Circular surgical retractor
View Patent ↗A wound retractor for retracting a surgical incision includes an inner ring, an outer ring and a distensible sleeve coupled to the inner and outer rings. The outer ring includes at least a pair of circular tubes coupled to each other. At least one of the circular tubes includes a lumen and a split that forms open ends. A noncompliant tubular hoop having a split therein is positioned in the lumen. The tubular hoop is oriented with its open ends positioned away from the split of the circular tubes. A core is positioned in the lumen of the tubular hoop. The core has a first end and a second end and is oriented with the ends positioned away from the split in the tubular hoop. The circular tubes may be parallel or may form a helical pattern similar to a Mobius strip.
1. An adjustable wound retractor adapted to retract a surgical incision in a body wall to a desired diameter, comprising:
a first, inner ring adapted to be inserted into the incision and to be juxtaposed with an inner surface of the body wall;
a second, outer ring adapted for juxtaposition with an outer surface of the body wall, the outer ring including,
a first substantially circular tube having a first lumen, the first circular tube being made of a flexible material,
a second substantially circular tube spaced axially from the first circular tube and coupled to the first circular tube of the outer ring, the second circular tube having a second lumen, the second circular tube being made of a flexible material,
a first rigid, noncompliant tubular hoop having a split therein, the split forming open ends of the first tubular hoop, the first tubular hoop being positioned in the first lumen of the first circular tube of the outer ring,
a second rigid, noncompliant tubular hoop having a split therein, the split forming open ends of the second tubular hoop, the second tubular hoop being positioned in the second lumen of the second circular tube of the outer ring,
a first core positioned in the lumen of the first tubular hoop, the first core having a first end and a second end, the first core being oriented with the first and second ends of the first core positioned away from the split in the first tubular hoop, and
a second core positioned in the lumen of the second tubular hoop, the second core having a first end and a second end, the second core being oriented with the first and second ends of the second core positioned away from the split in the second tubular hoop; and
a distensible sleeve, the sleeve including a first, distal end and a second, proximal end, the first, distal end of the sleeve being coupled to the inner ring of the wound retractor and the second proximal end of the sleeve being coupled to the outer ring of the wound retractor,
wherein, the outer ring of the wound retractor being substantially rigid and noncompliant.
2. The wound retractor of claim 1 , at least one of the first and second cores including a substantially rigid, noncompliant wire.
3. The wound retractor of claim 1 , at least one of the first and second cores including a cable.
4. The wound retractor of claim 1 , the first circular tube being coupled to the second circular tube through a substantially thin mid-section.
5. The wound retractor of claim 1 , the sleeve being made from a thin film.
6. The wound retractor of claim 1 , the first and second substantially circular tubes of the outer ring being made of an elastomeric material.
7. The wound retractor of claim 6 , the first and second substantially circular tubes being made of a plastic material.
8. The wound retractor of claim 6 , the first and second substantially circular tubes being made of a rubber material.
9. The wound retractor of claim 1 , wherein:
the first and second ends of the first core being positioned substantially opposite the first and second ends of the first tubular hoop; and
the first and second ends of the second core being positioned substantially opposite the first and second ends of the second tubular hoop.
10. The wound retractor of claim 1 , each of the combinations of the first tubular hoop with the first core and the second tubular hoop with the second core functioning as an axle about which the outer ring may turn for half a rotation.
11. The wound retractor of claim 10 , wherein:
the first circular tube of the outer ring of the wound retractor being adapted to be rolled outside the second circular tube of the outer ring with the circumference of the first split tubular hoop in the first circular tube expanding to clear the second split tubular hoop in the second circular tube of the outer ring; and
the second circular tube of the outer ring of the wound retractor being adapted to be rolled outside the first circular tube of the outer ring with the circumference of the second split tubular hoop in the second circular tube expanding to clear the first split tubular hoop in the first circular tube of the outer ring.
12. The wound retractor of claim 1 , wherein:
at least one of the first and second tubular hoops being made of a metallic material; and
at least one of the first and second cores being made of a metallic material.
