ES1084356U - Separator for surgery through the armpit (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding) - Google Patents

Abstract

Separator (1) for surgery through the armpit comprising a valve (2) and a handle (3), characterized in that the valve (2) comprises a first proximal section (2a) with an essentially cylindrical shape and a second distal section (2b) with an essentially straight shape, and where the width of said valve (2) decreases essentially uniformly from 3-4 centimeters near its proximal end (2c) to about 2-3 centimeters near its end distal (2d) rounded. (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding)

Description

Separator for surgery through the armpit

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The present invention belongs to the field of medicine, and more specifically to the field of surgical instruments.

The object of the present invention is a new separator provided with a leaflet specially designed to carry out surgical operations of removal of the axillary ganglia in the treatment of breast cancer.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The standard treatment of breast cancer is conservative surgery. This surgery involves dissecting or removing the axillary ganglia through small incisions that are made in an area slightly below the armpit. For this, the surgeon uses a separating instrument equipped with a leaflet that allows the incision made to be kept open while lifting the pectoralis major, being able to access the ganglia of the armpit through this opening with the help of another instrument.

There is currently no instrument specifically designed for this purpose, so the Doyen separator or the Roux separator are normally used. The Doyen separator has an excessive blade width, so it does not fit well through the armpit hole. The Roux separator has a different sized leaflet at each end, but it is too short to raise the patient's breastplate.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The inventor of the present application has developed a new instrument that solves the above problems thanks to the modification of an instrument already known in the art, the Balfour separator. The Balfour separator is an instrument designed for use as a complement in laparotomies. It is also used in the gynecology field, where it is used to separate the pubis / mount of Venus to better access the minor pelvis. The Balfour separator essentially comprises a structure to which two separation arms and a leaflet that is slidably fixed to said structure are fixed .. The leaflet has an essentially semicircular shape with a width of approximately 6 cm and with rounded edges towards outside.

The inventor of the present application has designed a new separator equipped with a valve similar to that of Balfour but modified to adapt it for use in surgery through the armpit. Fundamentally, the main modifications consist, firstly, in reducing the overall width of the leaflet, and secondly, in making the width essentially decrease uniformly from the base or proximal end to the distal tip or end. These modifications allow adequate insertion through the small holes used to access through the armpit, unlike the Balfour leaflet, which is too large.

In addition, the present document describes an additional optional improvement consisting in changing the usual handle of the Balfour leaflet for a handle more suitable for use for surgery through the armpit, specifically for a handle similar to that of the Doyen leaflet with long enough to allow the surgeon to hold it properly.

In accordance with all of the foregoing, the present invention is directed to a spacer for surgery through the armpit which essentially comprises a leaflet and a handle. Next, each of these parts is defined in greater detail.

 a) Valve

The leaflet comprises a first proximal section with an essentially cylindrical shape and a second distal section with an essentially straight shape. In addition, the width of said leaflet essentially decreases uniformly from 3-4 centimeters along its proximal end to about 2-3 centimeters along its rounded distal end.

In this document, the term "essentially cylindrical" or "essentially straight" refers to a fundamentally cylindrical or straight shape respectively, but which, depending on the needs of each application, could be combated or undulate in any direction as long as it does not separate significantly of said cylindrical or straight shape.

Preferably, the angle formed by the handle of the separator and the second distal section of the leaflet is between 5 ° and 30 °, and even more preferably between 10 ° and 20 °. It is easy to appreciate that this angle is more closed than that of the Balfour leaflet, since it is thus possible to hold the pectoralis better.

In fact, the instrument of the invention is inspired by the use of the hand for said function, and specifically of the fingers. When the fingers are used to lift the pectoralis major muscle, the hand tends to close at angles similar to those described in order to properly engage the muscle. Specifically, the distal phalanges would be even more curved to act as a tractor against the muscle. Therefore, in a preferred embodiment of the invention the leaflet further comprises a tip of the distal section inclined inwards, for example the last 1-3 centimeters. The total length of the second straight section would preferably be between 3-6 centimeters.

The inventor of the present application has verified in various tests performed in surgical operations that these dimensions are ideal to allow a correct introduction through the incision made in the armpit for the removal of the nodes.

 b) Mango

In a manner similar to the handle used in the Doyen leaflet, the handle of the separator of the present invention preferably comprises a proximal protuberance and a distal protrusion protruding in the same plane as the leaflet. These protrusions, protruding outward from the separator, prevent the handle from draining from the surgeon's hand during the operation, since each protuberance is located on the side of the surgeon's fist.

In addition, it is understood that between the handle and the leaflet itself there could be a straight connecting section, for example a bar or the like. This will become clearer from the figures attached to this document.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Figs. 1a and 1b respectively show a side view and a front view of the separator according to the present invention.

