Elliptical retractor
View Patent ↗A retractor for use in laparoscopic procedures includes an upper retractor ring, a lower retractor ring, and a retractor sheath extending between the upper retractor ring and the lower retractor ring to form a tubular passageway through which instruments or a medical practitioner's hands may pass during a medical procedure. The retractor sheath includes an elliptical passageway extending between lower retractor ring and the upper retractor ring.
1. A retractor for use in laparoscopic procedures, comprising:
an upper retractor ring;
a lower retractor ring; and
a retractor sheath connecting the upper retractor ring and the lower retractor ring to form a tubular passageway through which instruments or a medical practitioner's hands may pass during a medical procedure;
wherein the retractor sheath includes a tubular central body portion having a substantially elliptical cross section when viewed within a plane that is substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis as the retractor extends from the upper retractor ring to the lower retractor ring so as to define an elliptical passageway extending between the lower retractor ring and the upper retractor ring.
2. The retractor according to claim 1 , wherein the upper retractor ring is rigid.
3. The retractor according to claim 2 , wherein the upper retractor ring is circular in shape, and the retractor sheath includes an upper transition section positioned adjacent the upper retractor ring, the upper transition section extends from the upper retractor ring to the central body portion.
4. The retractor according to claim 1 , wherein the upper retractor ring is circular in shape, and the retractor sheath includes an upper transition section positioned adjacent the upper retractor ring, the upper transition section extends from the upper retractor ring to the central body portion.
5. The retractor according to claim 1 , wherein the lower retractor ring is flexible.
6. The retractor according to claim 1 , wherein the lower retractor ring is elliptical in shape.
7. The retractor according to claim 1 , wherein the lower retractor ring is circular in shape, and the retractor sheath includes an lower transition section positioned adjacent the upper retractor ring, the lower transition section extends from the lower retractor ring to the central body portion.
8. The retractor according to claim 5 , wherein the lower retractor ring is elliptical in shape.
9. The retractor according to claim 5 , wherein the lower retractor ring is circular in shape, and the retractor sheath includes an lower transition section positioned adjacent the upper retractor ring, the lower transition section extends from the lower retractor ring to the central body portion.
10. The retractor according to claim 1 , wherein the perimeter (P) of the elliptical passageway is expressed as a function of its small diameter (d) and its larger diameter (D) and the following formula:
P
=
π
·
2
·
[
(
d
2
)
2
+
(
D
2
)
2
]
.
11. A seal assembly with retractor for use in laparoscopic procedures, comprising:
a seal cap;
a retractor secured to the seal cap, the retractor including:
an upper retractor ring;
a lower retractor ring; and
a retractor sheath connecting the upper retractor ring and the lower retractor ring to form a tubular passageway through which instruments or a medical practitioner's hands may pass during a medical procedure;
wherein the retractor sheath includes a tubular central body portion having a substantially elliptical cross section when viewed within a plane that is substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis as the retractor extends from the upper retractor ring to the lower retractor ring so as to define an elliptical passageway extending between the lower retractor ring and the upper retractor ring.
12. The seal assembly with retractor according to claim 11 , wherein the upper retractor ring is rigid.
13. The seal assembly with retractor according to claim 12 , wherein the upper retractor ring is circular in shape, and the retractor sheath includes an upper transition section positioned adjacent the upper retractor ring, the upper transition section extends from the upper retractor ring to the central body portion.
14. The seal assembly with retractor according to claim 11 , wherein the upper retractor ring is circular in shape, and the retractor sheath includes an upper transition section positioned adjacent the upper retractor ring, the upper transition section extends from the upper retractor ring to the central body portion.
15. The seal assembly with retractor according to claim 11 , wherein the lower retractor ring is flexible.
16. The seal assembly with retractor according to claim 11 , wherein the lower retractor ring is elliptical in shape.
17. The seal assembly with retractor according to claim 11 , wherein the lower retractor ring is circular in shape, and the retractor sheath includes an lower transition section positioned adjacent the upper retractor ring, the lower transition section extends from the lower retractor ring to the central body portion.
18. The seal assembly with retractor according to claim 15 wherein the lower retractor ring is elliptical in shape.
19. The seal assembly with retractor according to claim 15 , wherein the lower retractor ring is circular in shape, and the retractor sheath includes an lower transition section positioned adjacent the upper retractor ring, the lower transition section extends from the lower retractor ring to the central body portion.
20. The seal assembly with retractor according to claim 11 , wherein the perimeter (P) of the elliptical passageway is expressed as a function of its small diameter (d) and its larger diameter (D) and the following formula:
P
=
π
·
2
·
[
(
d
2
)
2
+
(
D
2
)
2
]
.