Abdominal cavity organ retractor.

0001This invention relates to the field of surgery, and in particular to devices which are known in the art as retractors.

0002A surgeon, when performing an operation on a patient, is often obstructed in his efforts to excise diseased or damaged tissues or organs by surrounding tissues, fatty deposits, arteries, or other organs. It has generally been the case, when performing gastro intestinal surgery, i.e. surgery within the abdominal cavity, to make a large cut in the abdomen wall to produce a suitable opening to allow access to the interior organs. This cut was generally large enough to allow the use of human hands, either the surgeons or those of a member of the surgical team, as a retractor. Surgical personnel would thus insert their hands through the incision into the abdominal cavity to push and hold organs and other obstructing components away from the surgical objective.

0003Recently, as a result of the evolution in electronic video technology, a surgical procedure known as laparoscopic surgery has undergone a marked increase in popularity. The laparoscope consists of a long thin rigid tube. Residing at one end of the tube is a viewing lens; at the other is a camera hook up and an eye piece. A small incision in the area of the surgical objective is made and the laparoscope is partially inserted into this incision, viewing lens first. High definition video cameras and monitors are then attached to the camera hook up joint on the part of the laparoscope which remains on the exterior. In this manner, a surgical team can get a clear picture of the affected internal area without resorting to radical, disfiguring surgical incisions to physically open the patient. Numerous other small puncture wounds are then made through the surface of the skin also in the vicinity of the surgical objective. Through these incisions, miniaturized surgical instruments such as scissors, forceps, clamps and scalpels are insertable to perform the surgical procedure. The entire interior procedure is monitored from the exterior through the high definition television monitor. In this manner radical incisions and scarring are avoided while undertaking surgical repair or removal of damaged or diseased organs. Another benefit of laparoscopic surgery is the significantly reduced recovery time, when compared to standard surgical procedures, due to the minuscule size of the scalpel wounds and avoidance of the massive internal traumatization known in standard surgical procedures. Accompanying the reduced recovery time are, of course, greatly reduced costs.

0004Until recently, laparoscopic surgery was limited to gynecological and arthroscopic procedures. Recently, however, innovative surgeons have been using the procedure to perform cholecystectomy, commonly known as gallbladder removal. A problem encountered by surgeons when performing laparoscopic cholecystectomy is the intrudence of other internal abdominal organs into the surgical objective area i.e. gallbladder area. Abdominal organs such as the stomach, intestine and liver are known to be floppy and to overlap one another. Standard gallbladder surgery of the past, in which a huge incision was made in the patient's abdominal wall, allowed for the insertion of hands into the patient's abdominal cavity to push and hold these floppy organs away from the gallbladder while the surgeon effected the necessary removal. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy, with its minute surgical incisions, does not allow for the insertion of a human hand into the cavity to retract the floppy organs.

0005There is a need therefore to provide an instrument which can be inserted through a tiny surgical incision in the abdominal wall, to be used during laparoscopic surgery within the abdominal cavity, to push and hold neighboring internal organs away from that organ which is being excised or repaired. For example, during the known procedure of laparoscopic cholecystectomy, a retractor instrument is needed to push and hold neighboring organs away from the diseased gallbladder.

0006It is a general object of this invention to provide a retractor device to be used during laparoscopic surgical procedures.

0007It is an object of this invention to provide a retractor device to be used during laparoscopic surgery within the abdominal cavity.

0008Another object of the invention is to provide a long thin tube-like instrument suitable for insertion into the abdomen through a tiny incision in the abdomen wall to be used when performing laparoscopic abdominal surgery.

0009It is a further object of this invention to provide pivotable finger-like protrusions extending from that end of the tube which is inserted into the abdomen to be used as a push and hold means and for establishing means of communication to these protuberances from levers that depend from that end of the tube which remains exterior of the abdomen, said levers to be used in controlling the workings of the push and hold means within the abdomen.

0010In the accomplishment of these objectives, a retractor device is provided. The device is comprised of a means to do the actual retracting, i.e. pushing and holding internal organs and a means to control the action of the retractor means.

