FIELD

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an adaptor arid, more particularly, to an adaptor for surgical retractors.

BACKGROUND

[0002] A retractor is a surgical instrument that may be used to separate edges of a surgical incision or wound. Retractors may hold back underlying organs and/or tissues to access underlying body structures. The term retractor generally describes a handheld tool including a curved, hooked, or angled blade and fitted with a handle. When in place, a retractor can maintain a desired position of a given region of tissue. Retractors may be handheld, clamped in place, or supported at an end of a robotic arm. Retractors can also be self-retaining (i.e., not held in place) once inserted by having two or more opposing blades or hooks which are separated, for example, via a spring, ratchet, worm gear or other method. The term retractor is also used to describe distinct, hand-cranked devices such as rib spreaders (also referred to as thoracic retractors, or distractors) with which users may forcefully drive tissues apart to obtain exposure.

SUMMARY

[0003] in one aspect of the disclosure, an adaptor configured for use with surgical retractors including a body defining an adaptor surface supporting a plurality of friction grips. The body defines a rear plate opposite the adaptor surface. A mating connecting window is defined m the body. The mating connecting window is configured to receive a surgical retractor head. A connecting element is positioned in the mating connecting window. The connecting element is configured to receive an upper surface of the surgical retractor head. The mating connecting window is configured to conceal the retractor head therein to prevent contact between the retractor head and surgical tissue.

[0004] in some aspects of the disclosure, a prong cover is configured to conceal prongs of the surgical retractor head. The prong cover defines an inclined surface extending within the mating connecting window.

[0005] In some aspects of the disclosure, the adaptor surface defines an inclined retractor element at an upper surface thereof The inclined retractor element extends at an angle of from about 1 degree to about 60 degrees with respect to an upper surface of the adaptor surface. [0006] In some aspects of the disclosure, the mating connecting window defines a craved shape at an upper end thereof.

[0007] In some aspects of the disclosure, the adaptor and/or the friction grips include or are formed of metal, polymer, rubber, or silicone.

[0008] In some aspects of the disclosure, a plurality of stability slots are formed m the adaptor between the friction grips and the mating connecting window.

[0009] In some aspects of the disclosure, the friction grips are positioned below the mating connecting window.

[0010] Other features of the disclosure will be appreciated from the following description. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] Hie accompanying drawings, winch are incorporated herein and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate aspects and features of the disclosure and, together with the detailed description below, serve to further explain the disclosure, in which:

[0012] FIG. I is a side, perspective view of an adaptor configured for use with surgical retractors in accordance with the aspects and features of present disclosure;

[0013] FIG. 2 is a side, perspective view of an exemplary surgical retractor:

[0014] FIG. 3 is a side, perspective view- of an adaptor configured for use with surgical retractors in accordance with the aspects and features of present disclosure;

[0015] FIG. 4 is a side, perspective view- of another exemplary surgical retractor;

[0016] FIG. 5 is a side view of a modified retractor head positioned about a retractor head in accordance with the aspects and features of present disclosure;

[0017] FIG. 6 is a side, perspective view' of an adaptor configured for use with surgical retractors in accordance with the aspects and features of present disclosure;

[0018] FIG. 7 is a side, perspective view of an adaptor configured for use with surgical retractors in accordance with the aspects and features of present disclosure;

[0019] FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of the friction grips of FIG. 7;

[0020] FIG. 9 is a side, perspective view of an adaptor configured for use with surgical retractors in accordance with the aspects and features of present disclosure; and [0021] FIG. 10 is a side, perspective view of an adaptor configured for use with surgical retractors in accordance with the aspects and features of present disclosure

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0022] As used herein, the term “distal” refers to the portion that is being described which is further from a user, while the term “proximal” refers to the portion that is being described which is closer to a user. Further, to the extent consistent, any of the aspects and features detailed herein may he used in conjunction with any or all of the other aspects and features detailed herein. [0023] As used herein, the terms parallel and perpendicular are understood to include relative configurations that are substantially parallel and substantially perpendicular up to about + or - 10 degrees from true parallel and true perpendicular.

[0024] Exemplary axes or directions such as an X-axls direction, a Y-axis direction and a Z- axis direction may he illustrated in the accompanying drawings and/or described herein. As an example, the X-axis direction may perpendicular to the Y-axis direction, and the Z-axis direction may be orthogonal to the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction.

[0025] "About" or "approximately” or “substantially” as used herein may be inclusive of the stated value and means within an acceptable range of variation for the particular value as determined by one of ordinary' skill in the art, considering the measurement in question and the error associated with measurement of the particular quantity (e.g., the limitations of the measurement sy stem). For example, "about" may mean within one or more standard variations, or within ± 30%, 20%, 10%, 5% of the stated value.

[0026] Descriptions of technical features or aspects of an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure should typically be considered as available and applicable to other similar features or aspects in another exemplary embodiment of the disclosure. Accordingly, technical features described herein according to one exemplary embodiment of the disclosure may be applicable to other exemplary embodiments of the disclosure, and thus duplicative descriptions may be omitted herein.

