Adjustable surgical retractor

Abstract

A surgical tool for retracting body tissue during surgery consisting of two pivoting arms each provided with a finger, a translating actuation member also provided with a finger, and a single actuator mechanically coupled to either one of the pivoting arms or the translating actuation member. The two pivoting arms and the actuation member are operatively connected together for simultaneous movement between a closed configuration having the three fingers close together, and an open configuration having the three fingers spaced apart. The surgical tool is adaptable to suit the specific patient anatomy and desired degree of tissue retraction.

1 . A surgical tool for retracting body tissue of a patient, said surgical tool comprising: 
 a first pivoting arm and a second pivoting arm, said first and second pivoting arms being respectively provided with a first finger and a second finger attached thereto generally adjacent a respective free end portion thereof;    an actuation member, said actuation member being provided with a third finger operatively connected thereto generally adjacent a free end portion thereof, said actuation member being movable relative to said first pivoting arm and said second pivoting arm generally along an actuation member direction;    a first connecting arm and a second connecting arm, said first and second connecting arms being pivotally coupled at longitudinal ends thereof to said actuation member and respectively to said first and second pivoting arms;    said first pivoting arm and said second pivoting arm being pivotally attached to said surgical tool for pivotal movement therebetween between a closed configuration wherein said first, second, and third fingers are in a generally proximate relationship relative to each other, and an open configuration wherein said first, second, and third fingers are in a generally spaced relationship relative to each other;    a single actuator, said single actuator mechanically coupled to said actuation member;    whereby when said single actuator is actuated, said actuation member moves along said actuation member direction while cooperating with either one of said first or second connecting arms for moving said first pivoting arm and said second pivoting arm between said closed and open configuration.    
   
   
       2 . A surgical tool as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said actuation member direction extends generally along a translation axis.  
   
   
       3 . A surgical tool as recited in  claim 2 , wherein said first and second pivoting arms are pivotable about a common pivoting axis, said pivoting axis being located generally in register with said translation axis and extending in a generally perpendicular orientation relative thereto.  
   
   
       4 . A surgical tool as recited in  claim 3 , wherein said first and second connecting arms transforming said movement of actuation member along said translation axis into substantially equal and opposed pivoting motion between said first and second pivoting arms.  
   
   
       5 . A surgical tool as recited in  claim 2 , wherein said first, second and third fingers being configured to retract said body tissue in a direction substantially aligned with each of said fingers respective movement direction between said closed and open configurations.  
   
   
       6 . A surgical tool as recited in  claim 2 , wherein at least one of said first, second, or third fingers is pivotally connected respectively to said first arm, said second arm, or said actuation member.  
   
   
       7 . A surgical tool as recited in  claim 6 , wherein said pivotal movement between said first and second pivoting arms occurring substantially in a tissue retraction plane, and wherein at least one of said first, second or third fingers extends respectively from said first arm, said second arm or said actuation member in a direction substantially normal to said plane of tissue retraction.  
   
   
       8 . A surgical tool as recited in  claim 6 , wherein said first, second and third fingers form a radius of retraction, said radius of retraction increasing in magnitude as said first, second, and third fingers move substantially simultaneously between said closed and open configurations.  
   
   
       9 . A surgical tool as recited in  claim 5 , wherein at least one of said first, second or third fingers is provided with a friction enhancing texture for promoting substantially adherent contact with said body tissue being retracted.  
   
   
       10 . A surgical tool as recited in  claim 5 , wherein at least one of said first, second or third fingers is provided with at least one suction aperture extending therethrough whereby said at least one suction aperture allows pneumatic coupling thereof to a suctioning device for allowing a suctioning action through said suction aperture.  
   
   
       11 . A surgical tool as recited in  claim 2 , further comprising a housing, said housing configured to at least partially enclose a portion of said actuation member.  
   
   
       12 . A surgical tool as recited in  claim 11 , wherein said housing is generally elongate and extending between a first and second housing end, said actuator provided generally adjacent said first housing end, said first and second arms provided generally adjacent said second housing end, whereby said actuator being actuated remotely from said first, second, and third fingers.  
   
   
       13 . A surgical tool as recited in  claim 12 , wherein said actuator includes an actuation knob, and said movement of said actuation member is obtained by a rotation to said actuation knob.  
   
   
       14 . A surgical tool as recited in  claim 11 , wherein said actuation member includes a flexible cable member.  
   
   
       15 . A surgical tool as recited in  claim 14 , wherein said first and second pivoting arms are pivotable about a common pivoting axis, and wherein said first and second pivoting arms and said first and second connecting arms collectively as a linkage arrangement are pivotable relative to said common pivoting axis by virtue of said flexible cable member.  
   
   
       16 . A surgical tool as recited in  claim 2 , further comprising an elongated tubular member having a rod channel extending longitudinally therethrough, said tubular member defining a tube first end and a longitudinally opposed tube second end, said first pivoting arm and said second pivoting arm being pivotally attached to said tubular member adjacent said tube first end, said actuation member including a cable slidably mounted within said rod channel, said cable defining a cable first end and an opposed cable second end, said cable first end being attached to said third finger generally adjacent said tube first end and said cable second end being attached to said actuator generally adjacent said tube second end whereby said actuator allows slidable movement of said cable within said rod channel and corresponding movement of said first finger, said second finger, and said third finger between said closed and open configurations.  
   
   
       17 . A surgical tool as recited in  claim 2 , wherein said surgical tool is an atrial tissue retractor, and wherein said first, second, and third fingers being configured and sized for retracting atrial tissue during cardiac surgery.  
   
   
       18 . A surgical tool as recited in  claim 8 , wherein said surgical tool is an aortic tissue retractor, and wherein said first, second, and third fingers being configured and sized for retracting aortic tissue during cardiac surgery.  
   
   
       19 . A surgical tool as recited in  claim 2 , further comprising a positioning arm, said positioning arm configured for holding said surgical tool in a substantially stable spatial relationship relative to said patient while said body tissue is being retracted, wherein said positioning arm holds said surgical tool while said first and second pivoting arms move between said closed and open configuration.  
   
   
       20 . A surgical tool as recited in  claim 19 , further comprising a surgical platform, said surgical platform for mounting said positioning arm in said spatial relationship relative to said patient while said body tissue is being retracted.