0011In another embodiment of these objects a long narrow tube-like structure is provided. The tube is generally hollow and open at each end. At one end a plurality of finger-like protuberances are positioned within the tube on the same axial plane as the tube and will extend outwardly from the tube upon movement of the control means at the other end, such as a pair of lever means which depend from the opening. Within the narrow elongated body, comprising a tube, reside the internal mechanism and means for communicating movement of the levers to movement of the finger-like protuberances. In one example the levers are biased apart and manipulation of the levers so as to bring them closer together is communicated to the finger-like protuberances so as to spread them out in a fan type pattern. A release of force on the levers allows the levers to return to their normally apart position. This, in turn, allows the finger-like protuberances to return to their original position, i.e. close together on the same axial plane as the narrow elongated body structure. In this manner the retractor can be inserted into the abdominal cavity, through an incision in the abdominal wall or through a sheath which has been placed through an incision in the abdominal wall, and guided to the surgical objective by monitoring the movement of the retractor within the cavity on the laparoscope and its associated high definition television monitor. Once the retractor has been positioned suitably near the organ of interest, the surgeon or a member of the surgical team, by squeezing together the levers depending from that end of the retractor which has not been inserted into the cavity, can cause the finger-like protuberances to spread apart in a fan-like pattern to push and hold surrounding organs away from that organ which is the surgical objective. In this manner abdominal laparoscopic surgery is greatly simplified as the problem caused by floppy, overlapping organs encroaching upon the organ which is the surgical objective has been eliminated.

0012The above-listed preferred aspects are not intended as limiting. For instance, the device can be constructed with the finger-like protrusions nominally in the opened up fan-like pattern. In this manner, forcing the levers together will cause the protrusions to come together on the same axial plane as the elongated body. The finger-like protuberances can then be inserted into the abdominal cavity while maintaining force on the levers to hold them together. Once near the surgical objective, the levers can be released causing the finger-like protuberances to open up into their normally open fan-like pattern pushing and holding intruding organs out of the way of the surgeon. When used in this manner, the requirement of having a member of the surgical team tend to the retractor levers and hold them together is thus eliminated.

0013A further embodiment includes the finger-like protrusions arranged in a stacked relationship with respect to each other, so that the protrusions are positioned parallel to each other along a common diametric line with respect to the tubular body. In this embodiment, the finger-like protrusions are at rest substantially within the tubular body, and extend outwardly in a substantially planar fan-like pattern upon movement of the levers. As the levers move, the protrusions extend outwardly in the planar fan-like pattern so that the protrusions remain in position along the common diametric line.

0014It is contemplated for this embodiment that the lever device for activating the retractor finger-like protrusions be replaced by a syringe-like mechanism in which a pair of finger grips are provided which radially extend from and are secured to the tubular body. A thumb activated push button is attached to the inner rod to control the extension of the finger-like protrusions. The finger grips may be rotatable about the tubular body so that position of the protrusions along the common diametric line in relation to the finger grips may be oriented to suit the needs of the surgical team for that particular operation. Preferably, the diametric line of the protrusions is parallel to the diametric positioning line of the finger grips until altered by the surgical team.

0015It is also possible to manufacture the device with the levers depending straight out from the elongated body on the same axial plane or have them depend away from the body at some angle, for instance at a 90° angle to the retractor body. It will also be possible to form finger loops in the levers for insertion of the fingers of the member of the surgical team operating the retractor during the laparoscopic surgery. The elongated body structure of the retractor can also be made to be flexible so as to facilitate the positioning of the protruding fingers in close proximity to the area of the surgical objective.