[0027] Exemplary embodiments of the disclosure will be described more fully below (e.g., with reference to the accompanying drawings). Like reference numerals may refer to like elements throughout the specification and drawings.

[0028] Referring to FIGS. 1-8, retractor system 100 includes adaptor surface 101 which contacts and retracts biological tissue. Adaptor surface 101 may include or may be formed of metal, polymer, rubber, silicone, etc,, and can have a fiat, curved, square, round, etc., shape, or some combination of shapes and materials thereof. Adaptor surface 101 can have varying length and depth, ranging from approximately 2.25 cm to 6.0 cm for length and approximately 0.5 cm to 6.0 cm for depth or a combination of both thereof as is clinically relevant.

[0029] Adaptor surface 101 attaches to retractor head 121 (see, FIG. 2) at the distal end of the retractor by connecting element 105 and mating connecting window 106. Retractor system 100 slips over retractor head 121. Adaptor surface 101, rear plate 107, and prong cover 104 may cover retractor prongs 122 and prevent retractor prongs 122 from contacting patient tissue. Once attached to retractor head 121, adaptor surface 101 does not move unless purposefully removed from retractor head 121. Prong cover 104 may have varying depth, ranging from approximately 2,5 cm to 5 cm, and varying angle from approximately 10 degrees to 40 degrees as per the size of the retractor prongs 122, which may vary. As shown m FIG. 4, retractor system 100 may also attach to retractor head 121 by connecting hole 123 on retractor head 121 and connecting bolt 124 on adaptor surface 101. Connecting bolt 124 may be made of metal, polymer, etc,, and may be hexagonal, square, round, circular, etc., or any combination thereof. The shape of connecting hole 123 is empty space and matches the shape of connecting bolt 124. As shown in FIG. 5, retractor system 100 may also comprise a modified retractor head 121 A directly attached to retractor arm 120 and has friction grips 102. Modified retractor head 121 A contains adaptor surface 101, and all components attached to adaptor surface 101, but is not removable from retractor arm 120 and is permanently attached or manufactured as a unibody.

[0030] Adaptor surface 101 may or may not have friction grips 102. Friction grips 102 may be made of metal, polymer, rubber, silicone, etc,, and may have a square, rectangular, triangular, round, ellipsoid, ovular, etc., shape, or some combination of shapes and materials thereof. Friction grips 102 may or may not be made of the same material as that of adaptor surface 101. Friction grips 102 may have varying sizes, ranging from approximately 0.25 mm to 2 cm in height and from 0.25 cm to 4 cm in width. Therefore, friction grips 102 may run the entire length/depth of adaptor surface 101 or may only be placed over small areas of adaptor surface 101. Adaptor surface 101 may have varying amounts of friction grips 102, ranging from none to an amount which covers the entirety of adaptor surface 101, and friction grips 102 may be arranged m various patterns on adaptor surface 101 such as linear, scattered, striped, or any pattern, etc.

[0031] in a non-limiting exampl e shown in FIGs, 7 and 8, adaptor surface 101 may have lip 110, which contacts and retracts biological tissue. Lip 110 can have varying size, ranging from approximately 0.25 mm to 1.0 cm, and varying angle with respect to the vertical, ranging from approximately 10 degrees to 45 degrees. Lip 110 may have a flat, round, curved up, etc., shape, as is clinically relevant for retraction. Lip 110 may be made of metal, polymer, rubber, silicone, etc., and may or may not he made of the same material as that of adaptor surface 101. [0032] Adaptor surface 101 may or may not have a corrective angle, which can vary and ranges from approximately -60 degrees to 60 degrees, with respect to the vertical through retractor element 103 (see, FIGs. 7 and 8). Retractor element 103 may or may not be made of the same material as that of adaptor surface 101. Adaptor surface 101 may have varying pitch, ranging from approximately 0 degrees to 45 degrees, with respect to the horizontal (e.g., angle, a).

[0033] Referring to FIG. 9, the amount of material required for retractor element 103 may be reduced by stability slots 109. Stability slots 109 are empty spaces in retractor elements 103 and may be square, rectangular, circular, ovular, ellipsoid, etc. Stability slots may have varying sizes and volume, as is made possible by the size of retractor elements 103. [0034] FIG. 10 depicts an inverted adaptor surface design, in which friction grips 102 are located on an extended rear plate 107. This extended rear plate 107 comes in contact with biological tissue, retractor system 100 still ataches to retractor head 121 via connecting dement 105 and mating connecting window' 106.

[0035] From the foregoing and with reference to the various figure drawings, those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain modifications can also be made to the disclosure without departing from the scope of the same. While several embodiments of the diselosure have been shown m the drawings, it is not intended that die disclosure be limited thereto, as it is intended that the disclosure be as broad in scope as the art will allow and that the specification be read likewise. Therefore, the above description should not be construed as limiting, but merely as exemplifications of particular embodiments. Those skilled in the art will envision other modifications within the scope and spirit of the claims appended hereto.