13. The wound retractor of claim 1 , wherein:
at least one of the first and second tubular hoops being made of a composite material; and
at least one of the first and second cores being made of a metallic material.
14. The wound retractor of claim 1 , wherein:
at least one of the first and second tubular hoops being made of a metallic material; and
at least one of the first and second cores being made of a composite material.
15. The wound retractor of claim 1 , wherein:
at least one of the first and second tubular hoops being made of a composite material; and
at least one of the first and second cores being made of a composite material.
16. The wound retractor of claim 1 , the first and second substantially circular tubes being substantially parallel to each other.
17. The wound retractor of claim 1 , the first and second substantially circular tubes forming a helical pattern.
18. An adjustable wound retractor adapted to retract a surgical incision in a body wall to a desired diameter, comprising:
a first, inner ring adapted to be inserted into the incision and to be juxtaposed with an inner surface of the body wall;
a second, outer ring adapted for juxtaposition with an outer surface of the body wall, the outer ring including,
a first substantially circular tube having a first lumen and a split forming a first end and a second end, the first circular tube being made of an elastomeric material,
a second substantially circular tube spaced axially from the first circular tube and coupled to the first circular tube of the outer ring through a substantially thin mid-section, the second circular tube having a second lumen and a split forming a first end and a second end, the second circular tube being made of an elastomeric material,
a first rigid, noncompliant tubular hoop having a split therein, the split forming open ends of the first tubular hoop, the first tubular hoop being positioned in the first lumen of the first circular tube of the outer ring, the first tubular hoop being oriented with the open ends of the first tubular hoop positioned away from the first and second ends of the first circular tube,
a second rigid, noncompliant tubular hoop having a split therein, the split forming open ends of the second tubular hoop, the second tubular hoop being positioned in the second lumen of the second circular tube of the outer ring, the second tubular hoop being oriented with the open ends of the second tubular hoop positioned away from the first and second ends of the second circular tube,
a first core positioned in the lumen of the first tubular hoop, the first core having a first end and a second end, the first core being oriented with the first and second ends of the first core positioned away from the split in the first tubular hoop, and
a second core positioned in the lumen of the second tubular hoop, the second core having a first end and a second end, the second core being oriented with the first and second ends of the second core positioned away from the split in the second tubular hoop; and
a distensible sleeve, the sleeve being made from a thin film, the sleeve including a first, distal end and a second, proximal end, the first, distal end of the sleeve being coupled to the inner ring of the wound retractor and the second proximal end of the sleeve being coupled to the outer ring of the wound retractor,
wherein, the outer ring of the wound retractor being substantially rigid and noncompliant,
each of the combinations of the first tubular hoop with the first core and the second tubular hoop with the second core functioning as an axle about which the outer ring may turn for half a rotation,
the first circular tube of the outer ring of the wound retractor being adapted to be roiled outside the second circular tube of the outer ring with the circumference of the first split tubular hoop in the first circular tube of the outer ring expanding to clear the second split tubular hoop in the second circular tube of the outer ring; and
the second circular tube of the outer ring of the wound retractor being adapted to be rolled outside the first circular tube of the outer ring with the circumference of the second split tubular hoop in the second circular tube of the outer ring expanding to clear the first split tubular hoop in the first circular tube of the outer ring.
19. The wound retractor of claim 18 , at least one of the first and second cores including a substantially rigid, noncompliant wire.
20. The wound retractor of claim 18 , at least one of the first and second cores including a cable.
21. The wound retractor of claim 18 , the first and second substantially circular tubes being made of a plastic material.
22. The wound retractor of claim 18 , the first and second substantially circular tubes being made of a rubber material.
23. The wound retractor of claim 18 , wherein:
the open ends of the first tubular hoop being positioned substantially opposite the first and second ends of the first circular tube; and
the open ends of the second tubular hoop being positioned substantially opposite the first and second ends of the second circular tube.
