EP0089099A2 — Surgical retractor array system

Claim 1

Independent Claim 191 words

A universal, surgical retractor frame array system assemblable into a plurality of annular, hinged retractor frame units of different annular shapes (11,13; 19,21; 23; 33) adaptable to conform to the surface contours of different body portions of surgical patients for retaining elastic tubing stay members inserted into notches (36) spaced apart around each retractor unit periphery, said system comprising a plurality of rigid, planar frame sections (11, 13, 19, 21, 23, 27, 28, 33) of various outline shaped in the plane of the frame section, each frame section having two end portions (15, 16, 20, 22, 24, 25, 29, 30, 31, 32) adapted for hinged connections to the end portions of other frame sections of said array system, each frame section having a uniform transverse cross-section with contoured notches spaced apart and extending inwardly from a common side forming each retractor unit outer periphery when hingedly joined to other frame sections of said array system; and means (17) for hingedly connecting together the two end portions of each said frame section to the end portions of other frame sections of said array system to form differently shaped, annular retractor frame units.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 191 words

A universal, surgical retractor frame array system assemblable into a plurality of annular, hinged retractor frame units of different annular shapes (11,13; 19,21; 23; 33) adaptable to conform to the surface contours of different body portions of surgical patients for retaining elastic tubing stay members inserted into notches (36) spaced apart around each retractor unit periphery, said system comprising a plurality of rigid, planar frame sections (11, 13, 19, 21, 23, 27, 28, 33) of various outline shaped in the plane of the frame section, each frame section having two end portions (15, 16, 20, 22, 24, 25, 29, 30, 31, 32) adapted for hinged connections to the end portions of other frame sections of said array system, each frame section having a uniform transverse cross-section with contoured notches spaced apart and extending inwardly from a common side forming each retractor unit outer periphery when hingedly joined to other frame sections of said array system; and means (17) for hingedly connecting together the two end portions of each said frame section to the end portions of other frame sections of said array system to form differently shaped, annular retractor frame units.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 76 words

The retractor frame system of claim 1 wherein said plurality of frame sections includes a plurality of planar, major frame sections (11;19) comprising open rings each defining the major portion of annuli of different radii and a plurality of planar, minor frame sections (13; 21) comprising arches of different shapes. of which end portions (16,22) are adapted for fitting in flush alignment with the end portions (15,20) of said major frame sections and hinged connection thereto.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 71 words

The retractorframe system of claim 2 wherein the outer surface (16a) of the end portions (16) of a minor frame section (13) are dimensioned to fit flush against the interior surfaces (15a) of the end portions (15) of a major frame section (11) and the minor frame end portions (16) comprise parallel straight segments of sufficient length to allow 360° relative rotation of said major (11) and minor frame sections (13).

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 50 words

The retractor.system of claim 2 wherein said plurality of frame sections further includes a plurality of straight planar frame sections (27;28) having end portions (29, 30; 31,32) adapted to be inserted between the respective end portions of said major (11;19) and minor (13; 21) frame sections for hinged connection thereto.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 40 words

The retractor frame system of claim 1 wherein said plurality of frame sections includes a plurality of straight planar frame sections (27,28) having end portions (29, 30; 31,32) adapted for hinged connection to other frame sections of said retractor system.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 45 words

The retractor frame system of claim 4 or 5 wherein said plurality of straight frame sections include at least one pair of straight frame sections (27;28), with one section of said pair being the reverse image of the other straight frame section of said pair.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 50 words

The retractor frame system of claim 1 wherein said plurality of frame sections includes a plurality of arcuate planar frame sections (23) each comprising a ninety degree arc from the ends of which protrude straight end portions (24,25) adapted for hinged connection to other frame sections of said retractor system.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 69 words

The retractor frame system of claim 5 or 7 wherein each said frame section (23, 27, 28) has a first end portion (24, 29, 31) differently contoured than a second end portion (25, 30, 32) such that said first end portion of one frame section fits in overlapping alignment over the second end portion of another frame section for forming a retractor unit having a smoothly contoured outline shape.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 88 words

The retractor frame system of claim 1 wherein said plurality of frame sections includes four arcuate planar frame sections (23) each comprising a ninety degree arm from the ends of which protrude straight end portions (24, 25) adapted for hinged connection to other frame sections of said retractor system and at least two straight planar frame sections (27,28) having end portions adapted for hinged connection to other frame sections of said retractor system to permit assembly of said frame sections into a retractor frame unit of annular outline.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 101 words

The retractor frame system of claim 1 wherein said plurality of frame sections includes frame sections having first and second type end portions, with said first type end portions (15) adapted to fit flush against and outside said second type end portions (16) in the direction of the notched side when respective frame sections are assembled into a retractor unit, one of said first and second type end portions having a hole (12) through which said connecting means (17) is insertable and the other of said first and second type end portions being adapted to be secured to said connecting means.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 100 words

