U.S. patent number 3,796,214 [Application Number 05/311,747] was granted by the patent office on 1974-03-12 for perineal retractor.
Invention is credited to Rachel D. Davis.
United States Patent |
3,796,214 |
Davis |
March 12, 1974 |
PERINEAL RETRACTOR
Abstract
A perineal retractor for use in conducting diagnostic
examinations and various surgical operations in and through the
vagina to the cervix and corpus uteri. The retractor includes fiber
optic lighting means mounted on the retractor blade for providing
internal vaginal illumination, and a fenestrated basket may be
removably positioned in the discharge trough to receive and collect
the tissue specimens which are entrained in the fluids passing
therealong.
Inventors: |
Davis; Rachel D. (Kinston,
NC) |
Family
ID: |
23208276 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/311,747 |
Filed: |
December 4, 1972 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
600/205; 600/201;
600/245; 600/210 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61B
1/07 (20130101); A61B 1/32 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A61B
1/06 (20060101); A61B 1/07 (20060101); A61B
1/32 (20060101); A61b 017/02 (); A61b 001/30 () |
Field of
Search: |
;128/2B,3,4,6,7,17,18,20,2F,341,361 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Laudenslager; Lucie H.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Parrott, Bell, Seltzer, Park &
Gibson
Claims
That which is claimed is:
1. A lighted perineal retractor for use in conducting diagnostic
examinations and various surgical operations in the vagina, and
which is adapted to provide internal vaginal illumination to
thereby substantially reduce the need for external hand held lamps
and the like, said retractor comprising
an arcuately curved retractor blade adapted to be inserted in the
lower area of the vagina and having generally parallel side edges
extending along the length thereof, a forward edge, and a rear edge
portion,
a weighted body portion integrally connected to said retractor
blade and extending downwardly from the rear edge portion thereof,
and
fiber optic lighting means mounted to extend a substantial distance
along at least one side edge of said retractor blade for providing
internal vaginal illumination.
2. The perineal retractor as defined in claim 1 wherein said fiber
optic lighting means includes first lighting means mounted to
extend a substantial distance along one side edge, and second
lighting means mounted to extend a substantial distance along the
other side edge.
3. The perineal retractor as defined in claim 1 wherein said fiber
optic lighting means includes a tubular member extending along each
side edge of said retractor blade and defining a light emitting
forward end, a fiber optic bundle carried within each of said
tubular members, and means for operatively connecting an external
light source to each of said fiber optic bundles.
4. The perineal retractor as defined in claim 3 wherein the forward
end of at least one of said tubular members and the associated
fiber optic bundle is beveled such that the light emanating
therefrom is refracted upwardly from said blade.
5. The perineal retractor as defined in claim 3 wherein said
retractor blade further defines a generally concave upper surface,
said tubular members are fixedly mounted to said upper surface of
said blade immediately adjacent the side edges, and said forward
ends of said tubular members are positioned adjacent said forward
edge of said retractor blade.
6. The perineal retractor as defined in claim 3 wherein said means
for operatively connecting an external light source to each of said
fiber optic bundles includes a coupler carried by each of said
tubular members adjacent said rear edge portion of said blade.
7. The perineal retractor as defined in claim 3 wherein said
retractor blade, said body portion, and each of said tubular
members are constructed from chronium plated metal to facilitate
sterilization.
8. The perineal retractor as defined in claim 1 wherein said
retractor blade extends outwardly from said body portion at an
acute angle of about 60.degree. to provide a self retaining
characteristic.
9. A perineal retractor for use in conducting diagnostic
examinations and various surgical operations in and through the
vagina and having provision for collecting tissue specimens for
pathological examination and the like and comprising
an arcuately curved retractor blade adapted to be inserted in the
lower area of the vagina and having a rear edge portion,
a body portion integrally connected to said retractor blade and
extending downwardly from the rear edge portion thereof and
including trough means extending from the rear edge portion along
the length of said body portion for conveying fluids and entrained
tissue specimens therealong, and
fenestrated basket means adapted to be removably positioned within
said trough means such that the fluids and entrained specimens
being conveyed along said trough means pass into said basket means
and the fluids pass therethrough while the entrained specimens are
collected therein.
