Abstract: A medical assistance apparatus, includes a support adjacent to a patient, a flexible shaft with a first end and a second end, with the first end being connected to the support, a housing connected to the second end of the flexible shaft, a shaft movably disposed with respect to the housing, an adjustment device associated with the housing, permitting adjustment of the shaft with respect to the housing, and a cricoid manipulating head connected to the shaft. The cricoid manipulating head is adjusted with respect to the housing along when the shaft is adjusted with respect to the housing.

Abstract: A laparoscopic surgical extraction port (LSEP) includes a port having a radially-enlarged distal end. A sheath having a plurality of circumferentially-spaced prongs is slidingly mounted onto the port. With the prongs contracted radially-inwardly and the LSEP in its contracted position, a surgeon inserts the LSEP into a patient's abdominal cavity through an incision. The surgeon then expands the LSEP by pulling the port rearwardly such that the radially-enlarged distal end expands the prongs radially-outwardly. The surgeon then positions a specimen and endo-bag in the funnel formed by the expanded prongs. The specimen, endo-bag, and prongs are thereafter simultaneously extracted through the incision. A radially-inward force that is applied to the prongs by the incision substantially prevents the specimen from bunching or rupturing during the extraction process.

Abstract: An laparoscopic specimen retrieval shoehorn (“LSRS”) is described. The LSRS has a primary shaft with a rearward portion, an intermediate portion, and a forward portion. The forward portion is radially-enlarged relative to the intermediate portion. A secondary shaft is slidably disposed within the primary shaft. The secondary shaft has an endo-bag attached thereto. A sheath having expanded and contracted positions is slidably disposed around the primary shaft. The sheath has a holding ring disposed radially-outwardly from the intermediate portion of the primary shaft. The holding ring is adapted to slide relative to the intermediate portion. The holding ring is disposed at a rear end of the sheath. A plurality of circumferentially-spaced prongs are disposed at a forward end of the sheath. During transition from the contracted to the expanded position of the sheath, the radially-enlarged forward portion expands the prongs radially-outwardly.

Abstract: An laparoscopic specimen retrieval shoehorn (“LSRS”) is described. The LSRS has a primary shaft with a rearward portion, an intermediate portion, and a forward portion. The forward portion is radially-enlarged relative to the intermediate portion. A secondary shaft is slidably disposed within the primary shaft. The secondary shaft has an endo-bag attached thereto. A sheath having expanded and contracted positions is slidably disposed around the primary shaft. The sheath has a holding ring disposed radially-outwardly from the intermediate portion of the primary shaft. The holding ring is adapted to slide relative to the intermediate portion. The holding ring is disposed at a rear end of the sheath. A plurality of circumferentially-spaced prongs are disposed at a forward end of the sheath. During transition from the contracted to the expanded position of the sheath, the radially-enlarged forward portion expands the prongs radially-outwardly.

Abstract: A laparoscopic surgical extraction port (LSEP) includes a port having a radially-enlarged distal end. A sheath having a plurality of circumferentially-spaced prongs is slidingly mounted onto the port. With the prongs contracted radially-inwardly and the LSEP in its contracted position, a surgeon inserts the LSEP into a patient's abdominal cavity through an incision. The surgeon then expands the LSEP by pulling the port rearwardly such that the radially-enlarged distal end expands the prongs radially-outwardly. The surgeon then positions a specimen and endo-bag in the funnel formed by the expanded prongs. The specimen, endo-bag, and prongs are thereafter simultaneously extracted through the incision. A radially-inward force that is applied to the prongs by the incision substantially prevents the specimen from bunching or rupturing during the extraction process.