GB2052998A - Anal retractor - Google Patents

Abstract

An anal retractor has a support 2 in the form of a slide with two arms 3, 4 mounted on the slide, each arm having at its free end a spacing component or element 9. Each element 9 is outwardly convex and spoon-shaped and is attached perpendicularly of the longitudinal axis of the arm by an eccentric hinging arrangement automatically bringing about the self-positioning of the element effected by the pressures experienced in use by the element 9. A third arm 18 positioned on a support slide 19 and carrying another element 9 may also be present, and is mounted between the other arms 3, 4. <IMAGE>

Description

70 75 80 85 90 95 100 105 110 115 120 125 130 the retractor and, consequently select elements having dimensions which suit the morphology of the patient.

In accordance with a simple embodiment of the invention allowing the very rapid fitment and removal of an element, the means to ensure retention of its trunnion in a bearing and allow its withdrawal from the said bearing comprises an annular groove made on the trunnion and, a lug carried resiliently by the trunnion arranged so that its free end is constantly pushed in the direction of the centre line of the bore of the bearing concerned, at the level taken up, in this bearing, by the groove of the corresponding pin, each lug being fitted with a gripping component making it possible to eliminate it in relation to the bore of the bearing whilst each pin has one free end in the form of a taper the effect of which is to drive the lug back from the bearing in which it is engaged.

In accordance with a further characteristic of the invention a breech or sliding mechanism is provided mounted so that it slides on the slide support between the first and second arms, this breech or slide mechanism being fitted with means allowing the removable attachment of a third arm parallel to the first two, one end of which, elbowed at right angles, takes the form of an element of the same type as those fitted to the first two arms, this third arm being mounted so that it slides longitudinally in a slide mechanism arranged on its support breech whilst removable means are provided to allow the locking of the third arm in the required position, on its auxiliary slide.

For example, these means comprise, on the other hand, a rack arranged on one of the longitudinal edges of the third arm and, on the other, a lug carried resiliently by the said breech mechanism so that it is constantly pushed in the direction of the aforementioned rack whilst a gripping component makes it possible to move it in the opposite direction.

To facilitate the manoeuvreing of the third arm, its end opposite the element is shaped like a hook.

In order that the ends of the third arm shaped respectively like an element and a hook do not prevent its rapid withdrawal from the auxiliary slide of its support breech, in accordance with another characteristic of the invention, between its hook-shaped end and the end nearest its rack, the third arm has a section having a width less than the spacing apart of the retaining lips of the slide and its support breech, the length of this section being at least equal to that of the said slide.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of an anal retractor; Figures 2 and 3 are, on a larger scale, sectional views along lines 2-2 and 3-3 respectively of Fig. 1.

As Fig. 1 shows in particular, this retractor has essentially a slide support 2 consisting of a square rod on which are mounted two arms, respectively 3 and 4, extending largely per pendicularly to its longitudinal centre line.

Arm 3 is attached to one of the ends of slide support 2, the other end of which is fitted with a gripping button 5 forming a stop. Arm 4 is mounted so that it slides on slide support 3 and to facilitate its sliding, it is integral with a sliding sleeve 6.

Quite apart from the fact that one of them is attached and the other slides, the two arms 3 and 4 are identical and consequently the description which follows for arm 3 is also valid for arm 4.

At one of its ends, arm 3 has an extension 7, or gripping manoeuvreing lug. At its other end it has a cylindrical bearing 8, the centre line of which is largely perpendicular to the plane containing the longitudinal centre lines of arms 3 and 4 and of slide 2. This end of arm 3 is intended to take a spacing compo nent or element 9 in the shape of an elon gated spoon. At its end intended to be con nected to arm 3, element 9 has an extension elbowed at right angles 9a on the external face of which a trunnion 11 is attached, perpendicularly. The length of trunnion 11 is slightly greater than that of bearing 8. The diameter of the bore of bearing 8 corresponds to that of trunnion 11 which by virtue of this may be engaged freely in the said bore.At its free end trunnion 11 has a groove 11 a and the distance separating 11 a from the outside face of elbowed extension 9a of element 9 is equal to that of bearing 8. Consequently, as shown in Fig. 2 when trunnion 11 is engaged in the bore of bearing 8, its groove 11 a just touches the face at the end of bearing 8 opposite that against which elbowed extension 9a of valve 9 is applied.

