Retractor apparatus for use in harvesting mammary arteries during heart by-pass surgery

摘要

A retractor apparatus (10) for use in harvesting mammary arteries during heart by-pass surgery including an elongated member (11) having a first arm (13) operably attached thereto which extends generally transversely to the elongated member (11). Structure is provided for attachment to the first arm member (13) for holding one side of a cut in a patient's chest (39). A second arm member (14) is disposed generally transversely with respect to the elongated member (11) and includes a mechanism for movably attaching the second arm member (14) to the elongated member (11) so that the distance of the second arm member (14) from the first arm member (13) can be adjusted. Rake retractors (46) are operably attached to the second bar for grasping the other side of a cut in the patient's chest (39). A counter pressure bar (35) is adapted to be placed along, but spaced from the edge of the other side of the cut in the patient's chest (39) and an adjusting mechanism is operably attached to the elongated member (11) for adjusting the position of the counter pressure bar (35) with respect to the elongated member (11) whereby the other side of the cut in the patient's chest (39) may be everted by using the attaching structure to move the rake retractor (46) to pull the other edge of the cut up beside the counter pressure bar (35) for thereby bringing the mammary artery into the visual field of a heart surgeon for harvesting. This structure is useful for harvesting both the right and the left mammary arteries.