The retractor frame system of claim 1 wherein said connecting means comprise a pin (17) threaded at one end, and wherein said frame sections have first and second types of end portions with said first type end portions (15) adapted to fit flush against and outside said second type end portions (16) when respective frame sections are assembled into a retractor unit, said first type end portions (15) having an unthreaded hole (2) through which said pin in insertable, and said second type end portions (16) having a threaded hole (14) adapted to receive the threaded end of said pin.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 114 words

The retractor frame system of claim 2 wherein both end portions of one of said major (11, 19) and minor (13,21) frame sections comprises a first type of end portion adapted to fit flush against and outside both end portions of the other one of said major and minor frame sections and both end portions of the other one of said major and minor frame sections comprise a second type of end portion, one of said first and second types of end portion having a hole through which said connecting means is insertable and the other of said first and second types of end portion being adapted to be secured to said connecting means,

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 116 words

The retractor frame system of claim 7 wherein each said arcuate frame section (23) has a first (25) and a second (24) type end portion with said first type end portion of each arcuate frame section adapted to fit flush over and outside the second type end portion of another frame section in the direction of the notched sides when a plurality of frame sections are assembled into a retractor unit, one (25) of said first and second types of end portion having a hole (12) through which said connecting means (17) is insertable and the other (24) of said first and second types of end portion being adapted to be secured to said connecting means.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 113 words

The retractor frame system of claim 5 wherein each said straight frame section (27,28) has a first (30,32) and a second type (29,31) end portion with said first type end portion of each straight frame section adapted to fit flush over and outside the second type end portion of another frame section in the direction of the notched side when a plurality of frame sections are assembled into a retractor unit, one (30,32) of said first and.second types of end portion having a hole (12) through which said connecting means (17) is insertable and the other (29,31) of said first-and second types-of-end - portion being adapted to be secured to said connecting means.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 155 words

The retractor frame system of claim 1 wherein said plurality of frame sections includes arcuate planar frame sections (23) each comprising a ninety degree arc from the ends of which extend straight end portions, and straight planar frame sections (27,28) from the ends of which extend straight end portions, each said arcuate frame section having a first and a second type end portion and each said straight frame section having a first and a second type end portion, said first type end portions adapted to fit flush over and outside the second type end portions of an adjacent frame section when said arcuate and straight frame sections are assembled to form a retractor unit, one of said first and second types of end portion having a hole through which said connecting means is insertable and the other of said first and second types of end portion being adapted to be secured to said connecting means.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 42 words

The retractor frame section of claim 12, 13,14 or 15 wherein said connecting means comprises a pin (17) threaded at one end and said second type end portions contain a threaded hole (14) adapted to receive the threaded end of said pin.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 136 words

The surgical retractor frame system of claim 1 wherein said frame sections have an upper surface adapted to face away from the body of the surgical patient and a lower surface adapted to immediately overlie the body of the patient and wherein each of said notches (36) has a contour tapered along a length dimension extending transversely of the frame section to diminish along said entire length dimension from a greater width dimension at the outer edge of the frame section to a lesser width dimension at the interior end of the notch length and tapered along a depth dimension extending between said frame section upper and lower surfaces to diminish along said entire depth dimension from a greater width dimension at said upper frame surface to a lesser width dimension at said lower frame surface.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 34 words

The retractor frame system of claim 17 wherein said notch contours are tapered to accept and frictionally hold hollow elastic tubing having an outside diameter of from about 0.08 inches to about 0.13 inches.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 143 words

In a surgical retractor for use in performing surgery comprising a generally annular frame adaptable to conform to the shape of the body upon which surgery is to be performed and having notches (36) spaced apart along and extending inwardly from the outer periphery of said frame and adapted to retain elastic tubing stay members inserted therein, the improvement wherein said frame has an upper surface (35) facing away from the body of the surgical patient and a lower surface (33a) overlying the body of the patient and said notches are contoured to taper along a length dimension extending transversely of said frame to diminish in width from the outer peripheral edge of said frame and taper along a depth dimension extending through the thickness dimension of said frame to diminish in width from said frame upper surface to said frame lower surface.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 143 words

In a surgical retractor for use in performing surgery comprising a generally annular frame adaptable to conform to the shape of the body upon which surgery is to be performed and having notches (36) spaced apart along and extending inwardly from the outer periphery of said frame and adapted to retain elastic tubing stay members inserted therein, the improvement wherein said frame has an upper surface (35) facing away from the body of the surgical patient and a lower surface (33a) overlying the body of the patient and said notches are contoured to taper along a length dimension extending transversely of said frame to diminish in width from the outer peripheral edge of said frame and taper along a depth dimension extending through the thickness dimension of said frame to diminish in width from said frame upper surface to said frame lower surface.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 30 words

In the surgical retractor of claim 19 the improvement wherein said notch contours (36) are tapered along the entire length dimensions and along the entire depth dimensions of said notches.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 37 words

In the surgical retractor of claim 19 the improvement wherein said notch contours (36) are tapered to accept and frictionally hold hollow elastic tubing having an outside diameter of from about 0.08- inches to about 0.13 inches.

Surgical retractor array system

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