Clamping Retractor Assembly

Abstract

An assembly for retracting soft tissue in a surgical incision, the assembly comprising; a supporting member having first and second ends; a refractor blade having a first distal end and a second proximal end retained at the first end of the support member; a retaining arm which co operates with the support member and receives and supports a clamping assembly; an adjusting assembly which engages the support member and allows the clamping assembly to advance and retract relative to the retractor blade.

1 . An assembly for retracting soft tissue in a surgical incision, the assembly comprising;
 a supporting member having first and second ends;   a retractor blade having a first distal end and a second proximal end retained at the first end of the support member;   a retaining arm which co operates with the support member and receives and supports a clamping assembly;   an adjusting assembly which engages the support member and allows the clamping assembly to advance and retract relative to the retractor blade.   
     
     
         2 . An assembly according to  claim 1  wherein the clamping assembly advances and retracts over a distance relative to the distal end of the retractor blade and depending upon the retraction force required. 
     
     
         3 . An assembly according to  claim 2  wherein the clamping assembly is adjustable relative to the retaining arm. 
     
     
         4 . An assembly according to  claim 3  wherein the clamping assembly includes a clamping member which is adjustable vertically relative to the retaining arm. 
     
     
         5 . An assembly according to  claim 4  wherein the adjusting assembly includes a runner retained on the support member. 
     
     
         6 . An assembly according to  claim 5  wherein the runner receives and supports a first end of the retaining arm. 
     
     
         7 . An assembly according to  claim 6  wherein the runner is adjustable incrementally along the length of the support member. 
     
     
         8 . An assembly according to  claim 7  wherein the runner includes a locking assembly which allows locking of the runner at a selected position along the support member. 
     
     
         9 . An assembly according to  claim 8  wherein the clamping member is capable of advancing and retracting relative to the retractor blade responsive to travel of the runner along the support arm. 
     
     
         10 . An assembly according to  claim 9  wherein the runner is incrementally adjustable along the length of the support member via a ratchet assembly. 
     
     
         11 . An assembly according to  claim 9  wherein the runner is incrementally adjustable along the length of the support member via spaced apart holes in the support member. 
     
     
         12 . An assembly according to  claim 11  wherein the retaining arm has first and second parts and is capable of telescopic length adjustment. 
     
     
         13 . An assembly according to  claim 12  wherein the length adjustment of the retaining arm is effected by relative movement between the first and second parts. 
     
     
         14 . An assembly according to  claim 13  wherein one part is selectively secured to the second part by a retaining pin which engages openings on each said first and second parts. 
     
     
         15 . An assembly according to  claim 14  wherein the clamping assembly is retained on one of said first and second parts of the retaining arm and is capable of transverse movement relative to the retaining arm. 
     
     
         16 . An assembly according to  claim 15  wherein a clamping member of the clamping assembly includes a pressure plate. 
     
     
         17 . An assembly according to  claim 16  wherein the retractor blade is integral with the support member. 
     
     
         18 . An assembly according to  claim 17  wherein the retaining arm engages the support member via a slot in the retaining arm. 
     
     
         19 . An assembly according to  claim 10  wherein the clamping assembly includes a boss which allows selective vertical adjustment of the clamping member along the retaining arm. 
     
     
         20 . An assembly according to  claim 19  wherein the boss is spring biased to a position which locks the clamping member against the retaining arm. 
     
     
         21 . An assembly according to  claim 20  wherein the boss includes a manually operable locking screw which locks the runner to the support member. 
     
     
         22 . An assembly according to  claim 21 . wherein the boss includes a pin which selectively engages spaced apart recesses in said retaining arm. 
     
     
         23 . An assembly according to  claim 22  wherein the retractor blade is releasable from the first end of the support member. 
     
     
         24 . An assembly according to  claim 23  wherein the support member includes along at least one face an array of teeth which co operate with the ratchet assembly. 
     
     
         25 . An assembly according to  claim 24  wherein the location of the runner along the support member is incrementally adjustable by co operation between the teeth and ratchet assembly. 
     
     
         26 . An assembly according to  claim 25  wherein the retractor blade is curved in the direction of the clamping member. 
     
     
         27 . An assembly according to  claim 26  wherein the curvature of the retractor blade places the distal end of the retractor blade closer to the retaining arm than the second end of said blade. 
     
     
         28 . An assembly according to  claim 27  wherein the blade is elastically deformable. 
     
     
         29 . An assembly according to  claim 28  wherein the clamping member further comprises a bearing member which directly engages the body of a patient when the retraction assembly is in use thereby allowing the retractor to retain soft tissue. 
     
     
         30 . An assembly according to  claim 29  wherein a retraction force is increased or decreased by selective adjustment of the position of the runner. 
     
     
         31 . An assembly according to  claim 29  wherein a retraction force is increased or decreased by selective adjustment of the position of the clamping member. 
     
     
         32 . An assembly according to  claim 31  wherein the bearing member provides an opposing force against retraction of soft tissue to maintain the desired retraction force through the retractor blade. 
     
     
         33 . An assembly according to  claim 32  wherein the retraction assembly is adjustable to allow the clamping assembly to travel in the direction of the support member and in a direction parallel to the support member. 
     
     
         34 . A method for retracting soft tissue in a surgical would during spinal surgery using an assembly comprising;
 a retractor blade having a first distal end and a second end which engages a support member;   and an adjustable stop which engages a pressure plate which co operates with the retractor blade during refraction by applying pressure to the body of a patient, the method comprising the steps of ;   taking the retractor blade and attaching it to the support member;   inserting the retractor blade into a surgical incision;   adjusting a clamping assembly which co operates with a retaining member to exert a retraction force on the retractor blade;   allowing a bearing member to engage a skin surface of a patient;   manipulating the support member to induce retraction of the soft tissue against a bearing force applied by the bearing member opposite to the direction of retraction.   
     
     
         35 . A retractor blade for use with a retracting assembly for retracting soft tissue in a surgical incision, the assembly comprising;
 a supporting member for supporting the retractor blade;   an adjusting assembly which allows the assembly to advance and retract relative to induce retraction force in the retractor blade;   the retractor blade having a proximal end which engages the retracting assembly and a distal end which is characterised in having a formation which is capable of engaging an anatomical structure to resist pull out of the blade.   
     
     
         36 . A retractor blade according to  claim 35  wherein the formation at the distal end is a sharp point. 
     
     
         37 . A retractor blade according to  claim 36  wherein the formation is disposed in a plane at an angle to a plane at the distal end of the blade. 
     
     
         38 . A retractor blade according to  claim 37  wherein the formation points in the general direction of a force opposing retraction.