Support apparatus for a medical retractor device

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a first sleeve, a second sleeve, a flexible contact member, and an end effector assembly;

the end effector assembly-comprising a first tool member, a second tool member, and a clevis, the first tool member and the second tool member each being rotatably coupled to the clevis such that the second tool member can move relative to the first tool member between a first orientation and a second orientation, the first tool member being spaced apart from the second tool member by a gap, the gap remaining substantially constant as the second tool member rotates relative to the first tool member between the first orientation and the second orientation, the gap being suitably sized to receive a portion of the flexible contact member, a portion of the first sleeve, and a portion of the second sleeve;

the first sleeve is configured to couple to the first tool member;

the second sleeve is configured to couple to the second tool member; and

the flexible contact member is coupled to the first sleeve and the second sleeve, the flexible contact member being movable between a collapsed configuration when the second tool member is in the first orientation and an expanded configuration when the second tool member is in the second orientation.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:

the first tool member is a first retractor blade, the first retractor blade comprising a first tissue contact surface;

the second tool member is a second retractor blade, the second retractor blade comprising a second tissue contact surface;

the first sleeve is configured to be placed about a portion of the first tissue contact surface; and

the second sleeve is configured to be placed about a portion of the second tissue contact surface.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein:

the first sleeve comprises a first pocket to receive the first tool member and surround the portion of the first tissue contact surface; and

the second sleeve comprises a second pocket to receive the second tool member and surround the portion of the second tissue contact surface.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein:

the first sleeve is configured to extend along at least half a length of the first retractor blade; and

the second sleeve is configured to extend along at least half of the second retractor blade.

5. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein each of the first sleeve and the second sleeve is removably coupled about a corresponding one of the first retractor blade and the second retractor blade.

6. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein:

the end effector assembly further comprises a third retractor blade, the third retractor blade comprising a flat surface; and

the flexible contact member is configured to extend across the flat surface of the third retractor blade when the second tool member is in the second orientation.

7. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein:

the end effector assembly further comprises a third retractor blade;

the apparatus further comprises a third sleeve configured to be placed about a portion of the third retractor blade; and

the flexible contact member comprises a first portion coupled to the first sleeve and the third sleeve, and a second portion coupled to the second sleeve and the third sleeve.

8. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein:

the first sleeve comprises a first retention portion to engage the first retractor blade to retain the first sleeve about the first tissue contact surface; and

the second sleeve comprises a second retention portion to engage the second retractor blade to retain the second sleeve about the second tissue contact surface.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein:

on the condition that the first sleeve is in a first position about the portion of the first tissue contact surface, the first retention portion interferes with the first retractor blade to limit movement of the first sleeve from the first position; and

on the condition that the second sleeve is in a second position about the portion of the second tissue contact surface, the second retention portion interferes with the second retractor blade to limit movement of the second sleeve from the second position.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein:

the first sleeve comprises a first interior surface defining a first pocket to receive the first tool member, the first pocket comprises a first interior dimension less than an exterior dimension of the first retractor blade;

the second sleeve comprises a second interior surface defining a second pocket to receive the second tool member, the second pocket comprises a second interior dimension less than an exterior dimension of the second retractor blade;

the first interior surface at the first interior dimension is the first retention portion; and

the second interior surface at the second interior dimension is the second retention portion.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the flexible contact member comprises a plurality of elongate connectors forming an interlaced structure with each other, the interlaced structure extending between the first sleeve and the second sleeve.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first tool member and the second tool member are suitably aligned in the first orientation to be advanced through a cannula.

13. An apparatus, comprising:

a first removable connector, a second removable connector, and a flexible contact member;

the first removable connector is configured to be removably mated to a first blade of a tissue retractor assembly, the tissue retractor assembly comprising the first blade, a second blade, and a clevis, the first blade and the second blade each being rotatably coupled to the clevis such that the second blade can be moved relative to the first blade between a first orientation and a second orientation, with the first blade being spaced apart from the second blade by a gap, the gap remaining substantially constant as the second blade rotates relative to the first blade between the first orientation and the second orientation, the gap being suitably sized to receive a portion of the flexible contact member, a portion of the first removable connector, and a portion of the second removable connector;

the second removable connector is configured to be removably mated to the second blade; and

the flexible contact member is coupled to the first removable connector and the second removable connector, the flexible contact member being movable between a collapsed configuration when the second blade is in the first orientation and an expanded configuration when the second blade is in the second orientation.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein:

the first removable connector is a first sleeve configured to be placed about a portion of the first blade; and

the second removable connector is a second sleeve configured to be placed about a portion of the second blade.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein:

the first removable connector comprises a mating portion; and

the first blade comprises an opening to retain the mating portion.

16. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the first blade and the second blade are suitably aligned in the first orientation to be advanced through a cannula.

17. A method, comprising:

coupling a first connection member of a tissue manipulation accessory to a first tool member of an end effector assembly, the end effector assembly comprising the first tool member, a second tool member, and a clevis, the first tool member and the second tool member each rotatably coupled to the clevis such that the second tool member can be moved relative to the first tool member between an open first orientation and a closed second orientation, the coupling being performed when the second tool member is in the open first orientation with respect to the first tool member;

rotating, after the coupling, at least one of the first tool member or the second tool member to place the second tool member in the closed second orientation, the first tool member being spaced apart from the second tool member by a gap, the gap remaining substantially constant as the second tool member rotates relative to the first tool member between the closed second orientation and the open first orientation, the gap being suitably sized to receive a portion of the first connection member and a second portion of the tissue manipulation accessory; and

inserting the end effector assembly and the tissue manipulation accessory coupled to the end effector assembly into a cannula when the second tool member is in the closed second orientation.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising:

introducing, after the inserting, the end effector assembly and the tissue manipulation accessory into a body cavity; and

rotating, after the inserting, at least one of the first tool member or the second tool member to move the second tool member from the closed second orientation towards the open first orientation.

19. The method of claim 17 , further comprising:

coupling, while the second tool member is in the open first orientation, a second connection member of the tissue manipulation accessory to the second tool member of the end effector assembly.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein:

the first connection member is a first sleeve;

the second connection member is a second sleeve;

the first tool member comprises a first coupling portion that retains the first sleeve;

the second tool member comprises a second coupling portion that retains the second sleeve;

the coupling the first connection member comprises sliding the first sleeve over the first coupling portion of the first tool member; and

the coupling the second connection member comprises sliding the second sleeve over the second coupling portion of the second tool member.