Cardiovascular and thoracic retractor

Abstract

A cardiovascular retractor is provided which is adapted to be mounted on a thoracic retractor. The cardiovascular retractor includes a clamp support which is mounted along an axis of a thoracic retractor and a retractor blade clamp adjustably secured to a rod of the clamp support. The clamp has a blade grip which grasps a retractor blade. The clamp also includes locking means. When the clamp locking means is not locked, the clamp is adjustable along the clamp support rod, the grip is rotatable in the clamp, the retractor blade is axially adjustably in the clamp, and the retractor blade is rotatable in the clamp. However, when the clamp locking means are locked the clamp locking means securely fix the retractor blade relative to the clamp support so that the retractor blade resists movement and will counteract the tension applied as the cardiovascular retractor is used.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A cardiovascular retractor .[.comprising.]. .Iadd.adapted for connection to .Iaddend.a thoracic sternum retractor including a pair of arms and a crossbar interconnecting said arms, .[.a second.]. .Iadd.the cardiovascular .Iaddend.retractor comprising.Iadd.: .Iaddend. a rod having opposite ends.[.,.]. .Iadd.; .Iaddend.   a pair of brackets each secured to the opposite ends of said rod.[.,.]. .Iadd.; .Iaddend.   connecting means extending between and attached to said brackets parallel to and spaced from said rod.[.,.]..Iadd.; .Iaddend.   means .[.mounting.]. .Iadd.adapted to mount .Iaddend.said .[.second.]. .Iadd.cardiovascular .Iaddend.retractor on one of said arms with said rod generally parallel to the arm.[.,.]. .Iadd.; .Iaddend.   a blade clamp mounted on said rod between said brackets and constructed and arranged to be movable along said rod.[.,.]. .Iadd.; .Iaddend.   a retractor blade having a handle and mounted on said blade clamp to permit movement of said handle along its axis with respect to said clamp.[.,.]. .Iadd.; .Iaddend.and   gripping means constructed and arranged to fixedly position said blade handle with respect to said clamp and said clamp with respect to said rod.   
     
     
       2. A cardiovascular retractor as set forth in claim 1, wherein said .[.second.]. .Iadd.cardiovascular .Iaddend.retractor is .Iadd.adapted to be .Iaddend.removably mounted on said one arm. 
     
     
       3. A cardiovascular retractor as set forth in claim 2, wherein said connecting means is a sleeve and said .[.removable mounting.]. means .Iadd.adapted to mount said cardiovascular retractor on one of said arms .Iaddend.comprises said sleeve and a bar secured to said one arm and received in said sleeve to permit movement of said .[.second.]. .Iadd.cardiovascular .Iaddend.retractor along the axis of said bar. 
     
     
       4. A cardiovascular retractor as set forth in claim 3, including means to clamp said sleeve to said bar to prevent axial movement. 
     
     
       5. A cardiovascular retractor as set forth in claim 1, wherein said rod is removably attached to at least one of said brackets. 
     
     
       6. A cardiovascular retractor as set forth in claim 5, wherein said releasable attachment comprises aligned bores in both of said brackets to receive said rod, one of said bores having internal threads and the adjacent rod end having external threads in engagement with said internal threads. 
     
     
       7. A cardiovascular retractor as set forth in claim 5, wherein said releasable attachment comprises a recess on each of said brackets arranged to snugly receive said bar, and guard means to prevent movement of said rod along its axis with respect to said brackets. 
     
     
       8. A cardiovascular retractor as set forth in claim 5, wherein said rod is pivotally connected at one end to one bracket for rotation about an axis perpendicular to the axis of the rod, and clamp means on the other end of said rod engageable with the other bracket. .Iadd. 
     
     
       9.  A cardiovascular retractor of the type adapted to be connected to a thoracic retractor, the thoracic retractor including first and second grips defining longitudinal axes that are disposed generally parallel to each other, the first and second grips including means for engaging first portions of a patient's body, the first and second grips being connected to each other by a crossbar such that they can be displaced away from each other in order to pull the first portions apart, the cardiovascular retractor comprising: an elongate rod disposed adjacent a selected one of the first or second grips;   connector means adapted to connect the rod to the selected grip and not to the crossbar and to maintain the rod in a fixed position relative to the grip;   a retractor blade having a portion adapted to engage a second portion of the patient's body, the retractor blade having a longitudinally extending handle;   means for connecting the handle of the retractor blade to the rod, the means for connecting permitting the blade to be adjusted relative to a second portion of the patient's body; and   means for locking the blade in a fixed position relative to the rod. .Iaddend. .Iadd.   
     
