Access Platform for Internal Mammary Dissection

摘要

An access platform (10) having a first and a second blade (50,51) interconnected to a spreader member (12) that laterally drives the blades apart or together and a sternal pad (80,81) interconnected to a blade. The superior blade is pivotally coupled to the spreader member such that it naturally rises as the blades are separated. Alternatively, a vertical displacement member is operably interconnected to a blade and the spreader member and is used to vertically displace the interconnected superior blade and, thus, increase a surgeon's working space and visual access for the dissection of an internal mammary artery. A tissue retractor (70,71) is interconnected to the blades to draw the soft tissue around an incision away from the surgeon's working area.