Patent ID: 8579806

Claim:
A device for separating incised tissue, comprising: a plurality of retraction members adapted to be operably engaged with each opposing side of incised tissue to be separated, the plurality of retraction members adapted to be operably engaged with opposing sides of the incised tissue cooperating to define an opposed plurality of retraction members; a frame member having opposed sub-members adapted to extend parallel to the incised tissue to be separated, the sub-members being joined together to define a U-shape, each of the opposed sub-members having at least two of the plurality of retraction members operably engaged therewith to form the opposed plurality of retraction members between the opposed sub-members, and such that the opposed plurality of retraction members are arranged in parallel with respect to each other; a drive mechanism operably engaged between each of the plurality of retraction members and one of the opposed sub-members of the frame member, the drive mechanism being configured such that actuation thereof exerts force on the incised tissue, via the corresponding retraction member, to separate the opposing sides of the incised tissue; at least one measuring device operably engaged with the drive mechanisms and configured to determine at least one of a force magnitude, a stress magnitude, a strain magnitude, a force rate, a stress rate, and a strain rate associated with the exerted forces on the incised tissue by the retraction members while the opposing sides of the incised tissue are being separated; and a controller configured to communicate a drive signal to the drive mechanism so as to actuate the drive mechanism to cause the corresponding retraction member to separate the opposing sides of the incised tissue in response to the measured at least one of a force magnitude, a stress magnitude, a strain magnitude, a force rate, a stress rate, and a strain rate associated with the exerted force on the tissue, the opposed plurality of retraction members thereby cooperating to achieve a predetermined distribution of forces along the incised tissue.