Maintenance of trunnion 11 in bearing 8 is ensured by a lug 12 held against the face at the end of bearing 8 through which the free end fitted with a groove 11 a of trunnion 11 must come out. This lug 12 is carried by a spring clip 12 attached by means of a screw 15 against a flap 14 provided on the cylindri cal face of bearing 8. The length of lug 12 is slightly greater than half the difference be tween the outside diameter of bearing 8 and the diameter of its bore.

The result is therefore that if spring strip 12 tends to remain applied against flap 14 and that, consequently, the free end of lug 12 is I normally held so that it sticks out in relation to the bore of bearing 8.

It can easily be imagined that when the trunnion is engaged in this bore, the free end of 149 12 itself is engaged in groove 11 a of the trunnion, which ensures its retention in bearing 8, without opposing its rotation around its centre line. The engagement of trunnion 11 in bearing 8 is facilitated by the fact that its free end 11 b is shaped like a cone section, the effect of which is to cause the elimination of lug 12 in contact with the slope of the aforementioned cone section. To enable the rapid withdrawal of element 9 and consequently of its trunnion 11 from bearing 8, lug 12 carries a gripping rod 16 making it possible to move it in the direction of arrow 17 right into a position in which it is completely eliminated with respect to the bore of bearing 8 and consequently completely releases groove 11 a from trunnion 11.

It can easily be imagined that the use of this retractor is very comfortable for on bringing together the two arms 3 and 4 it is possible to bring the corresponding elements 9 practically into contact with each other which facilitates their introduction into anal cavity 10.

The spacing apart of arms 3 and 4 may be brought about easily by bringing together lug 7 of arm 4 of button 5 of slide support 2.

During this operation, the retractor may be kept in place by the retention of lug 7 of arm 3. It must be pointed out that elements 9 being free in rotation in their bearing 8 automatically take up a correct position.

It can also easily be imagined that after having been brought into its correct spacing position, arm 4 is kept in this position by jamming its sleeve 6 on slide support 2, this jamming being the result of the tipping caused by the pressure exercised by the anal cavity on corresponding element 9.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 3 in particular, this retractor may possibly be fitted with a third element 9. This is carried rigidly by a third arm 18 mounted so that it is able to slide longitudinally in a breech mechanism 19, itself capable of sliding and slide support 2 between arms 3 and 4. By sliding arm 18 longitudinally in breech mechanism 19, that is to say in the direction of arrow 21, it can be seen quite easily that element 9 is moved away from the alignment of the two others which obviously increases the dimensions of the anal cavity. The movement of arm 18 in the direction of arrow 21 is facilitated by the shaping of its free end as a hook 22, its retention in the spaced position may be brought about in any suitable way. In the example shown on the diagrams, this retention reduced by means of a rack 23 made on one of the edges of arm 18 by a lug 24 carried by a spring strip 25, itself attached by a screw 26 to breech mechanism 18. Spring strip 25 normally holds lug 24 so that its free end is sticking out on the trajectory of rack 23. The teeth of rack 23 are themselves orientated so as to allow, despite the engage ment of lug 24, the movement of arm 18 in the direction of arrow 21, but to oppose its movement in the opposite direction. This movement in the opposite direction may however still be effected by moving lug 24 in the direction of arrow 27 by means of movement rod 28, with which it is fitted for this purpose.

