Codman & Shurtleff, Inc.

Other

Flexbar Machine Corp.

Specialty Surgical Instrumentation, Inc.

Johnson & Johnson Professional, Inc.

John R Bookwalter

Rene J Cabrera

David T Adler

William H Bookwalter

George W Guay

Kenneth R Hayes

Wesley C Walker

Victor B Agbodoe

John J McMorrow

Kyle S Moore

Jonathan Adler

Roy W Downing

Olaf Storz

Nelson P Torres

Donald A Paine

Leonard Coraci, Jr

Joseph L Chaudoin

James F McCready

Alan I West

John J Amaral

Francisco A Amaral

Kevin Redmond

Bernd D Ascher

A ratchet assembly for multi-dimensional movement and placement of a retractor blade includes a retractor blade holder, a housing member, a rotating indexer and a self-retaining locking mechanism. The retractor blade holder is shaped and dimensioned to receive a stem of a retractor blade and includes a locking mechanism that enables selective lateral adjustment of the retractor blade relative to the retractor blade holder. The retractor blade holder is mated to the housing member and is vertically pivotable with respect to the housing member to enable selective vertical pivoting adjustment of the retractor blade relative to the housing member. The rotating indexer is mated to the housing member, and the housing member is rotatable with respect to the rotating indexer so that the retractor blade holder, the housing member and the retractor blade are able to selectively rotate about the longitudinal axis of the rotating indexer. The rotating indexer is shaped and dimensioned to mount onto a rim of a surgical support. The self-retaining locking mechanism simultaneously locks or unlocks the position of the housing member relative to the rotating indexer and the position of the rotating indexer and the entire ratchet assembly onto the rim of the surgical support.

Three dimensional tilt rachet with self retaining mechanism

A retractor ring assembly includes a ring holder that has a first selectively engaged connection and a second selectively engaged connection. A first and second ring portion each has a proximal end and a distal end. The proximal end of the first and second ring portions are selectively connected to the respective first and second selectively engaged connections of the ring holder. The distal end of the first ring portion has a third selectively engaged connection. The distal end of the second ring portion has a fourth selectively engaged connection. The third selectively engaged connection and the fourth selectively engaged connection are connectable to form a reinforced closed ring configuration, and are disconnectable to form an open ring configuration.

Retractor ring holder

An adjustable ratchet retractor support apparatus includes in one aspect a rotatable locking mount having first and second surfaces and an axis of rotation perpendicular to the surfaces. First and second rotatable pivot members are disposed respectively on the first and second surfaces for rotation around the axis of rotation. Each of the pivot members include ratchet teeth. First and second curved arm members are mounted respectively on and associated respectively with the first and second pivot members. Each of the arm members is rotatable about a respective axis of rotation perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the locking mount. Each arm member has mounted thereon a ratchet pawl for engagement with the ratchet teeth of the associated pivot member. First and second rotatable clamps are disposed respectively on the first and second pivot members for restraining rotation of the pivot members.

Adjustable ratchet retractor support apparatus

A three-dimensional tilt ratchet mechanism that is able to rotate, pivot, and bend forwards or backwards with ease is provided. The mechanism includes a device for multi-dimensional movement and placement of a retractor blade which comprises a first member adapted to receive a stem of a retractor blade. The first member has a locking mechanism effective to enable selective lateral adjustment of the retractor blade relative to the first member. Also provided is a second member to which the first member is mated. The first member is vertically pivotable with respect to the second member to enable selective vertical pivoting adjustment of the retractor blade relative to the second member. A rotator indexing body is mated to the second member and is adapted to mount onto a rim of a surgical support. The second member is rotatable with respect to the rotator indexing body such that the first member, the second member and the retractor blade are able to selectively rotate about the longitudinal axis of the rotator indexing body.

Three-dimensional tilt ratchet mechanism

A retractor systems includes a retractor blade with a blade portion and a handle portion that fit together in a modular way to allow different blades to be removably and interchangeably affixed to the handle assembly. A dovetail mounts the blade in a plane substantially transverse or perpendicular to the shaft. Preferably, the handle assembly translates within a multi-position locking mechanism to allow adjustment of the handle extension along one or more axes, while the in-plane swing of the blade about the shaft conveniently positions the tip of the blade under tissue to be retracted when bone or hard tissue may impede access along a retraction direction parallel to the axis of the shaft. The interchangeable blades may have different sizes between approximately 5 and 15 centimeters length, and are manually affixed to the handle to set the reach and scope of the retractor for a particular operation. Preferably a blade is formed of a radiolucent polymer, permitting unobstructed imaging when the retractor is occluded during surgery on a joint, or during an anterior approach to the spine. The blade may be formed with its surface dished or curved in one or more directions, or may have a lip or flare adapted for a contacting or retracting a particular tissue or structure. The surface of the blade swings down to engage muscle along a path substantially tangent to a hard tissue structure or bone from which the tissue is to be retracted.