0016In the accompanying drawings of embodiments of the invention: <ul id="ul0001" list-style="none"><li>Fig. 1 illustrates the retractor having a slide button control with the engagement members in a closed state;</li><li>Fig. 2 illustrates the retractor having a slide button control shown with the engagement members in a partially opened state;</li><li>Fig. 3 illustrates the retractor with lever controls and the engagement members in a closed state;</li><li>Fig. 4. illustrates an alternate embodiment of Fig. 3 in which the engagement members are in a normally opened state;</li><li>Fig. 5 illustrates yet another embodiment of Fig. 3 with handle controls;</li><li>Fig. 6 illustrates the alternate sheath embodiment of the retractor showing the engagement members withdrawn into the sheath;</li><li>Fig. 7 illustrates the retractor of Fig. 6 showing the head depressed and the engagement members outside of the sheath and opened;</li><li>Fig. 8. illustrates a sheath embodiment of the retractor in which levers are used to exert force on the head;</li><li>Fig. 9 illustrates an alternate embodiment of the device shown in Fig. 8 in which the secondary lever is slidably attached to the head;</li><li>Fig. 10 illustrates another sheath embodiment of the retractor in which the engagement members normally reside without the sheath in an open position and lever controls are used to close and withdraw the engagement members within the sheath;</li><li>Fig. 11 illustrates a sheath embodiment of the invention in which fixed handles are used to force out the engagement members from within the sheath;</li><li>Fig. 12 illustrates a detailed view showing one method of biasing the engagement members open;</li><li>Fig. 13 illustrates a cut-away view of the operation of the engagement members of the embodiments portrayed in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 5;</li><li>Fig. 14 illustrates a cut-away view of the operation of the engagement members of the embodiments portrayed in Fig. 4;</li><li>Fig. 15 illustrates the retractor having an electromechanical control;</li><li>Fig. 16 illustrates the retractor having the engagement members positioned parallel to each other along a common diametric line;</li><li>Fig. 17 illustrates the retractor of Fig. 16 with the engagement members extended in a substantially planar fan-like arrangement;</li><li>Fig. 18 illustrates the retractor of Fig. 16 taken along lines 18-18; and</li><li>Fig. 19 illustrates the retractor of Fig. 17 taken along lines 19-19.</li></ul>

0017Referring to Figs. 1 and 13, the retractor 19 is shown with engagement members 21 biased to a closed resting position and control button 22 biased to a set position within slide path 23. In this manner, engagement members 21 and a portion of tube-like body 20 are insertable through a small incision in an abdominal wall. Control button 22 can then be forcibly slid within slide path 23 to effect an opening of engagement members 21 into a fanned-out pattern as shown in Fig. 2. In this manner internal organs can be pushed and held away from that organ which is the surgical objective.

0018Fig. 13 more clearly depicts the operation of the engagement members 21. The button 22 is fixedly connected to movable shaft 38. Engagement members 21 are pivotally connected to tube-like body 20 by pivot joints 40, so that the outward movement of the engagement members 21 occurs due to pivoting of the members 21 rather than by outward deflection of flexible members, as in the prior art. Movable shaft 38 terminates with knob 41. Disc 42 is fixedly attached to movable shaft 38 at a point just below knob 41. The engagement members 21 have lips 43 that are enclosed between knob 41 and disc 41. Spring 45 circumferentially encompasses movable shaft 38 and is fixedly attached at one end to disc 42. The other end of spring 45 is fixedly attached to inner guide wall 60. Inner guide wall 60 can run any distance through tube-like body 20 but must terminate a sufficient distance below disc 42 to enable the placement of spring 45 between the top of inner guide wall 60 and disc 42.

0019Operation of engagement members 21 is effected by sliding button 22 which produces a movement of movable shaft 38 towards the engagement members 21. Disc 42 is forced against the pull of spring 45. Disc 42 pushes against lips 43 causing engagement members 21 to rotate about pivots 40 and assume an open position. It can be seen that the farther the movable shaft 38 is moved toward engagement members 21 the greater the rotation of the engagement members 21 about pivots 40, and hence the greater diameter of the open, fanned-out pattern. A cessation of force on control button 22 allows control button 22 to return to its original set position and engagement members 21 to return to their normally closed resting position as shown in Fig. 2. This action is achieved due to the pull of spring 45 upon disc 42, which in the absence of any counter forces, pulls movable shaft 38, disc 42 and knob 41 in a direction opposite engagement members 21. Knob 41 will be forced against lips 43 which will cause reverse rotation of engagement members 21 about pivots 40 to bring engagement members 21 to a closed position in which they occupy the same axial plane as the elongated tube-like body 20. Stop pieces 48 may be placed in the position shown in Fig. 13 to prevent excessive inward rotation of engagement members 21. Stop pieces 48 may alternatively be placed under lips 43.

