FIELD

This disclosure describes a tissue retraction system for use during a surgical procedure.

BACKGROUND

A noteworthy trend in the medical community is the move away from performing surgery via traditional “open” techniques in favor of minimally invasive or minimal access techniques. Open surgical techniques are less desirable in that they typically require large incisions and high amounts of tissue displacement to gain access to the surgical target site, which produces concomitantly high amounts of pain, lengthened hospitalization (increasing health care costs), and high morbidity in the patient population. Less-invasive surgical techniques (including so-called “minimal access” and “minimally invasive” techniques) are gaining favor due to the fact that they involve accessing the surgical target site via incisions of substantially smaller size with greatly reduced tissue displacement requirements.

Currently available access systems require multiple inputs to actuate components in multiple directions or shifting the anchor point of the retractor from one position to another to create a customized exposure to the target surgical site. There exists a need for an access system that enables a surgeon to create a reproducible, customized exposure to the target surgical site in a faster and less complicated manner.

SUMMARY

In one embodiment, a tissue retraction system includes a drive gear coupled to a shaft. The drive gear is configured to rotate along a first axis based on movement of the shaft. The tissue retraction system also includes a first plurality of linking members located along a second axis and configured to rotate along the second axis based on contact with the drive gear as the drive gear is rotated. The tissue retraction system a second plurality of linking members located along a third axis and configured to rotate along the third axis based on contact with the drive gear as the drive gear is rotated. The tissue retraction system also includes a linking member selector configured to rotate along the first axis. The linking member selector includes a cylindrical body integrally formed with a handle. The cylindrical body includes at least a first protrusion configured to exert a first force on at least one linking member of the first plurality of linking members based on selection, via the handle of the linking member selector, of a position corresponding to the at least one linking member of the first plurality of linking members. The cylindrical body includes at least a second protrusion configured to exert a second force on at least one linking member of the second plurality of linking members based on selection, via the handle of the linking member selector, of a position corresponding to the at least one linking member of the second plurality of linking members. The tissue retraction system also includes a right arm assembly configured to move along a first trajectory based on a corresponding movement of at least two linking members of the first plurality of linking members. The tissue retraction system also includes a first retractor blade coupled to the right arm assembly. The tissue retraction system also includes a left arm assembly configured to move along a second trajectory based on a corresponding movement of at least another two linking members of the first plurality of linking members. The tissue retraction system also includes a second retractor blade coupled to the left arm assembly. The tissue retraction system also includes a center arm configured to move along a third trajectory based on a corresponding movement of at least two linking members of the second plurality of linking members. The tissue retraction system also includes a third retractor blade coupled to the center arm. The tissue retraction system also includes an array. The array includes tracking makers. The array is releasably secured to the center arm.

In one embodiment, a system includes a surgical retractor. The surgical retractor includes includes a drive gear coupled to a shaft. The drive gear is configured to rotate along a first axis based on movement of the shaft. The surgical retractor also includes a first plurality of linking members located along a second axis and configured to rotate along the second axis based on contact with the drive gear as the drive gear is rotated. The surgical retractor also includes a second plurality of linking members located along a third axis and configured to rotate along the third axis based on contact with the drive gear as the drive gear is rotated. The surgical retractor also includes a linking member selector configured to rotate along the first axis. The linking member selector includes a cylindrical body integrally formed with a handle. The cylindrical body includes at least a first protrusion configured to exert a first force on at least one linking member of the first plurality of linking members based on selection, via the handle of the linking member selector, of a position corresponding to the at least one linking member of the first plurality of linking members. The cylindrical body includes at least a second protrusion configured to exert a second force on at least one linking member of the second plurality of linking members based on selection, via the handle of the linking member selector, of a position corresponding to the at least one linking member of the second plurality of linking members. The surgical retractor also includes a right arm assembly configured to move along a first trajectory based on a corresponding movement of at least two linking members of the first plurality of linking members. The surgical retractor also includes a first retractor blade coupled to the right arm assembly. The surgical retractor also includes a left arm assembly configured to move along a second trajectory based on a corresponding movement of at least another two linking members of the first plurality of linking members. The surgical retractor also includes a second retractor blade coupled to the left arm assembly. The surgical retractor also includes a center arm configured to move along a third trajectory based on a corresponding movement of at least two linking members of the second plurality of linking members. The surgical retractor also includes a third retractor blade coupled to the center arm. The surgical retractor also includes an array. The array includes tracking makers. The array is releasably secured to the center arm. The system also includes at least one camera configured to track the array and transmit one or more images of the array to a computing system including a processor. The computing system is configured to display a simulation of the surgical retractor on a display screen.

In one embodiment, the system includes a surgical retractor. The surgical retractor includes a drive gear coupled to a shaft. The drive gear is configured to rotate along a first axis based on movement of the shaft. The surgical retractor also includes a first plurality of linking members located along a second axis and configured to rotate along the second axis based on contact with the drive gear as the drive gear is rotated. The surgical retractor also includes a second plurality of linking members located along a third axis and configured to rotate along the second axis based on contact with the drive gear as the drive gear is rotated. The surgical retractor also includes a linking member selector configured to rotate along the first axis, the linking member selector comprising a cylindrical body integrally formed with the handle, wherein the cylindrical body includes at least a first protrusion configured to exert a first force on at least one linking member of the first plurality of linking members based on selection, via a handle of the linking member selector, of a position corresponding to the at least one linking member of the first plurality of linking members. The first force on the at least one linking member causes a coupling between the at least one linking member of the first plurality of linking members and another linking member of the first plurality of linking members. The cylindrical body includes at least a second protrusion configured to exert a second force on at least one linking member of the second plurality of linking members based on selection, via a handle of the linking member selector, of a position corresponding to the at least one linking member of the second plurality of linking members. The second force on the at least one linking member causes a coupling between the at least one linking member of the second plurality of linking members and another linking member of the second plurality of linking members. The surgical retractor also includes a right arm assembly configured to move along either a first trajectory or a second trajectory. The first trajectory corresponds to a movement of at least two linking members of the first plurality of linking members. The second trajectory corresponds to a movement of at least two linking members of the second plurality of linking members. The surgical retractor also includes a first retractor blade coupled to the right arm assembly. The surgical retractor also includes a left arm assembly configured to move along either the second trajectory or a third trajectory. The third trajectory corresponds to a movement of at least two other linking members of the first plurality of linking members. The surgical retractor also includes a second retractor blade coupled to the left arm assembly. The surgical retractor also includes a center arm configured to move along a fourth trajectory based on a corresponding movement of at least two other linking members of the second plurality of linking members. The surgical retractor also includes a third retractor blade coupled to the center arm. The surgical retractor also includes a post located along a fourth axis parallel and offset to the first axis. The surgical retractor also includes locking teeth secured to the system at a first end of the post, where in the post includes at least one tapered surface. The surgical retractor also includes an articulating arm connector. The articulating arm connector includes an aperture, a button with a tapered surface, and locking teeth. The aperture is configured to receive the post. The tapered surface of the button is configured to interface with the at least one tapered surface of the post. The locking teeth of the post are configured to engage with the locking teeth secured to the system. The system also includes at least one camera configured to track the array and transmit one or more images of the array to a computing system including a processor. The computing system is configured to display a simulation of the surgical retractor on a display screen.

