Patent ID: 6176834
Filing Date: 2001-01-23
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
A surgical device comprising:a retractor having a hollow, cylindrical shape with a proximal end and a distal end and including a radially-outwardly projecting annular lip proximate said proximal end thereof, said retractor being constructed and arranged to be inserted into a surgical incision until said annular lip of said retractor engages an outer skin surface surrounding the incision to thereby hold the incision open while permitting access to tissue beyond the distal end of said retractor;a cutting tool having a hollow, cylindrical shape with a proximal end and a distal end and adapted to be inserted coaxially into said retractor with a sliding fit permitting relative axial movement between said cutting tool and said retractor, wherein the fit between said cutting tool and said retractor is sufficiently snug along an extent of sliding contact between said cutting tool and said retractor to prevent tissue from passing between an outer cylindrical surface of said cutting tool and an inner cylindrical surface of said retractor, said cutting tool having an axial length that is greater than an axial length of said retractor and further including a radially-outwardly projecting annular lip proximate said proximal end thereof, said annular lip of said cutting tool having an outside diameter that is greater than an inside diameter of said retractor to prevent said cutting tool from sliding completely through said retractor; anda cutting element proximate said distal end of said cutting tool,wherein said cutting tool is constructed and arranged to be inserted through said retractor with its distal end extending beyond the distal end of said retractor and with said cutting element cutting into the tissue beyond the distal end of said retractor, while said proximal end of said cutting tool extends beyond the proximal end of said retractor, thereby permitting access to said proximal end of said cutting tool to allow manipulation of said cutting tool while said cutting tool is inserted into said retractor which is inserted into the incision.