Abstract: An eye proptosing speculum that applies pressure to urge the eyeball outwardly is disclosed. The speculum includes a pair of blades and a pair of pressors. The pair of blades are opposingly situated and extend generally posteriorly. Each blade is shaped to engage the patient between one of the eyelids and the eyeball. The pair of pressors are also opposingly situated and extend generally posteriorly. One pressor extends from each blade and each pressor is shaped to engage and to exert pressure on the peripheral orbital contents. The pressure is transferred to the posterior orbital contents and then to a posterior region of the eyeball to proptose the eyeball outwardly. Each blade and each pressor, in combination, generally extend to follow the exterior surface of the eyeball, and each blade and each pressor is shaped to minimize extrinsic pressure directly on the eyeball.

Abstract: A pivoting laryngoscope has a power-driven spatula for performing intubation in patients. The laryngoscope includes a handle for gripping the laryngoscope, and a curved spatula blade having one end connected to the handle. The spatula blade is subdivided into a plurality of adjacent, sequentially arranged sections. At least two of the sections are pivotally connected together at a fulcrum. A motorization assembly is located within the handle and is activatable for generating movement. A motion transmission assembly operatively connects the motorization assembly to at least one of the sections for transmitting the movement of the motorization assembly to the section, whereby the section is moved relative to the fulcrum and within a predetermined arc, thereby changing a curvature of the curved spatula blade.

Abstract: Improved plastic laryngoscope blade providing increased resistance to torsional deformation and for being coupled to a laryngoscope handle, the blade includes a plastic body including a generally curved spatula portion, a web portion extending outwardly from an edge portion of the spatula portion, and a flange portion extending inwardly from an outer portion of the web portion and residing at least partially over a portion of the spatula portion, and a coupling provided on an end of the spatula portion for coupling the blade to the handle.

Abstract: An abdominal wall elevator device including a pair of retractable tabs rotatable to 90.degree. with respect to the vertical axis of the device, and selected of a dimension to enter the port of a Trocar in allowing low pressure pneumoperitoneum laparoscopic surgery. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a removable push-rod incorporates a flat tip to operate on the tenons of a pair of hinges to swing the retractor tabs to the desired angle, to be locked in place.

Abstract: A surgical retractor and method for use thereof. The retractor is comprised of an elongate shaft having at one end a screw made of coiled, round wire which terminates at a sharp point for attachment to an organ and a connector at the other end of the shaft. Preferably, the connector comprises an enlarged portion having a polygonal cross section for engagement by a wrench. The retractor is inserted into the peritoneal cavity of a patient through a laparoscopic port and the screw is threaded into the wall of the organ to be retracted, for example, the gallbladder. The organ is resected and thereafter drawn out of the cavity using the retractor.

Abstract: A cannula and associated endoscope are secured to an operating table by a mechanical linkage assembly having linear and angular connections. These connections are adjustable for supporting an endoscope extending through an incision. Two angular connections are friction joints that allow manual repositioning of the scope by pivoting about respective orthogonal axes that intersect at a point along the scope that is coincident with the location of the incision.

Abstract: A surgical instrument is provided for performing surgery to relieve the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome. The surgical instrument includes a pair of pivotally connected legs with each leg including a handle portion and a blade portion with the blade portions terminating in a nose. The nose is inserted through an incision in the wrist area and progressively "worked" into an area between the transverse carpal ligament. The surgical instrument is rotated approximately 90 degrees and the handle portions are then squeezed to spread the blade portions to create a surgical area fully exposing the transverse carpal ligament. One of the blade portions carries illuminating means for illuminating the surgical area or arena to assure that only the transverse carpal ligament is severed to prevent damage to the median nerve, tendons and the like passing through the carpal tunnel.

Abstract: An instrument for manipulating organs in endoscopic procedures in the interior of the body includes two spreading members at the distal end of the instrument. The spreading members can be swiveled outwardly and actuated by means of a handle at the proximal end of the instrument. A control member displaceably guided in the instrument shaft connects the handle and spreading members. The distal end of the instrument is bent in such a way that the spreading members spread out in a curved plane so that organs can be reliably guided with the manipulator.

Abstract: A handle for a surgical retractor comprises a central, elongated rod member and two gripping and leverage crossbars that intersect the rod member. The handle is useful with a variety of retractor blades for increasing comfort, decreasing fatigue, and improving leverage over a retractor blade.

Abstract: In a device for transanal resectate extraction which includes a rectoscope sleeve with a proximal tubular end portion, a connecting piece sealingly mounted onto said tubular proximate end portion for closing the rectoscope sleeve and including a bore axially extending therethrough and a resectate extractor having a tubular portion extending through the bore so as to be axially movable but position-lockable therein. The tubular portion of the extractor has a protector portion at its distal end with an axial passage in alignment with the tubular extractor portion for receiving grasping pincers inserted through the tubular extractor portion. The protector portion has an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the rectoscope sleeve so that it can be retracted into the sleeve.

Abstract: A surgical retractor is provided including a handle portion, a tubular portion extending from the handle portion, and a collapsible retractor assembly connected to a distal end of the tubular portion. The handle portion includes an actuating structure for manipulating the collapsible retractor assembly through the tubular portion. The retractor assembly includes a plurality of retractor blades, a camming assembly connected to the retractor blades and structure for connecting the retractor blades to the actuating structure.

