screening sample
Commercialization Screen
PHYSCIENT ASSUAGE RETRACTOR
Sponsor:
Physcient, Inc.
Date: 10/29/10
Contact:
Hugh Crenshaw | hugh.crenshaw@physcient.com
Team Members: Tom Meehan, Alyssa Roessler, Darcy Jones, Tanzeem Haq
Keywords:
Thoracic Retractor, Thoracotomy, Sternotomy, Rectractor, Finochietto
TECHNOLOGY OVERVIEW
Introduction
A retractor is a surgical instrument used to separate the edges of a surgical incision, the underlying tissues, and bone so that organs under the incision may be easily accessed by the surgeon. 1 Though there are many types of retractor in many shapes and sizes, one important type is retractors used to separate ribs or the sternum for open chest surgeries such as thoracotomy and sternotomy.
A thoracotomy is when a surgeon opens the side of the chest cavity and uses a retractor to pull and hold two ribs far enough apart to gain access to organs such as the lungs. 2 A sternotomy, or median sternotomy, is when a vertical incision is made in the center of the chest and the sternum itself is divided. After the sternum is cut, a retractor is put in place to pull and hold the rib cage apart so that a surgeon may gain access to organs such as the heart or lungs. 3 Currently the leading retractor in both these categories is the Finochietto retractor. 4
Figure 1: Finochietto Retractor 5
1
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retractor_(medical) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thoracotomy 3 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Median_sternotomy 4 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rib_spreader 5 http://www.apiarymedical.com/img-items/40.8901_thumb.jpg 2
Technology Screening – Confidential – For Duke CTI Use Only - Do Not Distribute
Page 1 of 17
The Finochietto retractor replaced a rack-and-pinion type retractor first developed by Theodore
Truffier in 1914. The inventor, Enrique Finochietto, improved the retractor by substituting the rack-and-pinion operation with fenestrated (i.e., “having window-like openings” 6)
PHYSCIENT ASSUAGE RETRACTOR
Sponsor:
Physcient, Inc.
Date: 10/29/10
Contact:
Hugh Crenshaw | hugh.crenshaw@physcient.com
Team Members: Tom Meehan, Alyssa Roessler, Darcy Jones, Tanzeem Haq
Keywords:
Thoracic Retractor, Thoracotomy, Sternotomy, Rectractor, Finochietto
TECHNOLOGY OVERVIEW
Introduction
A retractor is a surgical instrument used to separate the edges of a surgical incision, the underlying tissues, and bone so that organs under the incision may be easily accessed by the surgeon. 1 Though there are many types of retractor in many shapes and sizes, one important type is retractors used to separate ribs or the sternum for open chest surgeries such as thoracotomy and sternotomy.
A thoracotomy is when a surgeon opens the side of the chest cavity and uses a retractor to pull and hold two ribs far enough apart to gain access to organs such as the lungs. 2 A sternotomy, or median sternotomy, is when a vertical incision is made in the center of the chest and the sternum itself is divided. After the sternum is cut, a retractor is put in place to pull and hold the rib cage apart so that a surgeon may gain access to organs such as the heart or lungs. 3 Currently the leading retractor in both these categories is the Finochietto retractor. 4
Figure 1: Finochietto Retractor 5
1
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retractor_(medical) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thoracotomy 3 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Median_sternotomy 4 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rib_spreader 5 http://www.apiarymedical.com/img-items/40.8901_thumb.jpg 2
Technology Screening – Confidential – For Duke CTI Use Only - Do Not Distribute
Page 1 of 17
The Finochietto retractor replaced a rack-and-pinion type retractor first developed by Theodore
Truffier in 1914. The inventor, Enrique Finochietto, improved the retractor by substituting the rack-and-pinion operation with fenestrated (i.e., “having window-like openings” 6)