O-ring for incrementally adjustable incision liner and retractor

Abstract

An O-ring is provided for use in an adjustable surgical wound protector having a solid cross-section including a cross-sectional center that is spaced from a central longitudinal axis and a resilient configuration for squeezing into an oblong shape that is insertable into a surgical incision. At least one recess is defined in the O-ring that is selectively sized and shaped to enable a snap-action rolling of the O-ring about the cross-sectional center in predetermined increments. The recess may comprise various cross-sectional shapes, such as, at least one circumferential groove, a plurality of circumferentially positioned recesses, or be shaped such that the O-ring comprises a cruciform cross-section. An improved incrementally adjustable apparatus for protecting an incised wound from exposure to bacterial and other harmful contaminants is also provided including a pair of resilient O-rings connected to opposite ends of an impermeable pliable sleeve. One of the O-rings is formed to engage the inner edge of the wound with a portion of the sleeve above the wound capable of being rolled onto the other ring to draw the remaining sleeve portion contiguous with the sides of the wound.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An O-ring for use in an adjustable surgical wound protector, comprising: 
 a solid cross-section including a cross-sectional center that is spaced from a central longitudinal axis and a resilient configuration for squeezing into an oblong shape that is insertable into a surgical incision; and    at least one recess that is selectively sized and shaped to enable a snap-action rolling of said O-ring about said cross-sectional center in predetermined increments.    
     
     
         2 . An O-ring according to  claim 1  wherein said at least one recess comprises at least one circumferential groove.  
     
     
         3 . An O-ring according to  claim 1  comprising a plurality of circumferentially positioned recesses.  
     
     
         4 . An O-ring according to  claim 1  wherein said at least one recess yields a cruciform cross-section of said O-ring.  
     
     
         5 . An O-ring for use in an adjustable surgical wound protector, comprising: 
 a circular torus having a solid cross-section including a cross-sectional center that is radially equidistant from a central longitudinal axis and a resilient configuration for squeezing into an oblong shape that is insertable into a surgical incision; and    two recesses that are selectively sized and shaped to enable a snap-action rolling of said O-ring about said cross-sectional center in predetermined increments.    
     
     
         6 . An O-ring according to  claim 5  wherein said circular cross-section of said O-ring comprises four quadrants wherein material defining two diagonally opposed quadrants is removed, leaving two diagonally opposed recesses.  
     
     
         7 . An O-ring according to  claim 6  wherein said solid portion of said O-ring defines a first solid quadrant and a diagonally opposed second solid quadrant wherein said first solid quadrant includes a curved outer surface, a curved annular surface, and a sinusoidal surface, and said second solid quadrant includes a curved outer surface, a curved annular surface, and a sinusoidal surface.  
     
     
         8 . An O-ring according to  claim 7  wherein said first and second curved annular surfaces are at substantially the same radial distance from said central longitudinal axis, and are vertically oriented so as to be substantially parallel with said central longitudinal axis.  
     
     
         9 . An O-ring according to  claim 5  wherein said sinusoidal surfaces extend transversely relative to said central longitudinal axis.  
     
     
         10 . An O-ring for use in an adjustable surgical wound protector, comprising: 
 a solid cross-section including a cross-sectional center that is spaced from a central longitudinal axis and a resilient configuration for squeezing into an oblong shape that is insertable into a surgical incision; and    at least one sinusoidal surface that is selectively sized and shaped to enable a snap-action rolling of said O-ring about said cross-sectional center in predetermined increments.    
     
     
         11 . An O-ring according to  claim 10  comprising two sinusoidal surfaces.  
     
     
         12 . An O-ring for use in an adjustable surgical wound protector, comprising: 
 a solid cross-section including a cross-sectional center that is spaced from a central longitudinal axis and a resilient configuration for squeezing into an oblong shape that is insertable into a surgical incision; and    a plurality of discrete recesses that are selectively sized and shaped to enable a snap-action rolling of said O-ring about said cross-sectional center in predetermined increments.    
     
     
         13 . An O-ring for use in an adjustable surgical wound protector, comprising: 
 a solid cross-section including a cross-sectional center that is spaced from a central longitudinal axis and a resilient configuration for squeezing into an oblong shape that is insertable into a surgical incision; and    at least one continuous recess that is selectively sized and shaped to enable a snap-action rolling of said O-ring about said cross-sectional center in predetermined increments.    
     
     
         14 . An O-ring according to  claim 13  comprising a plurality of reinforcing ribs are formed protrude from said at least one continuous recess.  
     
