Pericardial retractor
View Patent ↗A surgical retractor includes a “swivel” having a string extending from one end and a string extending from the midpoint between the two ends. The swivel is delivered by pushing it out of a tube which is inserted through a small incision between the ribs of the patient. After the swivel is deployed, the tube is removed and the string which is attached to the center of the swivel is pulled to lift the pericardium. When the procedure is complete, the swivel is removed from the patient by pulling the string attached to the end of the swivel. According to one embodiment, the swivel is a cylinder with a blunt conical end. According to another embodiment, the swivel has a sharp end which is covered by a spring loaded collar.
1. A surgical retractor for use within a body cavity, comprising:
a) an elongate swivel having a first end and a second end, said first end of said swivel having a non-circular keyway means for engaging a key on a deployment tool;
b) a first length of string extending from said first end of said swivel;
c) a second length of string extending from a point substantially midway between said first end and said second end, said second length of string having a free end which does not re-enter the swivel,
said first and second lengths of string having sufficient length such that either may be pulled from outside the body cavity, such that
pulling on said second length of string causes said swivel to swivel off the key on the deployment tool and be oriented substantially perpendicular to said second length of string, and
pulling on said first length of string causes said swivel to be oriented substantially coaxial to said first length of string.
2. The surgical retractor according to claim 1 , wherein:
said swivel is substantially cylindrical with said second end being substantially conical.
3. The surgical retractor according to claim 2 , wherein:
said swivel has a reduced diameter portion adjacent to said first end.
4. The surgical retractor according to claim 1 , wherein:
said swivel has a surface groove extending substantially from said first end to said point substantially midway between said first end and said second end, said surface groove having a depth sufficient to receive said second string.
5. The surgical retractor according to claim 1 , wherein:
said swivel has an outer surface, an axial bore extending from said first end to said point substantially midway between said first end and said second end, and a radial bore extending from said axial bore to said surface at said point substantially midway between said first end and said second end.
6. The surgical retractor according to claim 5 , wherein:
said first and second lengths of string are parts of a single length of string passing through said axial and radial bores.
7. The surgical retractor according to claim 5 , wherein:
said first and second lengths of string are joined together where said axial bore intersects said radial bore.
8. The surgical retractor according to claim 1 , wherein:
said first end of said swivel has a curved surface.
9. The surgical retractor according to claim 1 , further comprising:
d) a hollow tube having a proximal end and a distal end, said first end of said swivel being removably mounted in said distal end of said tube; and
e) a pushrod having a proximal end and a distal end, said pushrod extending through said hollow tube with said distal end of said pushrod facing said first end of said swivel.
10. The surgical retractor according to claim 9 , wherein:
said pushrod is hollow and said first and second lengths of string extend through said hollow pushrod and out of the proximal end of said hollow pushrod.
11. A surgical retractor according to claim 10 , further comprising:
f) a housing coupled to said proximal end of said hollow tube; and
g) a push-button captured by said housing, wherein
pushing said push-button into said housing engages said pushrod and moves it distally, pushing said swivel out of said distal end of said hollow tube.
12. The surgical retractor according to claim 11 , wherein:
said push-button has an axial bore and a radial bore, said first and second lengths of string extending through said axial bore and said radial bore.
13. The surgical retractor according to claim 12 , wherein:
said push-button and said housing have mutual locking means for locking said push-button in a depressed position.
14. The surgical retractor according to claim 13 , wherein:
said mutual locking means includes a locking ring on said push-button and a locking groove in said housing.
15. The surgical retractor according to claim 11 , wherein:
said pushrod is substantially solid having first and second longitudinal surface grooves,
said first and second lengths of string extending along said first and second longitudinal surface grooves and out of the proximal end of said hollow tube.
16. The surgical retractor according to claim 15 , wherein:
said first end of said swivel has a curved surface and said distal end of said pushrod has a curved surface.
17. The surgical retractor according to claim 9 , wherein:
said distal end of said pushrod has the key which engages said keyway means.
18. The surgical retractor according to claim 1 , wherein:
said first length of string and said second length of string are visually distinguishable.
19. The surgical retractor according to claim 18 , wherein:
said first length of string and said second length of string are different colors.