Vessel retractor

Abstract

A surgical apparatus includes an elongated cannula having an external sidewall surface and a lumen extending between a cannula proximal regional and a cannula distal region, the cannula is further configured to receive an endoscope, and has a handle located at the cannula proximal region, a first wire extending from the cannula distal region and adapted to slide longitudinally with respect to the cannula in both a distal and proximal direction via a control at the handle, and a ring connected to the first wire. The ring has a curved surface with concavity hollowed towards a region of the cannula configured to receive the endoscope.

1 - 12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . A surgical apparatus comprising:
 an elongated cannula having an external sidewall surface and a lumen extending between a cannula proximal regional and a cannula distal region, the cannula further configured to receive an endoscope;   a handle located at the cannula proximal region; and   a first wire extending from the cannula distal region and adapted to slide longitudinally with respect to the cannula in both a distal and proximal direction via a control at the handle, and   a ring connected to the first wire, the ring having a curved surface with concavity hollowed towards a region of the cannula configured to receive the endoscope.   
     
     
         14 . The surgical apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the surgical apparatus further comprises a surgical tool within the cannula. 
     
     
         15 . The surgical apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the ring is a partial ring not forming an entire circular loop. 
     
     
         16 . The surgical apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the first wire is radially located between an axis of the cannula and the cannula's external sidewall. 
     
     
         17 . The surgical apparatus of  claim 13 , further comprising a second wire extending from the distal region of the cannula, the second wire is connected to the ring. 
     
     
         18 . The surgical apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein a portion of the second wire that is located internal to the cannula is generally parallel to a portion of the first wire that is located internal to the cannula. 
     
     
         19 . The surgical apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the second wire connects to the ring at a location that is radially opposite to the side of the ring in which the first wire connects to the ring. 
     
     
         20 . The surgical apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein a portion of the first wire that can extend beyond a distal tip of the cannula has a straight portion. 
     
     
         21 . The surgical apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein a portion of the first wire that can extend beyond a distal tip of the cannula has a bent portion. 
     
     
         22 . The surgical apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein a portion of the first wire that can extend beyond a distal tip of the cannula has a bent portion, a first straight portion proximal to the bent portion, and a second straight portion distal to the bent portion. 
     
     
         23 . The surgical apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein a distal end of the cannula is configured to receive a dissector tip, the dissector tip is sized and shaped for blunt dissecting of tissue. 
     
     
         24 . The surgical apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the first wire and second wire are located in a first lumen and a second lumen respectively, each of the first lumen and second lumen are sized within close tolerances of the first and second wires respectively. 
     
     
         25 . The surgical apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein the ring configured as a blunt structure that is sized and shaped to not fit within the first lumen. 
     
     
         26 . The surgical apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein movement of the first wire from a proximal position to a distal position causes outward radial movement of the ring. 
     
     
         27 . The surgical apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein ring is shaped to provide a space in which a field of view of the endoscope is not blocked when (i) the endoscope is disposed within the cannula, and (ii) when the ring is located in a proximal position. 
     
     
         28 . A surgical apparatus comprising:
 an elongated cannula having at least one lumen extending therein between a cannula proximal end and a cannula distal end, and wherein the elongate cannula is further configured to receive an endoscope;   a first wire disposed to slide within the cannula when displaced distally and proximally with respect to the cannula in response to manual manipulation of a control disposed on a handle located towards a proximal region of the cannula;   a cradle connected to the first wire and extendable beyond the distal end of the cannula, the cradle (i) having a concave surface and (ii) shaped to not substantially block a field of view of the endoscope when the endoscope is disposed within the cannula and the cradle is in a proximal position.   
     
     
         29 . The surgical apparatus of  claim 28 , further comprising a second wire, the second wire is disposed to slide within the cannula, the second wire connected to the cradle at a location different from the first wire. 
     
     
         30 . A surgical apparatus comprising:
 an elongated cannula having at least one lumen extending therein between a cannula proximal end and a cannula distal end, and wherein the elongate cannula is further configured to receive an endoscope;   a first wire and a second wire each disposed to slide within the cannula when displaced distally and proximally with respect to the cannula in response to manual manipulation of a control disposed on a handle located towards a proximal region of the cannula;   a vessel positioner element connected to a first and second wire and extendable beyond the distal end of the cannula, the vessel positioner element (i) having a concave surface and (ii) shaped to not block a field of view of the endoscope when the endoscope is disposed within the cannula and the fitting is in a proximal position.   
     
     
         31 . The surgical apparatus of  claim 30 , wherein the vessel positioner element has a ring-like shape and structure. 
     
     
         32 . The surgical apparatus of  claim 31 , wherein the vessel positioner element comprises a ring-like shape and structure that is a partial ring.