Surgical Retractor Adaptor for Self-Retaining Engagement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical retractors require additional manual assistance to maintain tissue separation during surgeries, especially with manually operated retractor bars, which increases operational costs and crowding in the operating room, and existing solutions do not effectively utilize existing self-retaining retractors with manual retractor bars.
Innovation Solution
An adaptor device that enables self-retaining retractors to securely engage with manually operated retractor bars, allowing the self-retaining retractor to maintain tissue separation without the need for additional manual assistance by using a slot configuration and retaining elements to prevent slippage and secure engagement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If manual retractor bars are used to maintain tissue separation, then retraction function is achieved, but additional personnel and manual assistance are required
Solution Approach 1:
The adaptor serves as an intermediary device between the self-retaining retractor and the manual retractor bar. It enables the self-retaining retractor to securely engage with the manual retractor bar, allowing automated retention while maintaining compatibility with existing manual bar designs. The adaptor includes a slot that receives the retractor bar and retaining elements that prevent slippage, thus resolving the engagement difficulty while achieving self-retaining automation.
2Reliability
If additional personnel are used to hold retractors, then retraction stability is maintained, but operating room crowding and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The self-retaining retractor with adaptor enables the system to maintain its own position and stability without requiring additional personnel. The adaptor's retaining elements and slot configuration allow the retractor to securely hold the manual retractor bar in place, providing self-service retention that eliminates the need for extra hands while maintaining retraction stability.
3Productivity
If self-retaining retractors are used, then operational efficiency is improved, but compatibility with existing manual retractor bars is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The adaptor is designed with a universal slot configuration that can accommodate various sizes and types of manual retractor bars. This universal design allows a single adaptor model to work with multiple retractor bar variants, enhancing compatibility while maintaining the operational efficiency benefits of self-retaining retractors. The slot can receive different bar dimensions, making the system adaptable to existing surgical tool chests.
4Force
If manual force is applied to maintain retraction, then tissue separation is achieved, but interference with surgical field access occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The adaptor extracts the need for manual force application by enabling self-retaining mechanism engagement with manual retractor bars. The retaining elements secure the retractor bar in position, allowing the retraction force to be maintained passively without requiring a person's hand to actively hold the retractor. This eliminates the interference with surgical field access while preserving the necessary retraction force.
Data Source
AI summary
One aspect of the invention relates to an adaptor for use in a surgical retractor system including a surgical retractor bar having a longitudinal extent between a first end and a second end and a self-retaining retractor device with arms moveable between spaced and proximate positions. The adaptor includes a first plate coupled to a second plate, optionally by one or more connecting elements. A slot is formed between the first plate and the second plate and is configured to either longitudinally receive either the first end or the second end of the surgical retractor bar or laterally receive a lateral edge of the surgical retractor bar such that the adaptor is positioned along the longitudinal extent between the first end and the second end of the surgical retractor bar during use. One or more retaining elements are located on a first surface of the first plate opposite the slot between the first plate and the second plate. The one or more retaining elements are shaped to engage with at least a portion of the self-retaining retractor device to maintain the position of the self-retaining retractor device with respect to the first surface when a force is applied oblique to the first surface by the self-retaining retractor device.