Did You Know...
...that when IBM conducted a market study of Chester Carlson's invention in 1959, the company concluded that it would take only 5000 units of his new product to saturate the market? IBM therefore declined to be part of the new product introduction. Too bad for IBM. Carlson's invention was the xerography process, and his new product was the beginning of the Xerox Corporation. It is estimated that every day, worldwide, 3,000,000,000 copies are made!!
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8142354 | Laminated surgical access port A surgical access port comprises a wound protector adapted for insertion into a wound in the abdominal wall of a patient. A resilient pad comprising a laminated structure with a plurality of layers of resilient materials is attached to the wound protector. The pad c... | 03/27/2012 |
| 8137267 | Retractor with flexible sleeve Devices and methods are disclosed for accessing a body cavity or other surgical site while providing optimal device length and improved tissue retraction, device retention and stability, and seal integrity. A surgical access device is disclosed that generally compri... | 03/20/2012 |
| 7896806 | Speculum cover A speculum cover that is adapted to sheath the blades of a speculum, and to support lateral vaginal walls to facilitate vaginal/cervical examination during gynecological exams and surgery. The speculum cover includes top and bottom pockets for the respective blades ... | 03/01/2011 |
| 7828727 | Minimally invasive bone manipulation device and method of use A surgical apparatus. The apparatus includes a handle structure, a shaft structure coupled to the handle structure, and a spreading structure coupled to the shaft structure and movable between a compact and an expanded configuration. The apparatus includes a protect... | 11/09/2010 |
| 7322935 | Endoscopic retractor An endoscopic retractor includes a tube having a proximal end and a distal end with a push rod extending therethrough. The proximal ends of the push rod is provided with a threaded portion. A rotatable handle is coupled to the proximal end of the tube and threadably... | 01/29/2008 |
| 7300440 | Methods and instruments for interbody fusion A laparoscopic surgical technique is provided for preparing a site for implantation of a fusion device or implant. In accordance with one embodiment of the technique, a laparoscope is provided having an outer sleeve with distraction fingers at one end to distract th... | 11/27/2007 |
| 7235048 | Device for retracting tissue A device (1) for retracting tissue with a retaining element (2) with a throughgoing cutout (7) and with a blade (18) mounted on a retractor arm (16), retractor arm (16) being seated movably in cutout (7), wherein cuto... | 06/26/2007 |
| 7195589 | Pressure relief pad for use with a circumferential retractor A pressure relief pad for use against a body member during orthopaedic surgery including a pad of a resilient material having a first outer surface and a second outer surface. The first outer surface has a slot extending longitudinally thereacross. The slot has a wi... | 03/27/2007 |
| 7182729 | Surgical retractor with removable scissor arms A retractor having interchangeable or replaceable blades facilitates the expansion of a surgical site below an incision in the skin, and establishes a work-through surgical space. The retractor includes a frame connected to two collar arms, a pair of blades connecte... | 02/27/2007 |
| 7081090 | Protective sheath for illumination assembly of a disposable vaginal speculum A protective sheath assembly for a vaginal speculum assembly includes a disposable vaginal speculum and a reusable illumination assembly that is releasably attached to the speculum. The sheath assembly is attachable to the handle of said speculum to cover the illumi... | 07/25/2006 |
| 7063664 | Disposable cover to a vaginal speculum A disposable cover for the opposed blades of a vaginal speculum comprises a tube of sheet plastic or elastomeric material having an opening at one end of the tube to receive the opposed blades of a speculum and pouches adjacent to the open opposite end of the tube f... | 06/20/2006 |
| 7056321 | Method of securing vertebrae A method of fixing first and second vertebrae of a patient together at a surgical site includes inserting a first cannula into the body of the patient. A fusion device is moved through the cannula and inserted between the first and second vertebrae. A first fastener... | 06/06/2006 |
| 7052502 | Medical instrument and method for creating a cavity for endoscopic intervention The invention relates to a medical instrument for creating a cavity for an endoscopic intervention in a human or animal body, comprising a hollow cylindrical encasing trocar tube which can be inserted into an artificial body opening and an expander which can be extr... | 05/30/2006 |
