Importance

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Abstract

A retractor and a surgical tool are positioned within a cannula, and a dissection cradle of the retractor is positioned at the distal end of the cannula. The retractor includes a first portion with an axis approximately parallel to the axis of the cannula and a second portion with an axis skewed relative to the axis of the cannula. The dissection cradle may include two substantially parallel, spaced legs with the retractor shaped in a loop between and in a plane skewed relative to the axes of the legs, and with the loop directed away from the surgical tool. Thus, in operation, when a surgeon locates a vessel and side branch of interest, the surgeon extends the retractor to cradle the vessel in the dissection cradle. Once cradled, the retractor may be fully extended to urge the vessel away from the axis of the cannula to isolate the side branch for exposure to a surgical tool. One of the legs supporting the retractor is hollow and includes a spray nozzle disposed in the distal end of the retractor to form an irrigation system. The proximal end of the hollow leg communicates with a fluid inlet which receives irrigation fluid under pressure for washing the endoscope lens. The spray nozzle on the retractor may be positioned to wash the endoscope lens, or upon selective extension of the retractor out of the cannula, the spray nozzle may be positioned to direct the spray of irrigation fluid at a remote surgical site.

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First Claim