Fig. 2 shows the leaflet of the present invention developed on a plane so that the decrease in width can be seen more clearly.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

Next, a particular example of separator (1) according to the present invention is described with reference to the attached figures. Specifically, Figs. 1a and 1b show both profile and elevation views of a separator (1) where the leaflet (2) and the handle (3) are appreciated.

The leaflet (2) has two different sections, a first proximal section (2a) essentially cylindrical and a second distal section (2b) essentially straight. The second essentially straight distal section (2b) is approximately 4 centimeters long from the end of the second essentially cylindrical proximal section (2a) to the distal end (2d) or tip of the leaflet (2). In addition, in these figures the leaflet (2) has the last 2 centimeters of the distal end (2d) folded or tilted inwards, in a manner similar to the way that the fingers of one hand would take to lift the pectoral muscle of a patient.

Although in the figures the proximal (2a) and distal (2b) sections have been represented as completely cylindrical and straight respectively, it should be understood that one or both sections may have, in a manner similar to other similar instruments used in the art (by example, the Balfour leaflet or the Doyen leaflet), the side edges bent outwards of the separator (1). This form is used so that the leaflet (2) adapts to the shape of the patient's tissues during the use of the separator (1), thus decreasing the possibility of damaging the patient's tissues with the edges of the leaflet (2). In this document, when referring to the "outside of the separator" reference is made to the side of the separator (1) corresponding to the concave part of the curvature of the leaflet (2).

The width of the leaflet (2) represented in the figures decreases approximately linearly from the area adjacent to its proximal end (2d), where it is about 3.5 centimeters wide, to the area adjacent to its distal end ( 2c), where its width is approximately 2.5 centimeters. This can be seen in Fig. 1b, as well as in Fig. 2, where the leaflet (2) is developed on a plane so that the decrease in width is better appreciated. Thus, having this leaflet (2) the narrowest tip than the Balfour leaflet, it can be introduced more comfortably through the small incision in the armpit that is made in the current standard treatment of breast cancer to access the nodes of the armpit.

With regard to the angle at which the handle (3) with the second distal section (2b) is essentially straight, in this example it is an angle a of about 25 °, although as mentioned above, smaller angles could be used.

The handle (3) is similar to the one commonly used in the Doyen leaflet, and consists of an ergonomic handle similar to that of a kitchen knife from which two proximal (3a) and distal (3b) protrusions protrude within the main plane of the instrument. (1) that contains the handle (3) and the center line of the leaflet (2) and oriented towards the outside. These protuberances (3a, 3b) prevent the handle (3) from draining from the surgeon's hand during use, since one is left on each side of the fist while holding. Also shown in the figures is an intermediate bar or section that connects the valve itself (2) to the handle (3).

This new separator (1), because it is narrower, especially in the second straight distal section (2b) that is closer to the tip (2d), is easily introduced through the incision. The tip (2d) of the distal stretch (2b) tilted inward helps to better engage the pectoral muscle. Next, the length of said straight distal section (2b) and the angle it forms with the handle (3) allow it to rest its outer side on the patient's bone structure and exert a force on the patient's tissues with its inner side that tends to open the incision made. This leaves enough free space to introduce the rest of the instruments necessary for surgery.

Claims (8)

one.

Separator (1) for surgery through the armpit comprising a leaflet (2) and a handle (3), characterized in that the leaflet (2) comprises a first proximal section (2a) with an essentially cylindrical shape and a second distal section (2b) with an essentially straight shape, and where the width of said leaflet (2) decreases essentially uniformly from between 3-4 centimeters next to its proximal end (2c) to about 2-3 centimeters next to its distal end ( 2d) rounded.

2.

Separator (1) according to claim 1, wherein the angle formed by the handle (3) and the second distal section (2b) of the leaflet (2) is between 5 ° and 30 °.

3.

Separator (1) according to claim 2, wherein the angle formed by the handle (3) and the second distal section (2b) of the leaflet (2) is between 10 ° and 20 °.

Four.

Separator (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the second essentially straight distal section (2b) of the leaflet (2) has a length of between 3-6 cm.

5.

Separator (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the distal end (2d) of the leaflet

(2) is tilted inwards.

6.

Separator (1) according to claim 5, wherein the distal end (2d) of the leaflet (2) is inclined inwardly a length of between 1-3 centimeters.

7.

Separator (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein lateral edges of the first proximal section (2a) and / or the second distal section (2b) of the leaflet (2) are bent towards the outside of said leaflet (2 ).

8.

Separator (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the handle (3) comprises a proximal protuberance (3a) and a distal protuberance (3b) protruding outward into a main plane of the separator (1).