To facilitate rapid withdrawal of element 9 in the event of it being necessary, between rack 23 and the hook-shaped end 22 of arm 18 a section 29 is provided having a width less than the distance separating lips 1 9a forming the slide of breech mechanism 19. In addition, the length of this section 29 is slightly greater than the length of the aforementioned slide of breech mechanism 19, that is to say than the length of lips 1 9a Consequently, to withdraw rapidly arm 18 of this retractor it is sufficient, after having inserted its lug 24 by moving catch 28 in the direction of arrow 27, to move arm 18 in the direction opposite to that of arrow 21 until its section 29 is brought into the space separating lips 1 9 a of breech mechanism 19, the effect of which is to release completely arm 18 from the said breech mechanism.

The easy and rapid withdrawal of elements 9 with respect to their arm 3 or 4 and their support slide 19 has a double advantage: In the very first place it makes it possible to choose elements of a specific dimension with respect to the morphology of the patient without it being necessary to have as many retractors as there are elements of different dimensions. It is sufficient to have the sets of elements required.

It may also be necessary, during an operation, to withdraw temporarily an element, which, as described previously, may be carried out very easily and very rapidly with the retractor in accordance with this invention.

As is obvious and clear from the foregoing, the invention is not limited to the sole embodiments described above as non-exhaustive examples, on the contrary it covers any production variants.

Claims (10)

1. An anal retractor comprising a support in the form of a slide, two arms mounted on this slide, one attached to one of the ends of the slide and the other movable between the two ends of the slide, each carrying, at its free end, a spacing component or element each element comprising an outwardly convex spoon-shaped part attached perpendicularly to the corresponding arm by an eccentric hinging device automatically bringing about its self-positioning under the effect of the pressures engendered by the spacing apart, the centre line of which is also largely perpendicular to the plane containing the longitudinal centre lines of the arms and their slide.

2. A retractor in accordance with claim 1, in which the arm which is movable between the ends of the slide support is carried by a slidable sleeve mounted on the slide support but capable of being immobilised by tipping on the said slide support under the effect of the pressure engendered by the anal cavity on the corresponding element.

3. A retractor in accordance with claim 1 or claim 2, in which each element has, at its end which is to be hinged to one of the arms, an extension elbowed at right angles and carrying, on its outside face, a trunnion whilst each arm has, at its free end, a bearing with a centre line perpendicular to its longitudinal centre line and capable of taking the aforementioned trunnion, means being provided to ensure the retention of the trunnion in its bearing and allow to its withdrawal.

4. A retractor in accordance with claim 3, in which the means to ensure the retention of a trunnion in its bearing and allow its withdrawal from the said bearing comprises, an annular groove in the trunnion and a lug carried flexibly by the trunnion arranged so that its free end is constantly urged in the direction of the centre line of the bore of the bearing concerned, at the level taken up in this bearing, by the groove of the corresponding trunnion, each lug being fitted with a gripping component making it possible to eliminate it with respect to the bore of the bearing whilst each trunnion has a free end in the form of a cone section, the effect of which is to drive the lug back from the bearing in which it is engaged.

5. A retractor in accordance with any one of the aforementioned claims, in which a breech mechanism is provided mounted so that it slides on the slide support between the first two arms, and fitted with means allowing the removable attachment of the third arm parallel to the first two, one end of which, elbowed at right angles, is shaped as an element of the same type as the elements fitted to the first two arms, this third arm being mounted so that it slides longitudinally in a slide arrangement provided on its support breech mechanism whilst removable means are provided to allow locking of the third arm in the required position, on its auxiliary slide.

6. A retractor in accordance with claim 5, in which the means for locking the third arm in its required position on its slide comprises a rack made on one of the longitudinal edges of the third arm and, a lug carried resiliently by the said sleeve so as to be constantly urged in the direction of the aforementioned rack whilst a gripping component makes it possible to move it in the opposite direction.

7. A retractor in accordance with claim 5 or claim 6, in which the end of the third arm opposite the element is shaped like a hook.

8. A retractor in accordance with claim 7, in which between its hook-shaped end and the end nearest its rack, the third arm has a section which has a width less than the spacing of the lips for retaining the slide in its support mechanism, the length of this section being at least equal to that of the said slide.

9. A retractor substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

10. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter herein disclosed, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding claims.