamping
the retractor arm 8 between the clamping pin 74, frame 2 and
clamping arms 26 and 72 when the nut 27 is threaded down tightly
against the upper end of pin 74. The reduced end 75 and circlip 77
permit the nut 27 to be completely unthreaded from threads 68 and
spun freely on the reduced diameter portion 75 without being
removed therefrom.
A relatively shallow rectangularly shaped spring retaining recess
80 is formed on the inner surface of leg 71 in opposed facing
relationship to leg 70 and has a relatively small shallow opening
or recess 81 in the center thereof. An opening 82 in alignment with
opening 81 is formed through the leg 70. A latching lever 83 having
a finger engaging portion 84 at one end thereof and a latching or
locking flange 85 at the other end thereof adapted to be received
in the channel 5 in the undersurface of frame 2 is pivotally
mounted between the depending legs 70 and 71 of body means 66 about
a pivot pin 86 received through a bore 87 formed through a
thickened portion 88 of the latching means 83. The pivot pin 86
includes a reduced diameter end portion 89 which is received in the
opening 81 in leg 71. The length of pin 86 is such as to extend
completely across the space between the opposed facing surfaces of
legs 70 and 71 and an allen screw 90 is extended through opening 82
in leg 70 into an opening 91 in the adjacent end of pin 86 to
maintain the pin 86 in position between legs 70 and 71. The bore 87
through lever 83 is enlarged at one end 92 thereof for receiving a
helical spring 93. One end 94 of the spring extends axially into
bore 92 and is received in a small opening or bore 95 at the bottom
of enlarged diameter portion 92. The opposite end 96 of spring 93
extends laterally and when in position, engages against the side of
recess 80 to serve as a retainer for the spring. When finger
engaging portion 84 is depressed against the action of the spring
93, the latching flange 85 is moved out of channel 5 in the frame 2
to free the mounting mechanism 7 from the frame.
The pawl mechanism 25 includes a finger engaging portion 97 at one
end thereof and a ratchet engaging portion or shoulder 98 at the
other end thereof. The portions 97 and 98 are laterally offset
relative to one another by short laterally extending portion 99
which is received through a notch or recess 100 in the side of body
66 adjacent leg 70 so that the ratchet engaging portion 98 is
disposed inside a cavity 101 formed in the underside of body 66
with the finger engaging portion 97 disposed outside the body 66. A
pivot pin, such as an allen screw or the like 102 extends through
an opening 103 in the pawl mechanism 25 adjacent the juncture of
laterally extending portion 99 and ratchet engaging portion 98 and
into the underside of body 66. A suitable spring means 104 is
positioned between the ratchet engaging portion 98 and the side of
the body 66 for normally urging the ratchet engaging portion 98
into engagement with the ratchet teeth 24. A shallow opening or
cavity 105 is formed on the back side of ratchet engaging portion
98 of pawl mechanism 25 forming a seat for the spring 104.
In use, a mounting means 7 is assembled on a retractor arm 8 with
the retractor arm received in the longitudinally extending channel
means 73 in the undersurface of body 66 of mounting means 7. The
nut 27 is loosened to enable the retractor arm 8 to be moved
longitudinally through the channel 73. A retractor blade means 9 is
then assembled to one end of the retractor arm means 8 as
aforedescribed with the plane of the retractor blade disposed at
substantially 90 degrees to the plane of the retractor arm 8. The
mounting means 7 is then brought into position on the frame means 2
with the clamping arms 26 and 72 disposed under the frame means and
the body portion 66 disposed over the frame means. The latching
flange 85 is held in an inoperative position by depressing the
finger engaging portion 84 until it is brought into alignment with
the channel 5 in the undersurface of frame 2. The finger engaging
portion is then released, enabling the spring 93 to urge the
latching flange 85 into the channel to latch the mounting means and
retractor arm to the frame 2. The retractor arm is then grasped and
pulled backward through the mounting means to the desired position
to exert a desired amount of traction on an incision and is
automatically locked in that position by the ratchet and pawl
mechanism 24 and 25. Lever 23 is then manipulated tO remove pin 21
from openings 40 in the retainer lip 35 on the retractor blade to
enable the retractor blade to assume its natural position relative
to the tissue engaged at the edge of the incision, and the lever is
then released, enabling the spring 64 to urge the pin 21 downwardly
into an opening 40 to lock the retractor blade in said adjusted
angular position. The retractor blade 9 is normally fully extended
under the action of gravity as seen in FIG. 3, but when the
flexible tip 54 engages tissue in the incised wound of the patient,
the blade seeks its own level and accordingly automatically
accommodates itself to different sized incisions. The clamping nut
27 is then tightened to force the end 79 of clamping pin 74 down on
top of the retractor arm 8 and to simultaneously pull the clamping
arms 26 and 72 up against the bottom of frame 2 to securely clamp
the mounting means and retractor arm in a desired longitudinally
adjusted position relative to the frame 2. When it is desired to
release traction on the incision, the pawl mechanism 25 is
manipulated to free the ratchet arm for movement through channel 73
toward the incision. The entire retractor assembly, including the
mounting means, retractor arm and retractor blade assembly can be
easily removed from the frame simply by depressing the finger
engaging portion 84 of latch 83 to release or remove the latching
flange 85 from channel 5 in the frame after which the retractor
assembly can be simply lifted away from the frame.
With the exception of circlip 77, all of the components of the
retractor assembly described herein are assembled by means of allen
screws, and the device may be quickly and easily disassembled for
sterilization or the like when desired.
Referring now to FIG. 19, a slightly modified form of the invention
as shown, and in this form of the invention, the ratchet teeth 24'
are provided on a separate track which is removably mounted in a
channel 106 in the side of retractor arm 8' by means of a plurality
of allen screws 107.
In FIG. 21, the flexible blade tip 54 is shown with protruding tips
108 on the ends of snap buttons or retainers 55 for aiding in
pulling the buttons 55 through the openings 56 in the bottom of
blade 30 to assemble the flexible tip to blade 30. After the tip 54
is assembled to the blade, these ends 108 may be cutoff, if
desired.
The unique construction of the retractor blade assembly 9 is such
that the blade assembly cannot be accidentally disassembled since
the collar 33 must first be removed from pin 19 and the blade
assembly removed from the retractor arm in order to remove the
retaining lip 35 which must be removed before the blades 29 and 30
can be removed from carrier blade 28.
The frame 2, retractor arm 8 and mounting means 7 are preferably
made from aluminum, and the blades 28, 29 and 30 are preferably
made from stainless steel, although the frame, retractor arm,
mounting means and retractor blade assembly could be made from
other materials such as plastic or the like, if desired.
As this invention may be embodied in several forms without
departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof, the
present embodiment is therefore illustrative and not restrictive,
since the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims
rather than by the description preceding them, and all changes that
fall within the metes and bounds of the claims or that form their
functional as well as conjointly cooperative equivalents, are
therefore intended to be embraced by those claims.
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