0020It is also possible, but not shown in the drawings, to fixedly attach at least one engagement member 21 to knob 41. A structure of this sort would be beneficial in terms of operation of the device since these fixedly attached engagement members would aid in displacement of organs and prevent a displaced organ from jumping over one of the movable engagement members 21 and occupying its position before displacement.

0021Engagement members 21 can be of any shape as long as their retracting function can be achieved. Preferably engagement members 21 are of cylindrical shape with rounded exposed ends so that soft tissue injury is minimized.

0022It is also preferred that engagement members 21 are constructed of a substantially rigid material so that bending or deflecting of the engagement members 21 in the open or fanned-out position is limited. While some deflection is considered to avoid damage to the organs, it is preferred that the material of which engagement members 21 be substantially rigid to properly hold the organs in the displaced location. As described above, the fan-like arrangement of engagement members 21, in the extended position, is effected by a pivoting action of members 21 about pivot points 40 as required by the rigid nature of the members, as opposed to the fanning out of the members as in the prior art due to the spring-like flexibility of the prior art engagement members.

0023Referring to Figs 1 and 2, a means to hold or lock the activating button 22 at points within slide path 23 are preferred embodiments and allow for controlling the diameter of the fan-out pattern of engagement members 21 and also for hands-off utilization of the retractor 19. The holding means could be, for example, notches 49 along slide path 23 for physically holding control button 22 at points through its path of travel through slide path 23.

0024A modification of this embodiment of the device is shown in Figure 3. Levers 24 are used instead of a button to force movement of movable shaft 38. Levers 24 are pivotally joined at pin 50 with one of the levers making contact with the end of movable shaft 38 opposite engagement members 21. As seen in Figure 3, movable shaft 38 is shown in this embodiment to extend outward from tube-like body 20. Operation of engagement members 21 upon forcing of movable shaft in the direction of engagement members 21 by squeezing of levers 24 is identical to that previously described when referencing Fig. 13 and such description is incorporated by reference herein.

0025Referring to Figures 4 and 14, another embodiment using levers 24 is shown. In this embodiment engagement members 21 are normally open. The normally open state results from spring 45, which is affixed at the top of the fixed inner guide wall 60 and disc 42, exerting a push force against disc 42 in the absence of any other forces. Disc 42, which is fixedly attached to movable shaft 38 impacts upon lips 43 to cause outward rotation of engagement members 21 about pivots 40. In order to close engagement members 21, it is necessary to squeeze levers 24 together. This pulls movable shaft 38 back towards the end of the device opposite engagement members 21 due to the connection with one of levers 24 with movable shaft 38 at connection 51. Drawing movable shaft 38 back towards levers 24 causes knob 41 to impact upon lips 43 while compressing spring 45 to force rotation of engagement members 21 about pivots 40 in a direction that will cause engagement members 21 to close together along the same axial plane as tube-like body 20. Releasing force on levers 24 causes spring 45 to expand which in turn presses disc 42 on the underside of lips 43 causing engagement members 21 to rotate outward into their normally opened, fanned-out state.

0026Another embodiment of the device is shown in Fig. 5 in which handles 54, one attached to the elongated tube-like body 20 at the end away from engagement members 21, the other attached to the end of movable shaft 38 at the end opposite engagement members 21, are utilized for control. By gripping and squeezing handles 54, movable shaft 38 is moved in the direction towards engagement members 21 causing an opening of engagement members 21 in the manner previously described when referring to Fig. 13.

0027In any of the aforementioned embodiments which use levers 24 or handles 54, it is preferable to include means to hold the levers 24 or handles 54 at various points in their movement towards one another. This could be accomplished, for example, by an adjustable clip 55 to hold the levers 24 or handles 54 together, or by equipping each lever 24 or handle 54 with a horizontal appendage 56 with backwards facing teeth for interlocking the levers 24 or handles 54.

