Wound retractor clamp

Abstract

A wound retractor clamp includes an annular clamp body including a periphery configured to surround a proximal end of a wound retractor, and one or more resilient members connected to the periphery of the clamp body. The one or more resilient members deflect radially outward upon engagement of the clamp body with the wound retractor. The one or more resilient members snap onto the wound retractor and secure the clamp body to the wound protector subsequent to the engagement of the clamp body with the wound protector.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A wound retractor clamp comprising:
 an annular clamp body comprising a periphery configured to surround a proximal end of a wound retractor; and   a tab and a lever configured for selective engagement and disengagement of the clamp body with the wound retractor, wherein:
 the tab and the lever are configured to snap onto the wound retractor to engage the clamp body with the wound retractor; and 
 the lever is configured to pivot about an axis that is parallel to a longitudinal axis of the clamp body and the wound retractor and is resiliently biased toward engagement of the clamp body with the wound retractor. 
   
     
     
         3 . The wound retractor clamp of  claim 2 , wherein the lever comprises an elongated curved lever body arranged circumferentially on the periphery of the clamp body. 
     
     
         4 . The wound retractor clamp of  claim 3 , wherein the lever comprises a first curved portion connected to the clamp body and a second curved portion extending from the first curved portion. 
     
     
         5 . The wound retractor clamp of  claim 4 , wherein the second curved portion of the lever curves radially outward and is configured to be engaged by a user to deflect the lever radially outward to disengage the clamp body from the wound retractor. 
     
     
         6 . The wound retractor clamp of  claim 2 , wherein the tab is formed integral with the clamp body. 
     
     
         7 . The wound retractor clamp of  claim 2 , wherein the tab and the lever are on opposite sides of the periphery of the clamp body. 
     
     
         8 . The wound retractor clamp of  claim 7 , wherein the lever is configured to be actuated to pivot to disengage the portion of the clamp body including the lever from the wound retractor such that the portion of the clamp body including the lever can be tilted proximally to disengage the tab from the wound retractor without deflecting the tab radially outward. 
     
     
         9 . The wound retractor clamp of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the clamp body and the tab comprise at least one of polycarbonate and thermoplastic polyurethane; and   the lever comprises polycarbonate.   
     
     
         10 . The wound retractor clamp of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the tab and the lever each comprise a tapered surface; and   the tapered surface of the tab and the tapered surface of the lever are each configured to be engaged by the wound retractor to deflect the tab and the lever radially outward in response to the clamp body being pushed distally onto the wound retractor.   
     
     
         11 . The clamp of wound retractor clamp  10 , wherein the tapered surface of the tab and the tapered surface of the lever are each configured to be engaged by a tapered surface of the wound retractor to deflect the tab and the lever radially outward in response to the clamp body being pushed distally onto the wound retractor. 
     
     
         12 . The wound retractor clamp of  claim 11 , wherein a slope of the tapered surface of the tab and the tapered surface of the lever is equal and opposite to a slope of the tapered surface of the wound retractor. 
     
     
         13 . The wound retractor clamp of  claim 11 , wherein the tapered surface of the tab and the tapered surface of the lever each increases in diameter from a distal end of the clamp toward a proximal end of the clamp. 
     
     
         14 . The wound retractor clamp of  claim 13 , wherein the tapered surface of the wound retractor increases in diameter from the proximal end of the clamp toward the distal end of the clamp. 
     
     
         15 . The wound retractor clamp of  claim 14 , wherein the tapered surface of the wound retractor is a proximal facing annular tapered surface. 
     
     
         16 . The wound retractor clamp of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the lever comprises a lip extending radially inward from a proximal end of the tapered surface of the lever;   the tab comprises a lip extending radially inward from a proximal end of the tapered surface of the tab;   the wound retractor comprises a lip extending radially inward from a distal end of the tapered surface of the wound retractor; and   the lip of the lever and the lip of the tab are configured to engage the lip of the wound retractor after the clamp body has been pushed distally onto the wound retractor to deflect the tab and the lever radially outward.   
     
     
         17 . The wound retractor clamp of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the clamp further comprising a gasket connected to the clamp body; and   the gasket is configured to seal the connection between the clamp and the wound retractor.   
     
     
         18 . A method of assembling and disassembling a medical device assembly, comprising:
 securing a wound retractor clamp to the proximal end of a wound retractor by manually urging a clamp body of the clamp into engagement with the proximal end of the wound retractor to snap first and second resilient members connected to opposing portions of the periphery of the clamp body onto the wound retractor; and   deflecting the first resilient member radially outward from the wound retractor to disengage the portion of the clamp body including the first resilient member from the wound retractor; and   tilting the portion of the clamp body including the first resilient member to disengage the second resilient member from the wound retractor without deflecting the second resilient member radially outward.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein:
 the first resilient member comprises a lever; and   the second resilient member comprises a tab.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein:
 the lever comprises an elongated curved lever body arranged circumferentially on the periphery of the clamp body; and   the elongated curved lever body comprises a first curved portion connected to the clamp body and a second curved portion extending from the first curved portion and curving radially outward.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein deflecting the first resilient member radially outward comprises engaging the second curved portion to deflect the lever radially outward to disengage the portion of the clamp body including the lever from the wound retractor.