Abstract:
A wound retractor comprises a retracting member for insertion into a wound opening and a proximal member for location member for location externally of a wound opening. The proximal member is movable relative to the retracing member to shorten the axial extent of the retracting member to laterally retract a wound opening. The retracted wound opening is retracted by a seal which is integral with the retractor.

Description:
INTRODUCTION  
         [0001]    This invention relates to a surgical device. In particular it relates to a surgical device for both retracting a wound opening and sealing the retracted wound opening.  
         STATEMENTS OF INVENTION  
         [0002]    According to the invention there is provided a surgical device comprising:— 
           [0003]    a wound retractor comprising:— 
           [0004]    a retracting member for insertion into a wound opening; and  
           [0005]    a proximal member for location externally of a wound opening;  
           [0006]    the proximal member being movable relative to the retracting member to shorten the axial extent of the retracting member to laterally retract a wound opening; and  
           [0007]    means to seal a retracted wound opening;  
           [0008]    the sealing means being integral with the wound retractor.  
           [0009]    The surgical device of the invention provides a wound retractor for retracting the sides of a wound opening, and means to seal the retracted wound opening integral with the wound retractor.  
           [0010]    In one embodiment of the invention the proximal member comprises an annular ring means. Preferably the annular ring means comprises an inner ring and an outer ring between which the retracting member may be led. Ideally the inner ring defines a projection for location in a complementary recess of the outer ring with the retracting member located therebetween. The inner ring may be a relatively loose fit in the recess of the outer ring. The inner ring may alternatively be a relatively tight fit in the recess of the outer ring to grip the retracting member therebetween. At least portion of one of the rings is preferably movable from a rest position in which the retracting member is substantially clamped between the rings to a release position in which at least portion of the retracting member is movable relative to the rings.  
           [0011]    In another embodiment the sealing means comprises a chamber for receiving pressurised fluid to seal a retracted wound opening. Preferably the sealing means comprises a sleeve having an inner sleeve section and an outer sleeve section with the chamber defined between the inner and outer sleeve sections. Ideally the sleeve is evertable upon advancement of an object through the sleeve.  
           [0012]    In another aspect the invention provides a surgical device comprising:— 
           [0013]    a retracting member movable from an insertion configuration to a retracting configuration to retract laterally a wound opening; and  
           [0014]    a sleeve integral with the retracting member;  
           [0015]    the sleeve having an inner sleeve section and an outer sleeve section with a chamber for receiving pressurised fluid between the inner and outer sleeve sections to seal a retracted wound opening;  
           [0016]    the sleeve being evertable upon advancement of an object through the sleeve to facilitate sealed access through a retracted wound opening.  
           [0017]    In one case the retracting member is provided by at least portion of the outer sleeve section.  
           [0018]    The sleeve may be turned axially back on itself to define the sleeve sections. Ideally the outer sleeve section is substantially cylindrical, and the inner sleeve section is twisted and of the same untwisted diameter as that of the outer sleeve section.  
           [0019]    In another embodiment of the invention the device comprises a distal member coupled to a distal end of the retracting member for insertion into a wound opening. Preferably the distal member is of a resilient material. Ideally the distal member comprises an O-ring.  
           [0020]    In a further aspect the invention provides a surgical device comprising:— 
           [0021]    a retracting member movable from an insertion configuration to a retracting configuration to retract laterally a wound opening; and  
           [0022]    means to seal a retracted wound opening;  
           [0023]    the retracting member being integral with the sealing means.  
           [0024]    According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a wound retractor comprising:— 
           [0025]    a retracting member for insertion into a wound opening;  
           [0026]    a proximal member for location externally of a wound opening;  
           [0027]    the proximal member being movable relative to the retracting member to shorten the axial extent of the retracting member to laterally retract a wound opening; and  
           [0028]    a chamber for receiving pressurised fluid to maintain a wound opening retracted.  
           [0029]    In one embodiment the chamber is integral with the retracting member.  
           [0030]    The chamber preferably overlaps the proximal member to maintain a wound opening retracted. Ideally the chamber overlaps the proximal member at a proximal side of the proximal member.  
