Multi-position ratchet mechanism

[0002] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/279,395 filed Mar. 28, 2001.

[0003] The present invention relates to a multi-position ratchet mechanism for holding a surgical retractor blade and, more particularly to a quick-release ratchet mechanism which permits the retractor blade to be tilted and rotated into the wound so that the organ may be retracted and lifted at the same time.

[0004] A surgical retraction systems is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,254,763. This patent, incorporated by reference, describes the ability to utilize a retractor ring to retract organs in the plane of the ring.

[0005] An improvement for use with the ring of U.S. Pat. No. 4,354,763 was disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,424,724. The '724 Patent, also incorporated by reference, discloses a multi-position ratchet mechanism for holding a surgical retractor blade allowing the blade to be pivoted into the wound from a ring and retracted at the same time. This device allowed the retractor to be tilted, or pivoted, into the wound and retracted with one motion.

[0006] The ratchet mechanism of the '724 patent only allows for pivoting in a single plane about the ratcheting mechanism perpendicularly to the ring to which the mechanism is secured. A need exists for rotation in other planes as well, preferably in a plane substantially perpendicular to the plane of the operation of the ratcheting mechanism, i.e., the plane of pivoting, or the plane of the ring.

[0007] Furthermore, the ratchet mechanism of the '724 patent is not believed to adequately secure the retractor to the ring. Specifically, the ratchet holder relies on tension of the retractor blade to pull the holder forward so that the edge of a dowel pin engages indentations of the ring to prevent the circumferential sliding of the ratchet holder and to prevent the ratchet holder from falling off the ring. However, there are instances when this necessary tension may not be present or adequate and the ratchet holder would have little, if any, resistance to prevent coming off the ring. Furthermore, torque applied to the ratchet holder may also cause problems. Accordingly, a need exists to restrain the ratchet holder from moving away off of the ring.

[0008] The multi-position ratchet mechanism of the preferred embodiment provides a multi-position ratchet mechanism for holding the retractor blade for permitting it to be pivoted into a wound and retracted at the same time which may be thought to simulate the natural “toe-in” method of retraction one could achieve with the hand. The mechanism of the present invention also permits the position of the ratchet mechanism to be moved circumferentially about the support ring and allow for rotation about the selected position relative to the support ring. Furthermore the ratchet mechanism is preferably configured to securely connect with the support ring.

[0009] The multi-position ratchet mechanism includes a ring holder, which is mounted onto the support ring, such as an oval support ring. Selective positioning of the ratchet holder relative to the ring may be achieved through the use of a transverse slot in the ratchet holder which receives a thickness of the ring therein. A retention mechanism is utilized to prevent the ring from inadvertently coming out of the transverse slot.

[0010] The retention mechanism restrains the ring in the transverse slot of the ring holder. Specifically, the ring typically has a width which terminates proximate to the end transverse slot when the ring is installed in the transverse slot. The retention mechanism is moved into position to prevent movement of the ring out of the transverse slot. In the preferred embodiment, the retention mechanism is pivoted in and out of position with a lever.

[0011] The multi-position ratchet also preferably includes the ability to rotate relative to the ring as well as the ability to be secured in a fixed radial orientation relative to the ring upon rotation to a desired angle. Opposing serrated washers which cooperate to resist rotation when engaged maybe utilized. The serrated washers maybe engaged or disengaged utilizing a cam, or otherwise.

[0012] The particular features and advantages of the invention as well as other objects will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

[0013] FIG. 1 shows a top elevational view of the multi-position ratchet mechanism of the present invention;

[0014] FIG. 2 shows a top elevational view of the multi-position ratchet mechanism of FIG. 1 connected to a retractor stem and a ring, and showing both horizontal and vertical plane rotation; operation of the cam actuator is shown in phantom;

[0015] FIG. 3 shows a partially exploded perspective view of the mechanism of FIG. 1;

[0016] FIG. 4 shows a top elevational view of the mechanism of FIG. 1 showing vertical plane rotation;

[0017] FIG. 5 shows an exploded cutaway top elevational view of an alternative embodiment of a portion of a locking mechanism utilized in a ring holder; and

[0018] FIG. 6 shows a side cross sectional view of the alternative embodiment of FIG. 5 in use.

[0019] The multi-position ratchet mechanism 10 of FIGS. 1-4 maybe utilized in place of the mechanisms illustrated in FIG. 1 of U.S. Pat. No. 4,424,724. However, the multi-position ratchet mechanism 10 of the presently preferred embodiment is believed to improve on the basic design of the prior art ratchet mechanism.

