Access platform for internal mammary dissection

Abstract

An access platform having a first and a second blade interconnected to a spreader member that laterally drives the blades apart or together and a sternal pad interconnected to a blade. The superior blade is pivotally coupled to the spreader member such that it naturally rises as the blades are separated. Alternatively, a vertical displacement member is operably interconnected to a blade and the spreader member and is used to vertically displace the interconnected superior blade and, thus, increase a surgeon's working space and visual access for the dissection of an internal mammary artery. A tissue retractor is interconnected to the blades to draw the soft tissue around an incision away from the surgeon's working area.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A tissue retractor comprising 
 a positioner mountable to a retractor blade,    a plurality of interconnected fingers rotatably coupled to said positioner, said plurality of interconnected fingers being freely rotatable in a first direction and prevented from rotating in a second direction by said positioner.    
     
     
         2 . The tissue retractor of  claim 1  wherein said positioner comprises 
 an elongated base,  
 a guide attaching to said base and extending along said base,  
 a brake radially extending from said guide and extending along said base, and  
 a sleeve interconnected to said plurality of interconnected fingers, said sleeve being rotatably mounted over said guide and said brake.  
 
     
     
         3 . The tissue retractor of  claim 2 , wherein said positioner further comprises a flexure connecting said guide to said brake.  
     
     
         4 . The tissue retractor of  claim 3 , wherein said guide comprises a central portion integrally formed with said base and outer portions formed in a spaced relation with said base, and 
 a tab extending upwardly from said brake adjacent said central portion of said guide.    
     
     
         5 . The tissue retractor of  claim 2 , wherein said brake is generally pie-shaped and includes a radius that is sized to direct said brake into contact with said sleeve to inhibit the rotation of said sleeve in the second direction.  
     
     
         6 . The tissue retractor of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of interconnect fingers are deformable.  
     
     
         7 . A tissue retractor comprising 
 a hub,    an arm extending from said hub, and    an elastic sheet interconnected to said arm.    
     
     
         8 . The tissue retractor of  claim 7 , further comprising a spindle extending from said arm and connected to said sheet.  
     
     
         9 . The tissue retractor of  claim 8 , further comprising a locking pin operable connected to said spindle and said arm.  
     
     
         10 . The tissue retractor of  claim 7  further comprising a suture cleat attached to said elastic sheet.  
     
     
         11 . A tissue retractor comprising 
 a flexible ring adapted to extend around an incision in a patient's body, and    an elastic sheet attachable at a first end to a retractor blade and at a second end to said ring.    
     
     
         12 . A tissue retractor comprising 
 a base attachable to a spreader blade, and    a plurality of deformable fingers extending from said base.    
     
     
         13 . A tissue retractor comprising 
 a spreader blade, and    a tissue retaining member formed integrally with said blade and extending therefrom.