     
         15 . An O-ring for use in an adjustable surgical wound protector, comprising: 
 a solid cross-section including a cross-sectional center that is spaced from a central longitudinal axis and a resilient configuration for squeezing into an oblong shape that is insertable into a surgical incision; and    a plurality of protrusions that are selectively sized and shaped to enable a snap-action rolling of said O-ring about said cross-sectional center in predetermined increments.    
     
     
         16 . An O-ring for use in an adjustable surgical wound protector, comprising: 
 a circular torus having a solid cruciform cross-section including a cross-sectional center that is radially equidistant from a central longitudinal axis and a resilient configuration for squeezing into an oblong shape that is insertable into a surgical incision, and providing selected snap-action rolling of said O-ring in predetermined increments.    
     
     
         17 . An O-ring according to  claim 16  wherein said cruciform cross-section forms flat surfaces.  
     
     
         18 . An O-ring according to  claim 16  wherein said cruciform cross-section forms radiused surfaces.  
     
     
         19 . An O-ring for use in an adjustable surgical wound protector, comprising: 
 a circular torus including a plurality of recesses defined radially inwardly from diametrically opposed positions along the circumference of said O-ring, and a cross-sectional center that is radially equidistant from a central longitudinal axis and a resilient configuration for squeezing into an oblong shape that is insertable into a surgical incision, and providing selected snap-action rolling of said O-ring in predetermined increments.    
     
     
         20 . An O-ring according to  claim 19  wherein said plurality of recesses are rectilinearly shaped.  
     
     
         21 . An O-ring according to  claim 19  wherein said plurality of recesses are round.  
     
     
         22 . An O-ring for use in an adjustable surgical wound protector, comprising: 
 a solid cross-section including a cross-sectional center that is spaced from a central longitudinal axis and a resilient configuration for squeezing into an oblong shape that is insertable into a surgical incision; and    at least one through-hole that is selectively sized and shaped to enable a snap-action rolling of said O-ring about said cross-sectional center in predetermined increments.    
     
     
         23 . An O-ring for use in an adjustable surgical wound protector, comprising: 
 a solid cross-section including a cross-sectional center that is spaced from a central longitudinal axis and a resilient configuration for squeezing into an oblong shape that is insertable into a surgical incision; and    at least one convex surface and at least one smooth curved surface to enable a snap-action rolling of said O-ring about said cross-sectional center in predetermined increments.    
     
     
         24 . An O-ring for use in an adjustable surgical wound protector, comprising: 
 a solid cross-section including a cross-sectional center that is spaced from a central longitudinal axis and a resilient configuration for squeezing into an oblong shape that is insertable into a surgical incision; and    at least two convex surfaces to enable a snap-action rolling of said O-ring about said cross-sectional center in predetermined increments.    
     
     
         25 . An O-ring for use in an adjustable surgical wound protector, comprising: 
 a solid cross-section including a cross-sectional center that is spaced from a central longitudinal axis and a resilient configuration for squeezing into an oblong shape that is insertable into a surgical incision; and    at least four convex surfaces to enable a snap-action rolling of said O-ring about said cross-sectional center in predetermined increments.    
     
     
         26 . An adjustable surgical wound protector, comprising: 
 an elongate open-ended tube formed of a pliable material that is impervious to solid and fluid contaminants for inserting lengthwise into a surgical incision;    two O-rings, one each secured around the open ends of said tube having a resilient configuration for overlapping the inner edge of the wound and for squeezing into an oblong shape that is insertable with a lengthwise portion of the sleeve adjacent to one of said O-rings in said surgical incision; and    wherein at least one O-ring comprises at least one recess for enabling selected snap-action rolling of said at least one O-ring for rolling the remaining lengthwise portion of said sleeve on itself about said O-ring to shorten said sleeve in predetermined increments and to resist subsequent lengthening, whereby the sleeve length can be adjusted before or after placement in the wound.    
     
     
         27 . An adjustable surgical wound protector according to  claim 26  wherein said O-ring comprises a circular torus having a solid cross-section including a cross-sectional center that is radially equidistant from a central longitudinal axis.  
     
     
         28 . An adjustable surgical wound protector according to  claim 26  wherein said circular cross-section of said O-ring comprises four quadrants wherein material defining two diagonally opposed quadrants is removed, leaving two diagonally opposed recesses.  
     