Abstract: A multifunctional intubating stylet and laryngoscope, and a method of intubating a patient, comprise a laryngoscope body, and a hollow tubular intubating stylet affixed to and extending generally parallel to the laryngoscope body. An endotracheal tube is mounted on the exterior of the stylet. A guide member is passed through the interior of the stylet and advanced through the patient's vocal cords into the trachea. The endotracheal tube is then advanced along the guide member until it is established in a desired location in the patient's trachea to permit ventilation of the patient.

Abstract: Abdominal wall lift devices and methods are disclosed that extend a lift device through an opening in the abdominal wall in an entry configuration and subsequently transform the device to a deployed configuration within the abdominal cavity. One embodiment includes a plurality of elongated bar members that may be introduced into an abdominal cavity in a separated end-to-end orientation. The bar members are subsequently interconnected into a deployed configuration within the abdominal cavity. Another embodiment includes a device that may be introduced through a small opening in an abdominal wall in a generally L-shaped configuration and subsequently deployed into a generally T-shaped configuration within the abdominal cavity. A further embodiment includes an umbrella-like device that may be introduced in a slender generally cylindrical configuration and subsequently deployed into an open umbrella-type configuration.

Abstract: A speculum comprises a pair of elongated blades having elongated hollow bills therein. Each bill is at least partly covered by a flexible expandable bladder. One or more ports communicate between the interior of each bill and the interior of the bladder. Gas lines are connected to each bill for supplying compressed gas to a valve to each bill to expand each bladder. A second valve can be activated for deflating each bladder. For use, the speculum blades are inserted into a body cavity and the bladders inflated to gently expand the body cavity. Blades can then be moved apart to perform an examination. When the examination is completed, the blades are moved toward each other and the bladders are deflated before the blades are withdrawn from the body cavity.

Abstract: The surgical instrument of the invention consists of a pair of arms hinged together at an intermediate point for relative pivoting movement. The arms are provided with obliquely oriented handles at one end thereof. The opposite ends of the arms support removable posts having means for removably securing a plurality of different retractor or compressor heads thereto. The posts are pivotably connected to the arms to allow the posts to achieve a variety of orientations relative to the arms. A variety of retractor and compressor heads and different shaped posts are provided to allow the instrument to be used in a wide variety of surgical procedures. Separate serrated locking mechanisms are provided to lock the arms in either a retraction or compression position. In one embodiment the posts are secured to one another such that they undergo parallel retraction/compression.

Abstract: A halo style surgical retractor having fixed and movable curvilinear members each of which has an outwardly directed retractor channel extending over the full length of the member. A support arm is attached to the fixed member to hold the fixed member in a desired fixed, but adjustable position. The ends of fixed and movable members are coupled together so that, first, when the members are brought into a generally coplanar relationship, there is an uninterrupted and continuous retractor holder path around the combined length of the fixed and movable members. Second, the couplings permit the movable member to pivot to a position directly above and overlaying with the fixed retractor member, that is, a position in which the movable retractor member is in a plane directly above and generally parallel to the plane of the fixed retractor member.

Abstract: A retractor blade having a generally "S" shaped configuration in cross section. The blade is pivotally attached to a rod which may be connected to a table fixed ring retractor. The central portion of the blade moves tissue away from the operative site when the distal end of the blade is placed against a bone and the rod is moved away from the operative site.

Abstract: A push-type hand-held surgical retractor definable in terms of an xyz Cartesian coordinate system, includes a substantially flat retaining element having a primary surface in a yz plane and a secondary surface, substantially normal thereto, in an xy plane. The retractor also includes a curved elongated rigid shaft having first and second ends and having a gradual x-axis curve in both the xy plane and an accentuated y-axis curve in the xy and yz planes, the curved shaft having, at the first end, an arched portion having the y-axis curve, in which the first end integrally depends from an upper side of the secondary surface of the retaining element. The retractor further includes an ellipsoidal loop-like gripping element integrally depending from the second end of the curved elongate shaft.

Abstract: A retractor endoscope for less invasive, direct access endoscopic surgery includes a rigid frame capable of supporting applied loads required to perform retraction of an incision site. The rigid frame includes a handle at one end and a lower blade mount rotatably connected to the opposite end. A translation frame is slidably connected to the rigid frame and includes an upper blade mount rotatably connected thereto. Lower and upper blades are removably mounted to the lower and upper blade mounts respectively, with at least one of the blades including pivot mounts for high intensity fiberoptics. The angle of the lower blade along the lower blade mount rotatable connection and the angle of the upper blade along the upper blade mount rotatable connection are independently adjustable. The size of an operating window is determined by the distance between the lower and upper blade mounts and the angles of the lower and upper blades.

Abstract: A self-examination otoscope for allowing a user to examine an eardrum and external canal of one of his own ears comprising an elongated bored housing having an eyepiece end positionable near a user's eye for viewing and a speculum end simultaneously positionable within the user's ear; a lamp mechanism coupled to the housing for transmitting light towards the user's ear when the speculum end of the housing is positioned therein; a power source mechanism for supplying electrical energy to the lamp mechanism; a light direction mechanism secured within the housing for directing light entering the speculum end towards the eyepiece end; and a lens mechanism secured within the housing for allowing light transmitted towards the eyepiece end to be focused for allowing the user a clear view of his ear.