     
       10.  The cardiovascular retractor of claim 9, wherein the rod is spaced from the grip to which it is connected. .Iaddend. .Iadd.11. The cardiovascular retractor of claim 9, wherein the rod is disposed generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the grip to which it is connected. .Iaddend. .Iadd.12. The cardiovascular retractor of claim 9, wherein the connector means establishes a releasable connection between the rod and the grip. .Iaddend. .Iadd.13. The cardiovascular retractor of claim 12, wherein the releasable connection includes a bar secured to the grip, a sleeve disposed about the bar, and a threaded pin that extends through the sleeve into contact with the bar. .Iaddend. .Iadd.14. The cardiovascular retractor of claim 9, wherein the connector means is in the form of spaced brackets connected to the grip, the brackets being secured to the opposite ends of the rod. .Iaddend. .Iadd.15. The cardiovascular retractor of claim 9, wherein the means for connecting the handle of the retractor blade to the rod is in the form of a clamp having a movable portion disposed about the rod. .Iaddend. .Iadd.16. The cardiovascular retractor of claim 9, wherein the means for locking the blade in a fixed position relative to the rod is in the form of a clamp having a movable portion disposed about the handle. .Iaddend. .Iadd.17. The cardiovascular retractor of claim 9, wherein the means for connecting the handle of the retractor blade to the rod and the means for locking the blade in a fixed position relative to the rod is in the form of a clamp having a first movable portion disposed about the rod and a second movable portion disposed about the handle. .Iaddend. .Iadd.18. The cardiovascular retractor of claim 17 wherein the clamp further includes a threaded pin connected to the first and second movable portions, the pin upon tightening causing the first and second movable portions to be moved toward each other so as to securely engage the rod and the handle, respectively, and prevent relative movement 
     
     
        therebetween. .Iaddend. .Iadd.19.  Apparatus for cardiovascular retraction, comprising: a thoracic retractor, including:   first and second grips defining longitudinal axes that are disposed generally parallel to each other, the first and second grips including means for engaging first portions of a patient's body, the first and second grips being connected to each other by a crossbar such that they can be displaced away from each other in order to pull the first portions apart; and   a cardiovascular retractor, including: an elongate rod disposed adjacent a selected one of the first or second grips;   means for connecting the rod to the selected grip and not to the crossbar and for maintaining the rod in a fixed position relative to the grip;   a retractor blade having a portion adapted to engage a second portion of the patient's body, the retractor blade having a longitudinally extending handle;   means for connecting the handle of the retractor blade to the rod, the means for connecting permitting the blade to be adjusted relative to a second portion of the patient's body; and   means for locking the blade in a fixed position relative to the rod.     
     
     
        .Iaddend. .Iadd.20.  The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the rod is spaced from the grip to which it is connected. .Iaddend. .Iadd.21. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the rod is disposed generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the grip to which it is connected. .Iaddend. .Iadd.22. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the means for connecting the rod to the grip establishes a releasable connection between the rod and the grip. .Iaddend. .Iadd.23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the releasable connection includes a bar secured to the grip, a sleeve disposed about the bar, and a threaded pin that extends through the sleeve into contact with the bar. .Iaddend. .Iadd.24. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the means for connecting the rod to the grip is in the form of spaced brackets connected to the grip, the brackets being secured to the 
     
     
        opposite ends of the rod. .Iaddend. .Iadd.25.  The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the means for connecting the handle of the retractor blade to the rod is in the form of a clamp having a movable portion disposed about the rod. .Iaddend. .Iadd.26. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the means for locking the blade in a fixed position relative to the rod is in the form of a clamp having a movable portion disposed about the handle. .Iaddend. .Iadd.27. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the means for connecting the handle of the retractor blade to the rod and the means for locking the blade in a fixed position relative to the rod is in the form of a clamp having a first movable portion disposed about the rod and a second movable portion disposed about the handle. .Iaddend. .Iadd.28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the clamp further includes a threaded pin connected to the first and second movable portions, the pin upon tightening causing the first and second movable portions to be moved toward each other so as to securely engage the rod and the handle, respectively, and prevent relative 
     
