SOFT TISSUE COMPRESSION SHIELD

摘要

A tissue compression shield can help minimize trauma to tissue during surgical retraction. One such shield (10) has a shell having a rigid outer surface (20) adapted to abut a surgical retractor and a concave inner surface defining an elongated tissue-receiving channel (70). The concave inner surface is adapted to deform under localized pressure to increase surface area in contact with tissue within the channel, thereby more widely distributing pressure across the tissue. If so desired, the shield can include a compressible inner pad (50) that contacts the tissue. In an alternative design, a shield employs a shell including a central body and a pair of opposed legs defining therebetween an elongated tissue-receiving channel. An upper one of the legs has a notch along an outer edge thereof which defines a bone-seating recess which is smaller than the tissue-receiving channel.