10. The perineal retractor as defined in claim 9 wherein said
trough means comprises a trough of generally U-shaped
cross-sectional configuration, and said basket means comprises a
basket including a side wall having a cross sectional configuration
generally conforming to that of said trough, an open top, and a
bottom wall.
11. The perineal retractor as defined in claim 10 further
comprising means for releasably retaining said basket within said
trough at a predetermined location along the length thereof.
12. The perineal retractor as defined in claim 11 wherein said
means for releasably retaining said basket within said trough
comprises a detent formed within said trough and adapted to
supportingly engage the bottom wall of said basket.
13. The perineal retractor as defined in claim 9 wherein said
basket means comprises a somewhat flexible basket including a
generally cylindrical side wall, a bottom wall, and an open top,
and
said trough means includes a basket receiving station adapted to
receive said basket therewithin, said basket receiving station
including a generally cylindrical wall forming an arc of a circle
in cross-sectional outline which extends somewhat more than
180.degree. and which generally conforms to the cross-sectional
outline of said basket side wall, and a detent positioned at the
lower end of said basket receiving station, whereby the basket may
be received within said basket receiving station with the bottom
wall of said basket resting upon said detent and the wall of the
basket receiving station surrounding somewhat more than half of the
side wall of said basket to thereby releasably retain the basket
therein.
14. The perineal retractor as defined in claim 13 wherein said
basket receiving station further includes upper detent means for
directing fluids flowing downwardly along said trough means into
said open top of said basket.
15. The perineal retractor as defined in claim 13 wherein said
basket is fabricated from metal wire screen such that the basket
may be repeatedly used and sterilized.
16. The perineal retractor as defined in claim 13 wherein said
basket is fabricated from plastic screen such that the basket may
be economically discarded after a single use.
17. A lighted, self retaining perineal retractor for use in
conducting various surgical operations in and through the vagina
and which is adapted to provide internal vaginal illumination and
which has provision for collecting tissue specimens for
pathological examination and the like, and comprising
an arcuately curved retractor blade adapted to be inserted in the
lower area of the vagina and having generally parallel side edges
extending along the length thereof, and a rear edge portion,
a weighted body portion integrally connected to said retractor
blade and extending downwardly from the rear edge portion thereof,
said body portion including a bulbous enlargement for increasing
the weight thereof and trough means extending from the rear edge
portion of said retractor blade and along the length of said body
portion for conveying fluids and entrained specimens
therealong,
a fenestrated basket adapted to be removably positioned within said
trough means such that the fluids and entrained specimens being
conveyed along said trough means pass into said basket and the
fluids pass therethrough while the entrained specimens are
collected therein, and
fiber optic lighting means mounted along said retractor blade for
providing internal vaginal illumination.
18. The perineal retractor as defined in claim 17 further
comprising means for releasably retaining said basket in operative
position within trough means.
Description
The present invention relates to a perineal retractor useful in
conducting diagnostic examinations in the vagina, and performing
various surgical operations such as dilation and curettage,
abortion, miscarriage and the like.
In performing examinations and operations of the described type, it
is common to employ a perineal retractor which includes a
relatively thin blade adapted to be inserted in the lower area of
the vagina and which extends to the cervix and corpus uteri. The
retractor also includes a downwardly extending integral body
portion which is usually weighted by means of an enlarged bulbous
portion to achieve a self retaining characteristic, and which also
includes a trough or channel to conduct the fluids resulting from
the performance of the operation downwardly to a bucket or the
like.
