Tissue retractor apparatus and methods

摘要

A delicate tissue retraction system having a hollow tubular retractor, a hollow tubular introducer that is removably installed within the retractor, and a navigation module that is removably installed within the introducer. The navigation module has a shaft with a proximal shaft end and a distal shaft end, and a navigation unit mounted to the proximal shaft end. When assembled, the distal shaft end is contained generally within the introducer and the navigation module outside the introducer. The navigation module indicates the location of one or more points on at least one of the retractor and the introducer to a navigation system.

主权项

1. A delicate tissue retraction system comprising:
a retractor comprising a hollow tubular retractor passage extending along a longitudinal centerline from a proximal retractor end to a distal retractor end; an introducer comprising an introducer passage extending from a proximal introducer end to a distal introducer end, the introducer being configured to be removably installed within the retractor such that the proximal introducer end and distal introducer end are located along the longitudinal centerline and the distal introducer end extends beyond the distal retractor end; a navigation module comprising a shaft having a proximal shaft end and a distal shaft end, the shaft being configured to removably install within the introducer passage; and a connector configured to hold the shaft to the introducer with the shaft spaced from an inner wall of the introducer passage at the proximal introducer end.