           [0031]    In a further aspect the invention provides a method of performing a surgical procedure, the method comprising the steps of:— 
           [0032]    inserting a surgical device into a wound opening;  
           [0033]    moving at least part of the surgical device laterally to retract the wound opening; and  
           [0034]    inflating at least part of the surgical device to maintain the wound opening retracted.  
           [0035]    In one case the step of inflating at least part of the surgical device effects a seal of the retracted wound opening. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0036]    The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description of an embodiment thereof, given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:— 
         [0037]    [0037]FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional, front view of a surgical device according to the invention;  
         [0038]    FIGS.  2  to  4  are cross-sectional, front views of the device of FIG. 1 in use retracting a wound opening; and  
         [0039]    FIGS.  5  to  7  are cross-sectional, front views of the device of FIG. 1 in use sealing the retracted wound opening. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0040]    Referring to the drawings there is illustrated a surgical device  1  according to the invention. The device  1  is suitable for insertion into a wound opening  2  (FIG. 2) to retract laterally the sides of the wound opening  2  (FIGS. 3 &amp; 4). The device  1  may then be used to seal the retracted wound opening  2  in a gas-tight manner (FIGS.  5  to  7 ), for example during hand assisted laparoscopic surgery or during pure laparoscopic surgery.  
         [0041]    The device  1  comprises a sleeve  3 , a distal O-ring  4  for insertion into a wound opening  2 , and a proximal annular ring means for location externally of a wound opening  2 .  
         [0042]    The sleeve  3  is turned axially back on itself to define an outer sleeve section  5  and an inner sleeve section  6  with a chamber  7  between the inner and outer sleeve sections  5 ,  6 . A pressurised fluid may be passed into the chamber  7  through an inlet port  8  to inflate the sleeve  3 .  
         [0043]    The outer sleeve section  5  is substantially cylindrical, and the inner sleeve section  6  is twisted and of the same untwisted diameter as that of the outer sleeve section  5 . The sleeve  3  may evert upon advancement of an object, such as a surgeon&#39;s hand, through the sleeve  3  when inflated. Upon eversion part of the inner sleeve section  6  rolls outwardly to become part of the outer sleeve section  5 , and part of the outer sleeve section  5  rolls inwardly to become part of the inner sleeve section  6 .  
         [0044]    The distal O-ring  4  is of a resilient material to facilitate manipulation/scrunching-up of the O-ring  4  to enable the O-ring  4  to be inserted into a potentially narrow wound opening  2 . Once inserted into the wound opening  2 , the O-ring  4  acts as an anchor to maintain the device  1  in position in the wound opening  2 .  
         [0045]    The distal O-ring  4  is coupled to the sleeve  3  by any suitable means, such as by adhesively bonding the O-ring  4  to the sleeve  3 .  
         [0046]    The proximal annular ring means comprises, in this case, a proximal inner ring  9  and a proximal outer ring  10 . The inner ring  9  is an O-ring and has a substantially circular cross-section, and the outer ring  10  has a substantially “C”-shaped cross-section. In this manner, the projecting inner ring  9  may be located at least partially within the complimentary recess of the outer ring  10 , with the sleeve  3  extending between the inner and outer rings  9 ,  10 .  
         [0047]    The inner ring  9  is a relatively tight fit in the recess of the outer ring  10 . This results in the sleeve  3  being gripped between the rings  9 ,  10 . The rings  9 ,  10  may be moved relative to one another from a rest position in which the sleeve  3  is clamped between the rings  9 ,  10  to a release position in which a portion of the sleeve  3  may be moved relative to the rings  9 ,  10 .  
         [0048]    The proximal rings  9 ,  10  are moved relative to the sleeve  3  to shorten the axial extent of the portion of the sleeve  3  between the distal O-ring  4  and the proximal rings  9 ,  10 . In this manner the sleeve  3  may be moved laterally to retract the sides of the wound opening  2 , as illustrated in FIG. 3.  
         [0049]    In use, with the sleeve  3  deflated the distal O-ring  4  is manipulated/scrunched-up and inserted through the wound opening  2  (FIG. 2). The distal O-ring  4  is then released and the resilient O-ring  4  returns to the annular shape to anchor the device  1  in position in the wound opening  2 . The proximal rings  9 ,  10  remain externally of the wound opening  2 .  