As a part of the above surgical procedures, it is common to collect
various tissue specimens, such as endometrial or cervical tissue,
for pathological examination to thereby assist in diagnosis and
treatment. Presently, such specimens are collected and removed with
forceps, or with sterile gauze carried on forceps. This procedure
is generally unsatisfactory however, in that it is time consuming
and the specimens are often lost.
A further problem associated with the above procedures is the
difficulty in obtaining adequate internal illumination.
Conventionally, such illumination is provided by means of floor
mounted "goose neck" lamps, or lamps held by either the physician
or an attendant. The light emanating from these lamps is often
partially blocked by other instruments or the physician, and thus
adequate internal illumination is not achieved. Also, such lamps
interfere with the physician's work field.
It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a
perineal retractor of the described type which is designed to
alleviate the above problems associated with present surgical
procedures.
It is a more particular object of the present invention to provide
a perineal retractor having provision for automatically collecting
tissue samples which are entrained in the fluids associated with
the operation.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a perineal
retractor having provision for providing adequate illumination
within the vaginal cavity.
These and other objects and advantages of the present invention are
achieved in the embodiment illustrated herein by the provision of a
perineal retractor which includes an arcuately curved retractor
blade having generally parallel side edges and a rear edge portion,
and a weighted body portion integrally connected to the retractor
blade and extending downwardly from the rear edge portion. The body
portion includes a trough extending from the rear edge portion
downwardly, and a fenestrated basket is adapted to be removably
positioned within the trough such that the fluids wash through the
basket and the entrained specimens are collected therein. Also,
fiber optic lighting means are mounted along the retractor blade
for providing internal vaginal illumination.
Some of the objects of the invention having been stated, other
objects will appear as the description proceeds, when taken in
connection with the accompanying drawings, in which
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a perineal retractor embodying the
features of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the opposite side of the perineal
retractor shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a fragmentary rear elevational view of the upper portion
of the perineal retractor shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;
FIG. 4 is a sectional side view taken substantially along the line
4--4 in FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a sectional top plan view taken substantially along the
line 5--5 of FIG. 3.
Referring more specifically to the drawings, a perineal retractor
embodying the features of the present invention is illustrated
generally at 10. The retractor includes an arcuately curved
retractor blade which is adapted to be inserted in the lower area
of the vagina, and which defines a forward edge 14, generally
parallel edges 16 and 17 extending along the length thereof, a rear
edge portion 18, and a somewhat concave upper surface 19. The side
edges 16 and 17 flare somewhat outwardly and upwardly adjacent the
rear edge portion to define lateral side flanges 21, 22 which
extend generally transversely to the plane of the blade 12 and are
curved slightly posteriorly, i.e., toward the physician, to define
a relatively deep posterior curve which generally conforms to the
natural anatomical curve of the perineum. The retractor 10 further
includes a body portion 24 which is integrally connected to the
blade 12 and extends downwardly from the rear edge portion 18. As
best seen in FIG. 4, the blade 12 extends outwardly from the body
portion 24 at an acute angle of about 60.degree. to thereby provide
a self retaining characteristic for the retractor as hereinafter
further described.
The upper end of the body portion 24 includes a generally planar
surface 25 forming an interconnection between the rear edge portion
18 of the blade and the flanges 21 and 22. Generally V-shaped lips
26 and 27 are positioned along the lower edge of the surface 25 to
define the upper portion of a channel or trough 30 which is
generally U-shaped in cross section and extends along the length of
the body portion. A bulbous enlargement 32 is formed along the
lower portion of the body portion to increase the weight of the
retractor.
Thus the weight of bulbous portion 32 and the above described
inclination of the blade 12 with respect to the body portion serves
to provide a self retaining characteristic such that the blade 12
may be maintained in the desired position in the vagina without
external support.
A fenestrated basket 34 is provided for use in association with the
retractor, and the illustrated embodiment comprises a generally
cylindrical side wall 36, a flat bottom wall 38, and an open top.
