Tisssue spreading surgical instrument

Claim 2

A tissue spreading surgical instrument comprising: a handle assembly capable of movement; an elongated shaft extending distally from said handle assembly, said shaft having a proximal and distal end, said proximal end for housing an actuating mechanism; an actuating mechanism housed in said proximal end of said shaft and at least partially extending through said shaft to said distal end, said actuating mechanism moveable in response to movement of said handle assembly; a tissue spreading assembly operatively associated with said distal end of said shaft and deployable between a closed and open position by said actuation mechanism in response to movement of said handle assembly, said tissue spreading assembly including a plurality of fingers, wherein in the closed position said fingers maintain a longitudinal axis with said instrument and in the open position said fingers are spread in opposing directions to one another and transversely with respect to said shaft so that tissues can be spread apart without placing pressure on the elongated shaft of the tissue spreading surgical instrument or on a body cavity wall.

Claim 3

The tissue spreading instrument of claim 1 wherein said handle assembly comprises a screwing mechanism.

Claim 4

The tissue spreading instrument of claim 1 wherein said elongated shaft together with the fingers range in length from 30 to 32 centimeters.

Claim 5

The tissue spreading instrument of claim 3 wherein the instrument is used in endoscopic surgical procedures.

Claim 6

The tissue spreading surgical instrument of claim 3 wherein said plurality of fingers are variable in length, each finger ranging from 3 to 15 centimeters in length.

Claim 7

The tissue spreading surgical instrument of claim 3 wherein in the open position, said plurality of fingers are transversely deployed to a width ranging from 2 to 15 centimeters.

Claim 8

The tissue spreading surgical instrument of claim 1 wherein the fingers are rigid.

Claim 9

A tissue spreading surgical instrument comprising: a handle assembly having a moveable front finger grip and a stationary back finger grip; a rotatable, elongated shaft extending distally from said handle assembly, said shaft having an inner and outer surface and a proximal and distal end, said proximal end for housing an actuating mechanism; an actuating mechanism housed in said proximal end of said shaft and at least partially extending through said shaft to said distal end, said actuating mechanism moveable in response to movement of said front finger grip; a tissue spreading assembly operatively associated with said distal end of said shaft and deployable between a closed and open position by said actuation mechanism in response to movement of said front finger grip, said tissue spreading assembly including a plurality of flexible resilient fingers, wherein in the closed position said flexible resilient fingers are withdrawn into said distal end of said shaft and in the open position said flexible resilient fingers are extended from said distal end of said shaft transversely with respect to said shaft so that tissues can be spread.

Claim 10

A tissue spreading surgical instrument comprising: a handle assembly having a moveable front finger grip and a stationary back finger grip; a rotatable, elongated shaft extending distally from said handle assembly, said shaft having an inner and outer surface and a proximal and distal end, said proximal end for housing an actuating mechanism; an actuating mechanism housed in said proximal end of said shaft and at least partially extending through said shaft to said distal end, said actuating mechanism moveable in response to movement of said front finger grip; a tissue spreading assembly operatively associated with said distal end of said shaft and deployable between a closed and open position by said actuation mechanism in response to movement of said front finger grip, said tissue spreading assembly including a plurality of flexible resilient fingers, wherein in the closed position said flexible resilient fingers are withdrawn into said distal end of said shaft and in the open position said flexible resilient fingers are extended from said distal end of said shaft transversely with respect to said shaft so that tissues can be spread.

Claim 11

The tissue spreading surgical instrument of claim 8 further comprising a means for rotating said elongated shaft, said means being located on said outer surface of said proximal end of said rotatable elongated shaft.

Claim 12

The tissue spreading surgical instrument of claim 8 wherein said plurality of resilient flexible fingers are variable in length, each resilient flexible finger ranging from 2 to 10 centimeters in length.

Claim 13

A tissue spreading surgical instrument comprising: a handle assembly having a moveable front finger grip, a stationary back finger grip and a roticulation control for manipulation of a roticulating joint; an elongated shaft extending distally from said handle assembly and defining a longitudinal axis of the instrument, said elongated shaft having an outer and inner surface and a proximal and distal end, said proximal end for housing an actuating mechanism and a roticulating mechanism; an actuating mechanism housed in said proximal end of said elongated shaft and at least partially extending through said elongated shaft to said distal end, said actuating mechanism moveable in response to movement of said front finger grip; a roticulating mechanism housed in said proximal end of said elongated shaft and at least partially extending through said elongated shaft to said distal end, said roticulating mechanism moveable in response to movement of said roticulation control; a housing segment attached longitudinally to said distal end of said elongated shaft by means of a roticulating joint; said roticulating joint operatively associated with said roticulating mechanism for manipulating said housing segment transversely relative to the longitudinal axis of the instrument in response to movement of said roticulation control; and a tissue spreading assembly operatively associated with said housing segment and deployable between a closed and open position by said actuation mechanism in response to movement of said front finger grip, said tissue spreading assembly including a plurality of flexible resilient fingers, wherein in the closed position said flexible resilient fingers are withdrawn into said housing segment and in the open position said flexible resilient fingers are extended from said housing segment transversely with respect to said housing segment so that tissues can be spread.

Claim 14

A tissue spreading surgical instrument comprising: a handle assembly having a moveable front finger grip, a stationary back finger grip and a roticulation control for manipulation of a roticulating joint; an elongated shaft extending distally from said handle assembly and defining a longitudinal axis of the instrument, said elongated shaft having an outer and inner surface and a proximal and distal end, said proximal end for housing an actuating mechanism and a roticulating mechanism; an actuating mechanism housed in said proximal end of said elongated shaft and at least partially extending through said elongated shaft to said distal end, said actuating mechanism moveable in response to movement of said front finger grip; a roticulating mechanism housed in said proximal end of said elongated shaft and at least partially extending through said elongated shaft to said distal end, said roticulating mechanism moveable in response to movement of said roticulation control; a housing segment attached longitudinally to said distal end of said elongated shaft by means of a roticulating joint; said roticulating joint operatively associated with said roticulating mechanism for manipulating said housing segment transversely relative to the longitudinal axis of the instrument in response to movement of said roticulation control; and a tissue spreading assembly operatively associated with said housing segment and deployable between a closed and open position by said actuation mechanism in response to movement of said front finger grip, said tissue spreading assembly including a plurality of flexible resilient fingers, wherein in the closed position said flexible resilient fingers are withdrawn into said housing segment and in the open position said flexible resilient fingers are extended from said housing segment transversely with respect to said housing segment so that tissues can be spread.

Claim 15

The tissue spreading surgical instrument of claim 11 wherein said elongated shaft is rotatable.

Claim 16

The tissue spreading surgical instrument of claim 12 further comprising a means for rotating said elongated shaft, said means being located on said outer surface of said proximal end of said rotatable elongated shaft.

Claim 17

The spreading surgical instrument of claim 13 wherein said means for rotating said elongated shaft comprises a finger grooved barrel.

Claim 18

The tissue spreading surgical instrument of claim 11 wherein said elongated shaft is from 15 to 30 centimeters in length.

Claim 19

The tissue spreading surgical instrument of claim 15 wherein the instrument is used in endoscopic surgical procedures.

Claim 20

The tissue spreading surgical instrument of claim 16 wherein said plurality of resilient flexible fingers are variable in length, each resilient flexible finger ranging from 2 to 10 centimeters in length.

Claim 21

The tissue spreading surgical instrument of claim 16 wherein in the open position, said plurality of resilient flexible fingers are transversely deployed to a width ranging from 5 to 15 centimeters.