Surgical instrument

摘要

A surgical instrument including an elongate portion arranged, in use, to be inserted through a restricted opening into a body, the elongate portion being movable from a first configuration to a second, different configuration in which two parts of the instrument that are spaced from each other in the first configuration at least partially cross each other in the second configuration.

主权项

1. A surgical instrument, comprising a retractor, including an elongate insertion portion adapted for being inserted through a restricted opening into a body, the elongate insertion portion having:
(a) a plurality of adjacent joint segments that are collectively moveable relative to each other to define a predetermined shape of the elongate insertion portion; (b) a plurality of individual rigid joint segments interspersed and positioned between selected ones of the plurality of adjacent joint segments along a length of the surgical instrument and a pair of immediately adjacent rigid joint segments positioned at an end portion of the surgical instrument, wherein; (c) the plurality of individual rigid joint segments and pair of immediately adjacent rigid joint segments positioned at the end portion of the surgical instrument each have a greater length along the length of the surgical instrument than each adjacent joint segment; (d) the plurality of individual rigid joint segments and the pair of immediately adjacent rigid joint segments positioned at the end portion of the surgical instrument are movable between a first configuration; and (e) a second configuration wherein the plurality of adjacent joint segments define curves, and the plurality of individual rigid joint segments and pair of immediately adjacent rigid joint segments positioned at the end portion of the surgical instrument are configured to selectively cross one another to form a pretzel shape configured to stably support a body organ in the second configuration.