Surgical retractor assembly

A retractor blade mounts on a shaft having a controlled degree of rotation and swings down to grip and retract tissue from bone or a hard tissue structure. The retractor blade includes a blade portion and a handle portion which may be integrally joined or may fit together in a modular way to allow different blades to be removably and interchangeably affixed to the handle assembly. A dovetail may mount the blade in a plane substantially transverse or perpendicular to the shaft. The shaft translates within a multi-position locking mechanism to allow adjustment of the handle extension along one or more axes, while the in-plane swing of the blade about the shaft conveniently positions the tip of the blade under tissue to be retracted when bone or hard tissue impedes access along the retraction direction parallel to the axis of the shaft. The retractor handle has a regular cross-section with one or more protruding lobes or ridges extending along the axial direction such that the edge-to-edge diameter of the handle varies with angular position about the axis, and peaks at one or more lobes or opposed pairs of lobes so that the ridges jam by interference against the walls of a channel in a clamping assembly. Preferably the blade is formed of a radiolucent polymer and may have its surface dished or curved in one or more directions, or may have a lip or flare adapted for contacting or retracting a particular tissue or structure.

Surgical retractor assembly with controlled rotation

Combined lap aroscopic tool holder and positioner

Combined laphroscopic tool holder and positioner

Combined laparoscopic tool holder and positioner

A retractor blade having a generally 'S' shaped configuration in cross section. The blade is pivotally attached to a rod which may be connected to a table fixed ring retractor. The central portion of the blade moves tissue away from the operative site when the distal end of the blade is placed against a bone and the rod is moved away from the operative site.

Orthopaedic retractor blade

A multi-position ratchet mechanism for holding a surgical retractor blade which permits a retractor blade to be rotated into the wound and retracted at the same time to duplicate the natural 'toe-in' method of retraction achieved with the hand. The ratchet mechanism includes a ratchet holder to which is pivotally attached a ratchet pivot housing. The retractor blade is mounted in an opening projecting through ratchet pivot housing and held in position by a retractor pawl attached to the ratchet pivot housing. The ratchet pivot housing also has a curved ratchet which depends into a cooperating slot in the ratchet holder and engages a ratchet release bar which is mounted on the ratchet holder and spring biased into the ratchet slot. One end of ratchet release bar is positioned under an actuating surface of the retractor pawl. The application of pressure on the actuating surface will release both ratchets to allow adjustment of the retractor blade.

Multi-position ratchet mechanism

Arched arms fit over the contour of the chest cavity. Retractor blades are attached to the arms at one end by pivot pins allowing complete rotation vertically of the arms relative to the blades. The blades are attached to the pivot pin by joints which are slightly rotatable in a horizontal direction. Opposite the blade end, a rack bar is rigidly secured to one arm and slides through a slot in a housing at the end of the other arm, A pinion and handle in the housing moves the rack to separate the blades at the other end and bring them together again.

Flip-up sternal retractor

A rectangular top post slides into an operating table post base opening just large enough to receive it. Rulon (TM) rods are inserted in slots around the opening. The rods are secured permanently in the slots and the rods protrude into the opening evenly at six points spaced around the opening. The Rulon (TM) rods provide a tight-fitting restraint on the bar, but because of the slidability along the surface of the rods, the post may be moved manually up or down with a minor effort. The tight sliding fit maintains the post rigidly in place without moving up or down or twisting once the bar is in a set position. Motion is only possible in a vertical direction. A casing attached to the top of the top post houses a rack and pinion drive with a rack arm extending out over a patient. Surgical apparatus, such as retractors, are attached to the rack arm.

Sliding-fit operating table stabilizing post and rack

Quick-lock holder for laparoscopic instrument

The moving parts of the clamping mechanism are enclosed within a hollowed out enlarged casing at the base of the stabilizer post. The hooked base of the post forms the bottom of the clamp. Inside the post casing the hooked top of the clamp is attached to two side panels with angled slots. A screw through a back panel engages a large rectangular nut fitted with angled protruding blocks on each side of the nut. The nut protruding blocks fit into the angled slots of the side panels. The bolt is rotataly fixed at one end so turning it moves the nut forward and backward along the screw. When the bolt is turned and the nut moves horizontally on the bolt, the side panels move up and down. The hooked top of the clamp moves up or down engaging and releasing a side rail of an operating table between the clamp elements. A relatively flat knob to turn the screw is the only protrusion from the post casing at the base.

Growing community of inventors

Brattleboro, VT, United States of America

John R Bookwalter