Surgical device for retracting and/or sealing an incision

Abstract

A wound protector retractor comprises an inner O-ring for insertion through a wound opening and a connecting sleeve extending between the O-ring and outer mounting assembly. The outer assembly is provided by rings between which the sleeve is led. The rings are rotated relative to each other and the inner ring to form a centralized lumen of reduced cross section and to shorten the axial extent of the sleeve. A wound is both retracted and protected.

1 . A surgical device comprising: 
 an inner mounting means for insertion through a wound opening;    a first outer mounting means for mounting external of a wound opening; and    connecting means extending between the inner and outer mounting means;    the connecting means being movable to shorten the axial extent of the connecting means.    
     
     
         2 . A surgical device as claimed in    claim 1    wherein the outer mounting means is movable relative to the inner mounting means to twist the connecting means to form a lumen of reduced cross section and to shorten the axial extent of the connecting means.  
     
     
         3 . A device as claimed in    claim 2    wherein the outer mounting means is rotatable relative to the inner mounting means to twist the connecting means.  
     
     
         4 . A device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the connecting means is a sleeve of pliable material extending between the inner and outer mounting means.  
     
     
         5 . A device as claimed in any preceding claim including a second outer mounting means, the connecting means extending between the first outer mounting means, the inner mounting means, and the second outer mounting means.  
     
     
         6 . A device as claimed in    claim 5    wherein the first and second outer mounting means are rotatable relative to one another to twist the connecting means and to draw the inner mounting means towards the outer mounting means.  
     
     
         7 . A device as claimed in    claim 5    or    6    wherein the inner mounting means is an O-ring.  
     
     
         8 . A device as claimed in    claim 7    wherein the connecting means is a sleeve which is led from the first outer mounting means to the O-ring and from the O-ring to the second outer mounting means.  
     
     
         9 . A device as claimed in any of    claims 5    to    8    including locking means for locking the first outer mounting means relative to the second outer mounting means.  
     
     
         10 . A device as claimed in any of    claims 5    to    9    wherein one of the outer mounting means is located or locatable within the other outer mounting means.  
     
     
         11 . A device as claimed in any of    claims 4    to    10    wherein the inner diameter of the sleeve is greater than or equal to the axial length of the sleeve.  
     
     
         12 . A device as claimed in    claim 11    wherein the inner diameter of the sleeve is greater than the axial length of the sleeve by an amount which is less Man the thickness of an average abdominal wall.  
     
     
         13 . A device as claimed in any of    claims 5    to    12    wherein a substantially gas tight seal is formed between the outer mounting means on shortening of the length of the sleeve.  
     
     
         14 . A device as claimed in    claim 13    wherein the sleeve extending between the first and second outer mounting means defines an inflatable space.  
     
     
         15 . A device as claimed in    claim 14    wherein the device includes a port for connection to an inflation means.  
     
     
         16 . A device as claimed in any preceding claim comprising: 
 an inner mounting means for insertion through a wound opening;    a first outer mounting means;    a second outer mounting means; and    a sleeve of pliable material extending from the second outer mounting means to the inner mounting means and from the inner mounting means to the first outer mounting means.    
     
     
         17 . A device as claimed in    claim 16    wherein one or both of the first and second outer mounting means are movable relative to one another to adjust the diameter of the lumen defined by a twist in the sleeve extending therebetween.  
     
     
         18 . A device as claimed in    claim 17    wherein the first and second outer mounting means are rotatable relative to one another.  
     
     
         19 . A device as claimed in any of    claims 16    to    18    wherein the sleeve is releasably mounted to the second outer mounting means for adjustment of the length of the sleeve.  
     
     
         20 . A device as claimed in    claim 19    wherein the second mounting means comprises a receiver and the sleeve is mounted or mountable to a ring which is releasably mounted to the receiver.  
     
     
         21 . A device as claimed in any of    claims 16    to    20    wherein the inner mounting means is configured to reduce the size thereof for ease of insertion into a wound opening.  
     
     
         22 . A device as claimed in    claim 21    wherein the inner mounting means comprises a ring which includes a hinge means for reducing the size of the ring.  
     
     
         23 . A device as claimed in    claim 1    wherein the connecting means is translated to shorten the axial extent of the connecting means.  
     
     
         24 . A device as claimed in    claim 23    wherein the connecting means comprises a sleeve which is translated by a drawstring mechanism.  
     
     
         25 . A device as claimed in    claim 24    wherein the connecting means comprises a plurality of straps attached to the inner mounting means, the straps being pulled upwardly to shorten the axial extend of the connecting means.  
     
     
         26 . A device as claimed in    claim 25    including an iris diaphragm connected to the straps.  
     
     
         27 . A device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the outer mounting means includes a holder for holding a surgical instrument.  
     
     
         28 . A surgical device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.  
     
     
         29 . A surgical device as claimed in any preceding claim forming a wound retractor.  
     
     
         30 . A surgical device as claimed in any of    claims 1    to    28    forming a wound protector.  
     
     
         31 . A surgical device as claimed in any preceding claim forming a wound protector retractor.  
     
     
         32 . A wound protector substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.  
     
     
         33 . A wound retractor substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.  
     
     
         34 . A wound protector retractor substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.  
     
     
         35 . A device as claimed in any preceding claim including an attachment means for attaching the device to another device.  
     
     
         36 . A device as claimed in    claim 35    wherein the other device is another surgical device.  
     
     
         37 . A device as claimed in    claim 36    wherein the other device is a wound protector, wound retractor, wound protector retractor or a forearm seal.