[0020] The ratchet mechanism 10 has a ring holder 12 connected to a retractor holder 14. The retractor holder 14 may be pivoted up and down to place a retractor blade (not shown) at a desired depth. Furthermore, the ring holder 12 may be rotated relative to the ratchet holder 14. Specifically, the illustrated ring holder 12 rotates about axle 15 shown in FIG. 3. A pair of opposing washers 16, 18 oppose one another, and in a first configuration are spaced from one another, and in a second configuration contact one another as described in more detail below. The washer 16 may be press fit into well 13 as illustrated in FIG. 3. Washer 18 may similarly be connected to base 26.

[0021] In FIGS. 1, 2 and 4 the rotational element is located in the first configuration. The washers 16,18 have serrations 20,22 on opposing faces (as illustrated in FIG. 3) which cooperate to prevent the ring holder 12 from rotating relative to the retractor holder 14 when in the second configuration shown in phantom in FIG. 2. In FIGS. 1,2, and 4 the washers 16,18 are spaced apart from one another a sufficient distance to allow the retractor holder 14 to rotate about the axle 15 relative to the ring holder 12. A spring 24 may be utilized to preferentially maintain the washers 16,18 in either the first or the second position. In the preferred embodiment, the washers 16, 18 are biased in the first configuration. When the radial alignment of the retractor holder 14 relative to the ring holder 12 is to be changed, the operator moves the washers 16,18 apart to the first configuration such as by locating the cam actuator 17 as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 4, and in solid line in FIG. 2. The retractor 14 may then be rotated relative to the ring holder 12 about the axle 15. The operator may then move the washers 16,18 into contact with another to allow the serrations 20, 22 to cooperate as illustrated to the second configuration by rotating the cam actuator 17 about clamping pivot 19 as shown in phantom in FIG. 2.

[0022] If the spring biases the washers 16,18 into the second position in other embodiments, it may be desirable to allow for the radial alignment of the retractor holder 14 relative to the ring holder 12 to be selected in another manner. Specifically, the operator may pull the washers 16,18 apart, and rotate to the desired position, and then allow the spring to pull the washers 16,18 back together.

[0023] The mechanics of the rotation and locking about the axle 15 may best be understood by referring to FIG. 3. The clamping pivot 19 is illustrated as parallel to the axle 15. The axle 15 contains groove 21 which preferably has a groove surface 23 parallel to groove surface 25. The groove surfaces 23,25 are in planes, perpendicular to the axis of the axle 15. The axis of the axle 15 may also be referred to as a rotation axis. The axle 15 is also connected to or comprised of spring member 24. The base 26 is placed over the axle 15 with groove 21 accessible through slot 27. The cam actuator 17 is then placed so that cam surface 29 and clamping pivot 19 extend into the slot where the cam surface 29 is operable with the groove 21. The clamping pivot 19 is then secured with a retaining member such as Add a pin 11 shown in FIG. 2. As the cam actuator 17 is moved as shown in FIG. 2 (in phantom), the cam surface 29 acts against the groove surface 25 causing the bottom surface 31 to exert a downward force against the slot bottom 33 and to force the washers 16,18 together in the second, or locked, configuration. Movement of the cam actuator 17 in the opposite direction releases the force. A spring member 24 may assist in separating the washers 16,18. Accordingly, the spring member 24 biases the rotational element in the first configuration.

[0024] In other embodiments, the rotational element may not be biased in either of the first or second configurations, or the rotational element maybe biased in the second configuration. Furthermore, in other embodiments, the rotational element may not have a second configuration, and remain in the first configuration allowing the retractor holder 14 to instantly rotate relative to the ring holder 12 without releasing a locking mechanism.

[0025] In the preferred embodiment, one of the opposing washers 16 is connected to the ring holder 12 at a top surface of the ring holder 12 and the other washer 18 is connected to a base 26. The base 26 also preferably includes a toothed hub 28 which assists the retractor holder 14 in being pivotally positioned relative to the ring holder 12. The toothed hub 28 is press fit into the base 26. The base 26 has a base pivot 30 which connects the retractor holder 14 to the base 26 while providing a pivot point for directing the blade of a retractor (not shown) to a specific depth in an opening. The toothed hub 28 fits within passage 37 in the retractor holder 14 and assists in selecting a pivot angle of the retractor holder 14 relative to the base 26.