     
         29 . An adjustable surgical wound protector according to  claim 28  wherein said solid portion of said O-ring defines a first solid quadrant and a diagonally opposed second solid quadrant wherein said first solid quadrant includes a curved outer surface, a curved annular surface, and a sinusoidal surface, and said second solid quadrant includes a curved outer surface, a curved annular surface, and a sinusoidal surface.  
     
     
         30 . An adjustable surgical wound protector according to  claim 29  wherein said first and second curved annular surfaces are at substantially the same radial distance from said central longitudinal axis, and are vertically oriented so as to be substantially parallel with said central longitudinal axis.  
     
     
         31 . An adjustable surgical wound protector according to  claim 30  wherein said sinusoidal surfaces extend transversely relative to said central longitudinal axis.  
     
     
         32 . An adjustable surgical wound protector according to  claim 26  wherein said sleeve is a thin sheet disposed in a generally cylindrical form with overlapping lengthwise margins sealed together.  
     
     
         33 . An adjustable surgical wound protector, comprising: 
 an elongate open-ended tube formed of a pliable material that is impervious to solid and fluid contaminants for inserting lengthwise into a surgical incision;    two O-rings, one each secured around the open ends of said tube having a resilient configuration for overlapping the inner edge of the wound and for squeezing into an oblong shape that is insertable with a lengthwise portion of the sleeve adjacent to one of said O-rings in said surgical incision; and    wherein said O-rings each comprise a circular torus having a solid cross-section including a cross-sectional center that is radially equidistant from a central longitudinal axis and two recesses that are selectively sized and shaped to enable a snap-action rolling of at least one of said two O-rings about said cross-sectional center in predetermined increments for rolling the remaining lengthwise portion of said sleeve on itself about said O-ring to shorten said sleeve in predetermined increments and to resist subsequent lengthening, whereby the sleeve length can be adjusted before or after placement in the wound.    
     
     
         34 . An adjustable surgical wound protector according to  claim 33  wherein said circular cross-section of each of said O-rings comprises four quadrants wherein material defining two diagonally opposed quadrants is removed, leaving two diagonally opposed recesses.  
     
     
         35 . An adjustable surgical wound protector according to  claim 34  wherein said solid portion of each of said O-rings defines a first solid quadrant and a diagonally opposed second solid quadrant wherein said first solid quadrant includes a curved outer surface, a curved annular surface, and a sinusoidal surface, and said second solid quadrant includes a curved outer surface, a curved annular surface, and a sinusoidal surface.  
     
     
         36 . An adjustable surgical wound protector according to  claim 35  wherein said first and second curved annular surfaces are at substantially the same radial distance from said central longitudinal axis, and are vertically oriented so as to be substantially parallel with said central longitudinal axis.  
     
     
         37 . An adjustable surgical wound protector according to  claim 36  wherein said sinusoidal surfaces extend transversely relative to said central longitudinal axis.  
     
     
         38 . An adjustable surgical wound protector, comprising: 
 an elongate open-ended tube formed of a pliable material that is impervious to solid and fluid contaminants for inserting lengthwise into a surgical incision;    two O-rings, one each secured around an open end of said tube so that a portion of said tube adjacent to said end is bonded to a portion of the outer surface of each of said O-rings, wherein each of said O-rings has a resilient configuration for overlapping the inner edge of the wound and for squeezing into an oblong shape that is insertable with a lengthwise portion of the sleeve adjacent to one of said O-rings in said surgical incision; and    wherein at least one O-ring comprises at least one recess for enabling selected snap-action rolling of said at least one O-ring for rolling the remaining lengthwise portion of said sleeve on itself about said O-ring to shorten said sleeve in predetermined increments and to resist subsequent lengthening, whereby the sleeve length can be adjusted before or after placement in the wound.    
     
     
         39 . An adjustable surgical wound protector, comprising: 
 an elongate open-ended tube formed of a pliable material that is impervious to solid and fluid contaminants for inserting lengthwise into a surgical incision;    two O-rings, one each secured to an open end of said tube so that a portion of said tube adjacent to said end is thermally bonded to an outer curved surface of each of said O-rings, wherein each of said O-rings has a resilient configuration for overlapping the inner edge of the wound and for squeezing into an oblong shape that is insertable with a lengthwise portion of the sleeve adjacent to one of said O-rings in said surgical incision; and    wherein at least one O-ring comprises at least one recess for enabling selected snap-action rolling of said at least one O-ring for rolling the remaining lengthwise portion of said sleeve on itself about said O-ring to shorten said sleeve in predetermined increments and to resist subsequent lengthening, whereby the sleeve length can be adjusted before or after placement in the wound.