     
        movement therebetween. .Iaddend. .Iadd.29.  A method for performing cardiovascular retraction where a patient's chest cavity has been opened by a thoracic retractor, comprising the steps of: providing an elongate rod;   connecting the elongate rod to the thoracic retractor;   maintaining the rod in a fixed position relative to the retractor;   providing a retractor blade having a portion adapted to engage a selected portion of the patient's body within the chest cavity, the retractor blade having a longitudinally extending handle;   connecting the retractor blade to the rod;   engaging the retractor blade with the selected portion of the patient's body;   pulling the retractor blade to displace the selected portion of the patient's body; and   locking the retractor blade in a fixed position relative to the rod. .Iaddend. .Iadd.30. The method of claim 29, wherein the thoracic retractor has a grip defining a longitudinal axis, and comprising the further steps of disposing the rod in spaced relationship to the grip and aligning the rod generally parallel with the longitudinal axis of the grip. .Iaddend. .Iadd.31. A method for performing cardiovascular retraction, comprising the steps of:   providing a thoracic retractor, the thoracic retractor including first and second grips that define longitudinal axes that are disposed generally parallel to each other, the first and second grips including means for engaging first portions of a patient's body;   engaging the grips with the first portions of the patient's body;   displacing the grips away from each other in order to pull the first portions of the patient's body apart;   providing an elongate rod;   connecting the rod to a selected one of the grips;   maintaining the rod in a fixed position relative to the grip;   providing a retractor blade having a portion adapted to engage a second portion of the patient's body, the retractor blade having a longitudinally extending handle;   connecting the retractor blade to the rod;   engaging the retractor blade with the second portion of the patient's body;   pulling the retractor blade to displace the second portion of the patient's body; and   locking the retractor blade in a fixed position relative to the rod.   
     
     
        .Iaddend. .Iadd.32.  The method of claim 31, comprising the further steps of disposing the rod in spaced relationship to the grip and aligning the rod generally parallel with the longitudinal axis of the grip. .Iaddend. 
     
     
        .Iadd.33.  A cardiovascular retractor of the type adapted to be connected to a thoracic reactor, the thoracic retractor including first and second grips defining longitudinal axes that are disposed generally parallel to each other, the first and second grips including means for engaging first portions of a patient's body, the first and second grips being connected to each other such that they can be displaced away from each other in order to pull the first portions apart, the cardiovascular retractor comprising: an elongate rod disposed adjacent a selected one of the first or second grips, the rod being disposed generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the grip to which it is connected;   connector means adapted to connect the rod to the selected grip and to maintain the rod in a fixed position relative to the grip;   a retractor blade having a portion adapted to engage a second portion of the patient's body, the retractor blade having a longitudinally extending handle;   means for connecting the handle of the retractor blade to the rod, the means for connecting permitting the blade to be adjusted relative to a second portion of the patient's body; and   means for locking the blade in a fixed position relative to the rod.   
     
     
        .Iaddend. .Iadd.34.  The cardiovascular retractor of claim 33, wherein the connector means establishes a releasable connection between the rod and the grip, the releasable connection including a bar secured to the grip, a sleeve disposed about the bar, and a threaded pin that extends through the 
     
     
        sleeve into contact with the bar. .Iaddend. .Iadd.35.  The cardiovascular retractor of claim 33, wherein the connector means is in the form of spaced brackets connected to the grip, the brackets being secured to 
     
     
        opposite ends of the rod. .Iaddend. .Iadd.36.  Apparatus for cardiovascular retraction, comprising: a thoracic retractor, including: first and second grips defining longitudinal axes that are disposed generally parallel to each other, the first and second grips including means for engaging first portions of a patient's body, the first and second grips being connected to each other such that they can be displaced away from each other in order to pull the first portions apart; and     a cardiovascular retractor, including: an elongate rod disposed adjacent a selected one of the first or second grips, the rod being disposed generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the grip to which it is connected;   means for connecting the rod to the selected grip and for maintaining the rod in a fixed position relative to the grip;   a retractor blade having a portion adapted to engage a second portion of the patient's body, the retractor blade having a longitudinally extending handle;   means for connecting the handle of the retractor blade to the rod, the means for connecting permitting the blade to be adjusted relative to a second portion of the patient's body; and     means for locking the blade in a fixed position relative to the rod.   
     
     
        .Iaddend. .Iadd.37.  The apparatus of claim 36, wherein the means for connecting the rod to the grip establishes a releasable connection between the rod and the grip, the releasable connection including a bar secured to the grip, a sleeve disposed about the bar, and a threaded pin that extends 
     
     
        through the sleeve into contact with the bar. .Iaddend. .Iadd.38.  The apparatus of claim 36, wherein the means for connecting the rod to the grip is in the form of spaced brackets connected to the grip, the brackets being secured to opposite ends of the rod. .Iaddend.