0028Referring to Figure 6, sheath 25 is shown. Residing within sheath 25 is rod 26. Rod 26 is slidably mounted within sheath 25 so that force on rod head 27 against bias force propels the rod head 27 towards sheath 25 allowing engagement members 21 to exit from within sheath 25. The absence of the containing action caused by sheath 25 on engagement members 21 when engagement members 21 are without sheath 25 allows engagement members 21 to expand into an opened-up fanned-out pattern. This occurrence is demonstrated by Fig. 7. In this instance the bias is shown to be a spring 28 wrapped circumferentially around rod 26 just below rod head 27′ , shown in this instance as a loop, and exterior to sheath 25. This is not limiting as the spring could conceivably be located within the sheath or some other type of bias could be used. Also shown by Figs. 6 and 7 are flange members 29 and 29′ in the form of partial or complete loops mounted on the exterior of sheath 25. Flange members 29 and 29′ facilitate operation of the device 33 by providing the user with means to grasp the device 33 such as with the middle finger and ring finger while applying force, such as with the thumb, to rod head 27 or 27′ to force exit and expansion of engagement members 21.

0029Figs. 8 and 9 are alternate embodiments of the sheath type mechanism disclosed in Figs. 6 and 7 which further provide levers 30 for exerting the necessary force on rod head 27 to effectuate action of engagement members 21. In the embodiment as shown in Fig. 8 one lever is fixedly attached to sheath 25 while the other lever imparts force on rod head 27 but is not physically attached to rod head 27. Fig. 9 shows the same retractor 33 but with a lever 30 slidably attached to rod head 27. In each shown embodiment of the retractor 33 with levers 30, the levers 30 are connected to one another at pin 31. Biasing means is shown in both figures to be accomplished by use of spring 28 located circumferentially on rod 25 adjacent to rod head 27 and exterior to sheath 25. A means to hold the levers 30 in numerous closed or partially closed positions to fixedly secure the rod 26 within the sheath 25 at numerous positions to effect the fan out diameter of engagement members 21 is shown as toothed clip 32.

0030Figure 10 is an alternate embodiment of the sheath type retractor 33 wherein the normal position, i.e. with no forces being exerted, of the components of the retractor 33 are as shown. The rod head 27 is biased, for example, by spring 28 to a position against sheath 25 so that engagement members 21 normally reside without sheath 25 and display an opened fanned out pattern. Force exerted on levers 30 in the form of squeezing the bottom of the levers 30 together acts to pull rod head 27 away from sheath 25 forcing engagement members 21 into a closed position as they are withdrawn within sheath 25. As with any of the other embodiments of the retractor various bias means instead of spring 28 can be utilized as well as varying means to hold rod 26 within sheath 25 at different lateral locations to control the diameter of the spread of engagement members 21.

0031Fig. 11 is yet another embodiment of the sheath type embodiment of retractor 33 in which handles 34 control engagement members 21. For proper use of the device as shown in Fig. 11, the user can grasp the handles 34 and squeeze them together against the force of bias which in this instance is shown to be spring 28, to force rod 26 towards the open end of sheath 25 so that engagement members 21 can exit from within sheath 25 and assume an open fanned-out pattern.

0032Fig. 12 is a close-up view of one of the mechanisms which may be utilized to effectuate an opening of engagement members 21 when they are forced out of sheath 25. Engagement members 21 are shown to be attached to the end of rod 26 by pivot joints 36. When forced without the confining boundaries of sheath 25, spring fan outs 35 pull back on engagement members 21 to pivot them into an opened, fanned-out pattern. As can be seen, the amount by which engagement members 21 are forced without sheath 25 will directly affect the diameter of the fanned-out pattern caused by spring fan outs 35 acting in conjunction with pivot joints 36.

0033Recognizing that lateral displacement of a movable shaft or rod is essential for operation of any embodiment of the device, it is possible to utilize an electromechanical device, such as a motor, to achieve such lateral displacement. Fig. 15 is one example of how a motor might be used to produce lateral displacement of a shaft or rod.

0034Within retractor 19 and casing 64 is found reversible motor 61. Reversible motors of this design are known in the art and require no further explanation. Reversible motor 61 is shown to be controlled by slide switch 62. Slide switch 62 can be of the known type having a center-off position. Switch 62 can be displaced in either direction above or below the center-off position.

0035Displacement of switch 62 in one direction causes rotation of threaded shaft 63 in one rotational direction; displacement of switch 62 in the other direction causes opposite rotation of threaded shift 63.

0036Threaded shaft 63, has threads 65 which engage threads 70 of hollow cylinder 66. Rotation of threaded shaft 63 laterally displaces hollow cylinder 66 due to the engagement of threads 65 and 70. It can be seen that lateral displacement of hollow cylinder 66 can occur in either direction resulting from the ability to reverse the rotational direction of threaded shaft 63.

0037In order to prevent rotation of hollow cylinder 66, groove 71 is cut through the wall of hollow cylinder 66. Pegs 67 are fixedly attached to the inner wall of casing 64 and protrude inward through groove 71. In this manner, pegs 67 prevent rotation of hollow cylinder 66 while allowing lateral displacement of hollow cylinder 66.

0038The retractor 19 shown and described in Fig. 15 is preferably a portable self-contained unit. In furtherance of this objective, reversible motor 61 receives electrical power from on-board batteries 68.

0039The control means disclosed in Fig. 15 would suitably replace any of the control mechanisms disclosed in Figs. 1-11. The control means of Fig. 15 would control engagement members 21 by virtue of lateral displacement of hollow cylinder 66 by the methods as shown and described in Figs. 12-14. With respect to Figs. 13 and 14, spring 45 would not be necessary and could be eliminated when the control mechanism shown in Fig. 15 and described above is utilized.

0040A preferred embodiment of the retractor device is illustrated in Figures 16-19. Retractor 80 consists essentially of tubular body 82 through which rod member 84 passes. Rod member 84 terminates in a mechanism as described above for pivotally securing engagement members 88 to rod member 84. Rod member 84 is biased as shown in the retracted position by biasing spring 86. Engagement members 88 are shown to be partially extending from body 82, but may, of course, be fully within body 82 when retractor 80 is at rest. Finger grips 90 are provided, and rod member 84 terminates in thumb button 92. Finger grips 90 are secured to body 82 as shown, but it is contemplated that grips 90 are rotatably secured to body 82 to allow the surgical team member operating retractor 80 to better orient the device if necessary.

0041Engagement members 88 are positioned in a stacked relation along the same diametric line in relation to body 82, as best seen in Fig. 18. When members 88 are retracted as shown in Fig. 18, they are positioned parallel to each other and substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of body 82. Preferably, land portions 94 are provided to limit any radial deflection of members 88 during use when they are extended outside body 82. Land portions 94 may be eliminated, so that opening 96 is bounded only by body 82.

0042As best seen in Fig. 17, in use, finger grips 90 are grasped by the user and thumb button 92 is pushed to the position shown against the biasing force of spring 86. Rod member 84 extends into body 82, and engagement members 88 extend outwardly from body 82. Members 88 pivot in the manner described above, and remain aligned in substantially the same diametric line so that they assume a substantially planar fan-like arrangement. This can best be seen in Fig. 19, where the fan-like arrangement is substantially planar. As thumb button 92 is released, spring 86 biases rod 84 to return to the position shown in Fig. 16, and engagement members 88 pivot and return to their retracted position.

0043Biasing means can be altered in both form, such as spring, and position on the device, such as mounted on the rod or perhaps mounted on the lever means. The fan out actuation of the engagement members can be accomplished by the methods as shown or perhaps by forming the retractor means so that they have a tendency to fan out when the constraining action of the sheath is removed. Various methods of positioning the rod within the sheath or, relatedly, holding the lever means in various positions with respect to one another, are possible and will be evident to those skilled in the art.