Guard device for a tissue containment system

Abstract

Apparatus for placement in an incision of a natural body opening comprises a retractor having a sleeve ( 655, 656, 657 ) and a guard device comprising overlapping petals ( 662 ) depending from a mounting ring ( 661 ). The guard device is movable by the retractor from an insertion configuration to a deployed configuration as the retractor sleeve is moved to the retracting configuration.

1 . Apparatus for placement in an opening such as an incision or a natural body opening comprising:—a retractor having an insertion configuration and a retracting configuration; and a guard device having an insertion configuration and a deployed configuration, the guard device being movable by the retractor from the insertion configuration to the deployed configuration as the retractor is moved to the retracting configuration. 
     
     
         2 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the retractor comprises a distal retractor member and a proximal retractor member and wherein the guard device in the deployed configuration is located between the distal retractor member and the proximal retractor member. 
     
     
         3 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 2  wherein the guard device is axially movable relative to the distal retractor member and/or the proximal retractor member on movement towards the deployed configuration. 
     
     
         4 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the retractor comprises a retracting sleeve. 
     
     
         5 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 4  wherein the sleeve extends in two layers between the distal retractor member and the proximal retractor member and wherein the guard is located between the two layers of the sleeve. 
     
     
         6 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 5  wherein the sleeve is wrapped around the distal retractor member. 
     
     
         7 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the retractor comprises
 a distal member; 
 a proximal member; 
 a sleeve extending at least between the distal member and the proximal member; a guide member for a proximal portion of the sleeve; 
 a first sleeve portion extending distally from the proximal member to the distal member; and a second sleeve portion extending proximally from the distal member to the guide member. 
 
     
     
         8 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 7  wherein the guard device comprises a mounting ring which is located between the first and second sleeve portions. 
     
     
         9 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 8  wherein the sleeve comprises a proximal portion for pulling the sleeve upwardly to shorten an axial extent between the distal member and the proximal member. 
     
     
         10 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 9  wherein the guard mounting ring is movable upwardly as the sleeve is pulled upwardly. 
     
     
         11 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the guard device comprises a plurality of individual petals, each petal having a proximal end, a distal end and a pair of side edges. 
     
     
         12 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 11  wherein at least a portion of the side edges of adjacent petals are overlapped. 
     
     
         13 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 11  comprising a layer of petals for extending circumferentially around an opening. 
     
     
         14 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 11  comprising a first layer of petals and at least one additional layer of petals. 
     
     
         15 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 14  wherein the petals of one layer are overlapped with the petals of another layer. 
     
     
         16 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 11  wherein at least some of the petals are movable from a partially overlapped resting configuration to an increased overlapped configuration in response to a circumferential force applied to the petals. 
     
     
         17 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 11  wherein at least some of the petals comprise a proximal neck. 
     
     
         18 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 17  wherein the proximal neck is configured to provide an inflection region to facilitate radial movement of the petal. 
     
     
         19 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 11  comprising a proximal guard mounting to which the petals are mounted. 
     
     
         20 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 19  wherein the guard mounting comprises a proximal guard ring. 
     
     
         21 - 95 . (canceled)