         [0050]    To retract laterally the sides of the wound opening  2 , the sleeve  3  is gripped and pulled upwardly while the proximal rings  9 ,  10  are pushed downwardly (FIG. 3). This action shortens the axial extent of the portion of the sleeve  3  between the distal O-ring  4  and the proximal rings  9 ,  10 , and thus causes the outer sleeve section  5  to be pressed laterally against the sides of the wound opening  2  (FIG. 3). In this way the wound opening  2  is retracted laterally.  
         [0051]    The surgical device  1  of the invention thus enables a surgeon  11  to gain access to an internal body cavity, and/or to internal body organs  12  through the retracted wound opening  2 , as illustrated in FIG. 4. In certain cases it may be desired to remove an organ from a body in part or in whole. In other cases it may be desired to extracorporealise an organ in part or in whole and then replace the organ.  
         [0052]    To seal the retracted wound opening  2 , for example to prevent insufflation gas from escaping from an internal body cavity, a pressurised fluid, such as air, is passed through the inlet port  8  into the chamber  7  (FIG. 5). In this way, the sleeve  3  is inflated until the passageway defined through the inner sleeve section  6  is closed down, and the retracted wound opening  2  is gas-tightly sealed.  
         [0053]    It is noted that the retraction force exerted by the sleeve  3  on the sides of the wound opening  2  during retraction of the wound opening  2 , as described previously with reference to FIG. 3, also results in a particularly effective gas-tight seal between the sleeve  3  and the sides of the wound opening  2 . In this manner, the possibility of the escape of insufflation gas from the body cavity between the outer sleeve section  5  and the sides of the wound opening  2  is minimised. In particular, the surgical device  1  of the invention does not rely solely on the fluid pressure within the chamber  7  to effect an effective gas-tight seal of the outer sleeve section  5  to the sides of the wound opening  2 .  
         [0054]    To gain access to an internal body cavity, and/or to internal body organs through the surgical device  1 , a surgeon  11  may insert his hand through the inflated sleeve  3  (FIG. 6).  
         [0055]    As the surgeon&#39;s hand passes though the sleeve  3 , the sleeve  3  everts with part of the outer sleeve section  5  rolling inwardly to become part of the inner sleeve section  6 , and part of the inner sleeve section  6  rolling outwardly to become part of the outer sleeve section  5 . This everting action provides for an easier passage of the surgeon&#39;s hand through the inflated sleeve  3 .  
         [0056]    The inflated sleeve  3  adheres to the surgeon&#39;s hand/forearm along the twisted inner sleeve section  6  in a substantially gas-tight manner to minimise the possibility of the escape of insufflation gas from the body cavity between the inner sleeve section  6  and the surgeon&#39;s hand/forearm. The surgical device  1  thus enables access to a body cavity and/or body organs while maintaining pneumoperitoneum.  
         [0057]    When the sleeve  3  has been inflated, the fluid pressure in the chamber  7  causes a shoulder  14  to form in the sleeve  3  above the proximal outer ring  10 , as illustrated in FIG. 5. This inflated shoulder  14  acts to resist any movement of the proximal rings  9 ,  10  upwardly relative to the sleeve  3 . Thus the inflated shoulder  14  acts as an integral locking means to maintain the axial extent of the portion of the sleeve  3  between the distal O-ring  4  and the proximal rings  9 ,  10  shortened, and thereby to maintain the wound opening  2  retracted. In particular no additional step of locking the device  1  in the retracted position is required to maintain the wound opening  2  retracted.  
         [0058]    Because the proximal rings  9 ,  10  are moveable relative to the sleeve  3  and relative to the distal O-ring  4 , this enables the surgical device  1  of the invention to be used with a wide range of abdominal wall thicknesses.  
         [0059]    It will be appreciated that the surgical device  1  of the invention may also be used to facilitate sealed access of a variety of objects into a body cavity through the device  1 . For example, a surgical instrument  13  may be inserted in a gas-tight manner through the sleeve  3 , as illustrated in FIG. 7, while maintaining pneumoperitoneum.  
         [0060]    In an alternative arrangement the inner ring  9  may be a relatively loose fit in the recess of the outer ring  10 .  
         [0061]    The invention is not limited to the embodiments hereinbefore described, with reference to the accompanying drawings, which may be varied in construction and detail.