[0026] The retractor holder 14 preferably includes a lock mechanism 32 which is moveable between a locking position and an unlocked position. In the locking position at least one grip 34 engages the toothed hub 28 to provide a desired angular position of pivot of the retractor holder 14 relative to the ring holder 12. An actuation lever 76 may be utilized to pivot the grip 34 in and out of engagement with a portion of the toothed hub 28 about pivot 78. A spring is preferably utilized to bias the locking mechanism 32 in locking engagement with the toothed hub 28 as shown in FIG. 4. The retractor holder 14 also preferably contains a rectangular bore 36 for receiving the stem 38 of a retractor blade as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4. The retractor stem 38 may be held in fixed relation to the retractor holder 14 by the pawl blade 40 of the pawl 42. The pawl 42 is preferably spring biased to engage the retractor stem 38 by a spring. The pawl 42 has an actuation lever 80 which pivots about pivot 82 to engage and disengage the pawl blade 40.

[0027] In addition for allowing for rotation of the retractor holder 14 relative to the ring holder 12, the preferred embodiment also employs a ring holder 12 which secures the mechanism 10 to the ring 46 with a retention mechanism 48 as shown in FIGS. 1-3. The retention mechanism 48 is preferably actuated by a lever 50 which is spring biased to retain the ring 46 within a transverse slot 54. Although the preferred embodiment has a retention mechanism 48 attached to a lever 50 for retaining an end 56 of the width of the ring 46 within the transverse slot 54, other locations along the width of the ring 46 could also be retained by a retention mechanism 48. Furthermore, the retention mechanism 48 need not necessarily be equipped with a release lever 50 in all embodiments. The retention mechanism 48 may also include one or more surfaces in the transverse slot 54, such as opposing slot surfaces, which move to secure the ring 46 in the slot 54.

[0028] The retention mechanism 48 illustrated rotates about retention pivot 60 and is preferably spring biased in the retaining position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Depression of the lever 50 moves the retention mechanism 48 about the retention pivot 60 to allow the ring 46 to be inserted into the transverse slot 54. An arm 62 extending between the retention mechanism 48 and the retention pivot 60 is at least partly contained housed within notch 64 in the retaining position. The spring 84 may be received within a spring bore 66. An access port 68 allows access within the ring holder 12 to secure a pin through the retention pivot 60. Springs for the locking mechanism 32 and pawl mechanism 42 may be similarly located on those structures.

[0029] The locking mechanism 32 and the pawl 42 operate in a similar manner as the retention mechanism, however in alternative embodiments, different designs may provide for different operation of these members.

[0030] In order to ensure a snug fit for the ring 46 in the transverse slot 54, a spring member 70 is placed at least partially through a bore (obscured from view) in the ring holder 12. A retaining plate 72 keeps the spring member 70 in position so that plunger 74 contacts the inserted ring member 46 and exerts a force so that the ring member 46 is contacted by the plunger 74 and the retention mechanism 48. The spring member 70 is preferably under compression when the ring member 46 is installed to positively retain ring against retention mechanism 48 having lip 86.

[0031] FIGS. 5 and 6 show an alternatively preferred retention mechanism 100. In this embodiment, a pivoting arm 102 with a stop 104 retains ring 46 in a transverse slot 106 which is similar to the transverse slot 54 of the preferred embodiment. The arm 102 is moveable about pivot 108 to allow a ring 46 to be inserted into the slot. The pivot 108 is preferably connected to slide 110 which is spring biased by spring 112 to a first end 114 of the ring holder 116. The arm 102 illustrated is biased into a locking position by spring 118. The slide 110 is moveable within housing 120 which is connected, and preferably an integral portion of the ring holder 116.

[0032] The slide 110 allows the retention mechanism 100 to accommodate a plurality of ring widths. FIG. 6 shows the operation of the arm 102 in a downward direction to release the ring 46 from the slot 106. A top surface 122 of the arm 102 contacts the ring 46 in compression to retain the ring 46 in the slot 106. Furthermore, the stop 104 retains the ring 46 from sliding out of the slot 106.

[0033] Numerous alternations of the structure herein disclosed will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art. However, it is to be understood that the present disclosure relates to the preferred embodiment of the invention which is for purposes of illustration only and not to be construed as a limitation of the invention. All such modifications which do not depart from the spirit of the invention are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims.