LEVER RETRACTOR FOR SURGICAL FLAPS WITH HANDLE

Abstract: A surgical flap hold lever retractor characterized by a plate folded on itself to form a superior plate which contains a handle fixed in its proximal and external aspect, and an inferior plate parallel to the superior one. The superior plate is longer than the inferior one to allow the lever movement and to hold the flap during this movement. The lever movement is determined by turning the handle forward.

Description: LEVER RETRACTOR FOR SURGICAL FLAPS WITH HANDLE Background Of The Invention This invention relates to a surgical retractor for undermining and exposing in depth a long flap in the body surface or in a massive organ. Surgical retractors are fundamental tools in the surgeon criative universe. The approach of long and narrow flaps constitutes a hard, delaied and tiresome work. One major difficulty is that the prior devices are unable to expose adequately the depth of a long and narrow flap. When one uses hooks, the flap collapses in depth with loss of the undermining level and difficult hemostasy . When one uses a malleable or laminar retractor the undermining is irregular without a very clear view. Besides, they are non ergonomic, demanding a manual effort to sustain them in position . The result is a change in the thickness of the flap with risk of vascular damage and slough of the flap. Brief Summary Of The Invention This invention is directed to a surgical retractor for undermining and exposing a long flap in the body surface or in a massive organ . The object of the present invention is to provide an ergonomic and easily applicable retractor for undermining and exposing in depth a long flap, and for excising the tecidual excess with a clear view . Brief Description Of The Drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view of the hold lever retractor of the invention used to undermine a long flap. Figure 2 is a perspective view of the hold lever retractor of the invention used to expose a long flap. Figure 3 is a superior view of the retractor. Figure 4 is a side view of the retractor that shows the proximal cut A-A and the distal cut B-B. Figure 5 is the frontal view of A-A cut. Figure 6 is the frontal view of B-B cut. Figure 7 is a superior view of a modified form of the retractor. Figure 8 is a side view of a modified form that shows the cut A-A. Figure 9 is a section view showing the cut A-A with a detail view of the inferior plate Figure 10 is a detail view of another form to the inferior plate Figure 1 1 is a detail view of a third form to the inferior plate. Figure 12 is a superior view of another modified form of the retractor. Figure 13 is a side view of this modification. Figure 14 is a rear view of this modification. Detailed Description Of The Invention The hold lever retractor is a surgical instrument constructed with semi-rigid stainless steel plate folded on itself 1 to form two parallel plates 2 and 3 , and a handle 4 fixed in the external and proximal aspect of the longer plate 2 , said superior. It is directed to use in the body surface surgery or in massive organ surgery, specially designed for long flaps 5 Usage : after to determine the flap thickness indicated at 6 and to make a side to side incision at this level, the inferior plate 3 should be introduced in this incision so that the superior plate 2 slides over the skin 7 . Once the determined extension is obtained, the handle 4 is turned forward until the retractor is supported only by its extremity 9 against the skin 7 (lever movement) as demonstrated in Figure 1 . In this way one can have a clear and ample view of the operation field 8 by lifting the flap 5 (Figure2). Referring to Figure3, Figure4, and Figure5, this is the first retractor developed for breast surgery, but also applicabe for other surgeries like face- lifting and large flaps. It has the superior plate 2 indentated in its distal half with the central indentations more elevated than the lateral indentations CUT B-B , and all of them flattenned and angulated up in their extremities 9 . Its inferior plate 3 is shorter, narrower and totally indentated. These indentations are cylindrical, assymmetric with the lateral indentations more elevated than the medial CUT A-A , and with the extremities slight tilted down and sharp 10 to penetrate the tissues as easily as lipoaspiration cannulas. Two modified forms has been developed : A smaller one for general use and for narrow cavities (Figureό, Figure7, and Figureδ) with two teeth in each plate and variable forms for the inferior plate indentations as demonstrated in Figure9 (beveled), FigurelO (cylindrical), and Figurel l (flattened); and a bigger one for abdominal wall surgery (Figure 12, Figure 13 and Figure 14) with two indentations in each plate . It has a device 1 1 to adapt the aperture of the retractor with the thickness of the abdominal wall and a auxiliary handle 12 . This auxiliary handle is used to lift the depth of the flap enough for surgeon manoeuvres in the xiphoid process as the sutures to reinforce the abdominal wall musculature. While there has been shown and described a preferred embodiment of the hold lever retractor of this invention, it is understood that changes in structure, materials, sizes, and shapes can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the invention. The invention is definde in the following claims.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A tool used to build and expose a surgical flap comprising : two plates joinned at one side by a fold : - a superior plate to slide on the skin or a massive organ, said plate having a handle fixed in its proximal and external aspect, and a inferior plate to penetrate under the flap. 2. The tool of claim 1 wherein: said superior plate and handle forming the lever arm. 3. The tool of claim 1 wherein: said superior plate longer than the inferior one to allow the lever movement. 4. The tool of claim 1 wherein: said superior plate longer than the inferior one to criate a gripping in the base of the flap during the lever movement which pushes the flap up between the two plates. 5. The tool of claim 1 wherein: said superior and inferior plates parallel to hold the flap between them during the leverage.

Inventors: TEIXEIRA RENO WALDIR, TEIXEIRA RENO, WALDIR
Applicants: TEIXEIRA RENO WALDIR, TEIXEIRA RENO, WALDIR
Application year: 1997
Main classification: A61B17
IPC codes: A61B17