24. The wound retractor of claim 18 , wherein:
the first and second ends of the first core being positioned substantially opposite the first and second ends of the first tubular hoop; and
the first and second ends of the second core being positioned substantially opposite the first and second ends of the second tubular hoop.
25. The wound retractor of claim 18 , wherein:
at least one of the first and second tubular hoops being made of a metallic material; and
at least one of the first and second cores being made of a metallic material.
26. The wound retractor of claim 18 , wherein:
at least one of the first and second tubular hoops being made of a composite material; and
at least one of the first and second cores being made of a metallic material.
27. The wound retractor of claim 18 , wherein:
at least one of the first and second tubular hoops being made of a metallic material; and
at least one of the first and second cores being made of a composite material.
28. The wound retractor of claim 18 , wherein:
at least one of the first and second tubular hoops being made of a composite material; and
at least one of the first and second cores being made of a composite material.
29. The wound retractor of claim 18 , the first and second substantially circular tubes being substantially parallel to each other.
30. The wound retractor of claim 18 , the first and second substantially circular tubes forming a helical pattern.
31. An adjustable wound retractor adapted to retract a surgical incision in a body wall to a desired diameter, comprising:
a first, inner ring adapted to be inserted into the incision and to be juxtaposed with an inner surface of the body wall;
a second, outer ring adapted for juxtaposition with an outer surface of the body wall, the outer ring including,
a first substantially circular tube having a first lumen, the first circular tube being made of a flexible material,
a second substantially circular tube spaced axially from the first circular tube and coupled to the first circular tube of the outer ring, the second circular tube having a second lumen, the second circular tube being made of a flexible material,
a first rigid, noncompliant tubular hoop having a split therein, the split forming open ends of the first tubular hoop, the first tubular hoop being positioned in the first lumen of the first circular tube of the outer ring,
a second rigid, noncompliant tubular hoop having a split therein, the split forming open ends of the second tubular hoop, the second tubular hoop being positioned in the second lumen of the second circular tube of the outer ring,
a first core positioned in the lumen of the first tubular hoop, and
a second core positioned in the lumen of the second tubular hoop; and
a distensible sleeve, the sleeve including a first, distal end and a second, proximal end, the first, distal end of the sleeve being coupled to the inner ring of the wound retractor and the second, proximal end of the sleeve being coupled to the outer ring of the wound retractor,
wherein, the outer ring of the wound retractor being substantially rigid and noncompliant.
32. The wound retractor of claim 31 , at least one of the first and second cores including a substantially rigid, noncompliant wire.
33. The wound retractor of claim 31 , at least one of the first and second cores including a cable.
34. The wound retractor of claim 31 , the first circular tube being coupled to the second circular tube through a substantially thin mid-section.
35. The wound retractor of claim 31 , the first and second substantially circular tubes of the outer ring being made of an elastomeric material.
36. The wound retractor of claim 31 , wherein:
the first core having a first end and a second end, the first core being oriented with the first and second ends of the first core positioned away from the split in the first tubular hoop; and
the second core having a first end and a second end, the second core being oriented with the first and second ends of the second core positioned away from the split in the second tubular hoop.
37. The wound retractor of claim 31 , each of the combinations of the first tubular hoop with the first core and the second tubular hoop with the second core functioning as an axle about which the outer ring may turn for half a rotation.
38. The wound retractor of claim 37 , wherein:
the first circular tube of the outer ring of the wound retractor being adapted to be rolled outside the second circular tube of the outer ring with the circumference of the first split tubular hoop in the first circular tube expanding to clear the second split tubular hoop in the second circular tube of the outer ring; and
the second circular tube of the outer ring of the wound retractor being adapted to be rolled outside the first circular tube of the outer ring with the circumference of the second split tubular hoop in the second circular tube expanding to clear the first split tubular hoop in the first circular tube of the outer ring.
39. The wound retractor of claim 31 , the first and second substantially circular tubes being substantially parallel to each other.
40. The wound retractor of claim 31 , the first and second substantially circular tubes forming a helical pattern.