Rib spreader
Encyclopedia
A rib spreader is a type of retractor
specifically designed to separate rib
s in thoracic surgery
. Rack-and-pinion-type stainless steel rib spreaders (with a thumb-screw to lock it in place) were an innovation introduced by French surgeon Theodore Truffier in 1914. This was modified in 1936 by Argentinian surgeon Enrique Finochietto to have fenestrated blades (blades with "windows") and a hand-cranked lever to both separate the arms in a staged fashion and lock them in place at each stop. The Burford-Finochietto rib speader has replaceable blades. The Truffier and especially the Burford-Finochietto (and its variants) are ubiquitous in open thoracic surgery, which accounts for over 90% of thoracic surgeries. Minimally invasive thoracic techniques (such as VATS and teleoperated surgical machines) have yet to prove superior, despite decades of development. Recently, a new intelligent, automated rib spreader in development demonstrated results superior to the Finochietto-style retractors (http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/17/science/17rib.html?_r=2&ref=science).
Retractor (medical)
A retractor is a surgical instrument by which a surgeon can either actively separate the edges of a surgical incision or wound, or can hold back underlying organs and tissues, so that body parts under the incision may be accessed. The two are each available in many shapes, sizes, and styles...
specifically designed to separate rib
Rib
In vertebrate anatomy, ribs are the long curved bones which form the rib cage. In most vertebrates, ribs surround the chest, enabling the lungs to expand and thus facilitate breathing by expanding the chest cavity. They serve to protect the lungs, heart, and other internal organs of the thorax...
s in thoracic surgery
Thoracic surgery
Thoracic surgery is the field of medicine involved in the surgical treatment of diseases affecting organs inside the thorax . Generally treatment of conditions of the lungs, chest wall, and diaphragm....
. Rack-and-pinion-type stainless steel rib spreaders (with a thumb-screw to lock it in place) were an innovation introduced by French surgeon Theodore Truffier in 1914. This was modified in 1936 by Argentinian surgeon Enrique Finochietto to have fenestrated blades (blades with "windows") and a hand-cranked lever to both separate the arms in a staged fashion and lock them in place at each stop. The Burford-Finochietto rib speader has replaceable blades. The Truffier and especially the Burford-Finochietto (and its variants) are ubiquitous in open thoracic surgery, which accounts for over 90% of thoracic surgeries. Minimally invasive thoracic techniques (such as VATS and teleoperated surgical machines) have yet to prove superior, despite decades of development. Recently, a new intelligent, automated rib spreader in development demonstrated results superior to the Finochietto-style retractors (http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/17/science/17rib.html?_r=2&ref=science).