The basket 34 may be fabricated from metal wire screen such that
the basket is somewhat flexible for the reasons hereinafter set
forth. Also, the use of a suitable wire screen, such as stainless
steel, will permit the basket to be used and sterilized repeatedly.
Alternatively, the basket 34 may be constructed from plastic screen
such that the basket is of low cost and therefore may be
economically discarded after a single use.
The basket 34 is adapted to be received with the trough 30 at a
basket receiving station indicated generally at 40. The basket
receiving station includes a generally cylindrical wall 42 forming
an arc of a circle in cross-sectional outline. As seen in FIG. 5,
the arc of the wall 42 extends somewhat more than 180.degree. and
generally conforms to the cross-sectional outline of the basket
side wall 36. The basket receiving station 40 further includes an
arcuate shoulder or detent 44 defining the lower end of the
station, and a second arcuate shoulder or detent 46 defining the
upper end thereof. By this arrangement the basket 34 may be
received within the station 40 with the bottom wall 38 of the
basket resting upon the detent 44, and the wall 42 of the station
40 surrounding somewhat more than half of the side wall 36 of the
basket.
To insert the basket 34 within the station 40, the basket is
translated horizontally in the manner shown in dashed lines in FIG.
1. Since the basket is somewhat flexible, the walls 36 will be
slightly compressed upon insertion, and will expand to its original
configuration upon being fully inserted into the station. Thus the
basket is retained within the station by the encompassing wall 42
and the lower detent 44. The upper detent 46 serves to direct the
fluids flowing downwardly along the trough 30 into the open end of
the basket.
To withdraw the basket 34 from the station 40, the above process is
merely reversed. Thus the basket may be drawn outwardly from the
station with the side wall 36 collapsing slightly to permit passage
past the encompassing wall 42.
As a further aspect of the present invention, fiber optic lighting
means is mounted along the blade 12 for providing internal
illumination. More particularly, the fiber optic lighting means
includes a pair of tubular members 50, 51 carried on the upper
concave surface 19 of the blade 12 such that one of the tubular
members extends along each of the side edges 16 and 17. The tubular
members may be joined to the blade by any conventional technique,
such as soldering, and the junctures may be filleted to provide a
smoothly rounded outer surface. Each of the tubular members may be
fabricated from a suitable metallic material, and includes an open
forward end 52, 53 respectively, the ends being positioned
immediately adjacent the forward edge 14 of the blade 12. A fiber
optic bundle (not specifically shown) is carried within each of the
tubular members, and each of the tubular members includes a rear
end mounting a coupler 55 for operatively connecting each of the
fiber optic bundles to a flexible light conducting tube 56, the
tube 56 in turn being operatively connected to an external light
source illustrated schematically at 58. The rear end of the tubular
members and thus the couplers 55 are preferably spaced at least
about eight inches from the flanges 21, 22 to prevent the
non-sterilized tubes 56 from contaminating the sterile work area.
The specific structure of the fiber optic bundles and light source
58 are conventional, and well known to those skilled in the art. In
addition, one or both of the forward ends 52, 53 the tubular
members 50, 51 and associated fiber optic bundles may be beveled
slightly (note FIG. 4) so that the light emanating from the bundles
will be refracted somewhat upwardly from the blade 12 so as to
provide greater light distribution.
As will be apparent, the use of the above described fiber optic
lighting means provides several significant advantages over total
reliance on externally mounted lamps. For example, the fiber optic
lighting means provides a great amount of illumination directly
within the vaginal cavity, the light source remains cool, and it is
not susceptible to breakage. Also, the hands of the physician
remain free to perform the necessary surgical operations, and there
is no interference with his work field as is the case with the
large external lamps. Further, the tubular members 50, 51 and the
remaining portions of the retractor 10 may be constructed from
metal which is suitably plated, for example with chromium, to
facilitate sterilization.
In the drawings and specification, there has been set forth a
preferred embodiment of the invention, and although specific terms
are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only
and not for purposes of limitation.
* * * * *