Atropos Limited

Aoibheann Gill

Frank Bonadio

John Butler

Alan Reid

Derek William Young

Edmund Brennan

A retractor () for retracting the margins of a wound opening () comprises an inner anchoring O-ring () attached to a cylindrical sleeve () at a distal end and a reinforcing O-ring () attached to a proximal end of the sleeve (). The sleeve () is led between an inner ring part () and a corresponding recess () in an outer ring part (). The outer ring part () has anchor formations () over which the proximal end of the sleeve () is attached to anchor the sleeve (). To retract the wound opening () the sleeve () is pulled while the guide rings () are moved against the tissue surrounding the wound opening (). This pulls the inner O-ring () against the inside of the tissue adjacent the wound opening (), and retracts the wound opening (). The sleeve () is manipulated locally for maximum retraction efficiency.

Retractor

A colonic overtube for maintaining a sigmoid colon in a straightened configuration has a proximal end for location externally of a colon, and a distal end for insertion into a colon. A colonoscope lumen extends through the overtube to facilitate passing the overtube over a colonoscope. The overtube has a convoluted corrugation which extends along the entire length of the overtube from the proximal end to the distal end . The corrugated configuration of the overtube provides the overtube with laterally flexibility so that the overtube may flex substantially without kinking during advancement of the overtube through a colon. A flexible seal, in the form of a tubular silicone sheath of film material, is provided at the distal end of the overtube for sealing between the overtube and a colonoscope extending through the colonoscope lumen . The flexible nature of the seal enables the seal to adapt itself to the size of the colonoscope extending through the colonoscope lumen to achieve a secure, effective seal between the overtube and a colonoscope regardless of the colonoscope size.

Colonic overtube

A retractor ( ) for retracting the margins of a wound opening ( ) comprises an inner anchoring O-ring ( ) attached to a cylindrical sleeve ( ) at a distal end and a reinforcing O-ring ( ) attached to a proximal end of the sleeve ( ). The sleeve ( ) is led between an inner ring part ( ) and a corresponding recess ( ) in an outer ring part ( ). The outer ring part ( ) has anchor formations ( ) over which the proximal end of the sleeve ( ) is attached to anchor the sleeve ( ). To retract the wound opening ( ) the sleeve ( ) is pulled while the guide rings ( ) are moved against the tissue surrounding the wound opening ( ). This pulls the inner O-ring ( ) against the inside of the tissue adjacent the wound opening ( ), and retracts the wound opening ( ). The sleeve ( ) is manipulated locally for maximum retraction efficiency.

Retractor and method for use

A retractor (,) for retracting the margins of a wound opening (,) comprises an inner anchoring O-ring (,) attached to a cylindrical sleeve (,) at a distal end and a reinforcing O-ring (,) attached to a proximal end of the sleeve (,). The sleeve (,) is led between an inner ring part (,) and a corresponding recess (,) in an outer ring part (,). The outer ring part (,) has anchor formations (,) over which the proximal end of the sleeve (,) is attached to anchor the sleeve (,). To retract the wound opening (,) the sleeve (,) is pulled while the guide rings (,) are moved against the tissue surrounding the wound opening (,). This pulls the inner O-ring (,) against the inside of the tissue adjacent the wound opening (,), and retracts the wound opening (,). The sleeve (,) is manipulated locally for maximum retraction efficiency.

Growing community of inventors

County Longford, Ireland

Aoibheann Gill