Apple Medical Corporation

John C Pulford

Marco Pelosi

Robert W Schaefer

An adjustable retractor is disclosed comprising an inner ring, an outer ring spaced from the inner ring, and an elongate sleeve open at opposite ends. The sleeve is provided and extends between the inner and outer rings and is connected at the opposite ends to the rings. The outer ring is provided with a pre-loaded rotational torque to assist with rotation of the outer ring about its central axis to roll the sleeve about the outer ring to adjust sleeve length. An obstetrics version of the retractor may be used for caesarean sections. A hydraulically controlled retractor includes fluid channels in the inner and outer rings that may be dilated by injection of an appropriate fluid.

Abdominal retractor

An adjustable retractor is disclosed comprising an inner ring, an outer ring spaced from the inner ring, and an elongate sleeve open at opposite ends. The sleeve is provided and extends between the inner and outer rings and is connected at the opposite ends to the rings. The outer ring is provided with a pre-loaded rotational torque to assist with rotation of the outer ring about its central axis to roll the sleeve about the outer ring to adjust sleeve length. The outer ring may be formed in a mobius configuration to provide the pre-loaded rotational torque. The outer ring has a cross-sectional shape that may have numerous different configurations. The mobius configuration may include the cross-sectional shape having an outer circumference offset by a predetermined amount about the central axis of the outer ring proceeding longitudinally along the central axis from one location on the outer ring to another location on the outer ring. A method of adjusting a retractor is also disclosed.

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Groton, MA, United States of America

John C Pulford