Multifunctional surgical access system
View Patent ↗A tissue retractor comprising an outer ring, an inner ring, and a flexible, metal sheath extending therebetween is described. Embodiments of the outer ring comprise an outer ring rotatable around an annular axis thereof, thereby rolling the sheath therearound when retracting an incision or opening in a body wall. Embodiments of the sheath comprise a plurality of linked loops, a plurality of loops joined by a wire extending through adjacent loops, a braided wire, and a plurality of chains. Also described are kits comprising outer rings, inner rings, and sheaths, some or all of varying dimensions, which may be selected and assembled by the user for their intended use. Some or all of the kit components may be resterilized for reuse.
1. A tissue retractor comprising:
a longitudinal axis defining an instrument access channel extending from a proximal end to a distal end;
an outer ring;
an inner ring; and
a flexible sheath extending between the outer ring and the inner ring,
wherein
the instrument access channel extends through the outer ring, the inner ring, and the sheath, and
the sheath comprises a metal mesh comprising a plurality of linked loops.
2. The tissue retractor of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of loops are joined by a wire extending through adjacent loops.
3. A tissue retractor comprising:
a longitudinal axis defining an instrument access channel extending from a proximal end to a distal end;
an outer ring;
an inner ring; and
a flexible sheath extending between the outer ring and the inner ring,
wherein
the instrument access channel extends through the outer ring, the inner ring, and the sheath, and
the sheath comprises a plurality of metal chains.
4. A tissue retractor kit, comprising:
an outer ring having a first plurality of fasteners disposed around a circumference of the outer ring;
an inner ring having a second plurality of fasteners disposed around a circumference of the inner ring; and
a flexible, metal sheath having a distal end and a proximal end,
wherein
the user assembles the tissue retractor by securing the proximal end of the metal sheath to the first plurality of fasteners and the distal end of the metal sheath to the second plurality of fasteners.
5. The tissue retractor kit of claim 4 , wherein the sheath is autoclavable.
6. The tissue retractor kit of claim 4 , wherein at least one of first plurality of fasteners and the second plurality of fasteners comprise at least one of hooks, clips, clamps, pins, wires, hook-and-loop fasteners, laces and eyelets.
7. The tissue retractor kit of claim 4 , wherein the metal sheath comprises a mesh comprising a plurality of linked loops.
8. The tissue retractor kit of claim 4 , wherein the metal sheath comprises a plurality of loops, the loops joined by a wire extending through adjacent loops.
9. The tissue retractor kit of claim 4 , wherein the metal sheath comprises a plurality of chains.
10. A tissue retractor kit, comprising:
at least one outer ring having a plurality of fasteners disposed around a circumference of the outer ring;
at least one inner ring having a plurality of fasteners disposed around a circumference of the inner ring; and
at least one flexible, metal sheath having a distal end and a proximal end,
wherein
the user selects the inner ring, outer ring, and sheath suitable for his or her intended use and assembles the tissue retractor by securing the proximal end of the selected metal sheath to the plurality of fasteners disposed around the selected outer ring and the distal end of the selected metal sheath to the plurality of fasteners around the selected inner ring, and
the retractor is disassemblable after use, and one or more of the outer ring, the inner ring, and the sheath is reusable.