| 6960166 | Speculum having ultrasound probe A speculum is equipped with an ultrasound probe, for permitting ultrasound visualization during procedures, such as transcervical embryo transfer with In Vitro Fertilization, thus providing superior transvaginal ultrasonographic imaging without interference by the u... | 11/01/2005 |
| 6912959 | Surgical table and clamp system A radiolucent surgical table is provided with a patient support member and includes a low shadow accessory interface profile formed by a plurality of interconnected curved surfaces disposed along the outer edge of the patient support member for selective attachment ... | 07/05/2005 |
| 6733442 | Accessory for surgical instrument The present invention provides a surgical device for decreasing the trauma imposed on soft tissue by extended contact with a surgical device during a surgical procedure by thermally treating the tissue. To thermally treat the tissue, the surgical device can be confi... | 05/11/2004 |
| 6367973 | Probe cover detaching mechanism and ear type clinical thermometer A probe cover detaching mechanism for detaching a probe cover mounted to abut against a probe that is to be inserted into the earhole from the probe includes an operating member to which is applied an operating force for detaching the probe cover from the... | 04/09/2002 |
| 6254271 | Probe cover of tympanic thermometer A probe cover of a tympanic thermometer having a probe comprises a base in the form of a ring-type plastic sheet formed with a central opening; and a film sheath that is infrared transparent and has an open end and a closed end, wherein the open end is at... | 07/03/2001 |
| 6152596 | Protective cover for infrared thermometer A probe cover for an infrared (IR) thermometer having two distinct portions, one which is substantially rigid, and the other which is stretchable by at least two times to envelop the probe of the IR thermometer. The stretchable portion allows IR radiation... | 11/28/2000 |
| 5935058 | Speculum cover, method of manufacturing same and cover accommodating case A sensor probe cover (20) is composed of two substantially square transparent films (21) and (22) and a ring (23) having a hole (23a) suitable for being mated with a sensor probe (12). The center of the first film (21) is provided with a hole (21a), and t... | 08/10/1999 |
| 5803902 | Surgical retractor A surgical retractor is disclosed having a handle portion, an elongated body portion extending distally from the handle portion and including an outer tube, a stabilizing member extending from a distal end of the outer tube and a pair of resilient bands p... | 09/08/1998 |
| 5709646 | Surgical retractor covers The present invention teaches an elastic, sterile and disposable cover pad which can be secured over surgical retractors to reduce slipping of the retractor in the body cavity and reduce trauma to tissue. The invention can also be secured over the handle ... | 01/20/1998 |
| 5695454 | Cover for a laryngoscope A cover for a laryngoscope which includes a generally elongated cylindrical handle, a branch member and an insertion member. The cover generally comprises an end sheath, a Y-branch portion connected to the end sheath and two cylindrical sleeves connected ... | 12/09/1997 |
| 5688223 | Retractor support with adjustable retractor blades A retractor apparatus for use in conducting a surgical operation through an incision in a patient. The retractor includes a retractor support, a plurality of surgical retractors, and a stretchable sleeve. The surgical retractors are mounted to the retract... | 11/18/1997 |
| 5656012 | Surgical retractor A surgical retractor is disclosed having a handle portion, an elongated body portion extending distally from the handle portion and including an outer tube, a fixed stabilizing member extending from a distal end of the outer tube and a pair of resilient b... | 08/12/1997 |
| 5609564 | Speculum cover, method of manufacturing same and cover accommodating case A sensor probe cover (20) is composed of two substantially square transparent films (21) and (22) and a ring (23) having a hole (23a) suitable for being mated with a sensor probe (12). The center of the first film (21) is provided with a hole (21a), and t... | 03/11/1997 |
| 5556371 | Device for transanal resectate extraction In a device for transanal resectate extraction which includes a rectoscope sleeve with a proximal tubular end portion, a connecting piece sealingly mounted onto said tubular proximate end portion for closing the rectoscope sleeve and including a bore axia... | 09/17/1996 |
| 5545122 | Inflatable speculum A speculum comprises a pair of elongated blades having elongated hollow bills therein. Each bill is at least partly covered by a flexible expandable bladder. One or more ports communicate between the interior of each bill and the interior of the bladder. ... | 08/13/1996 |
| 5460165 | Protective sheath for a speculum and method of use A disposable protective sheath for covering the dilating members of a speculum which are partially insertable into the vaginal cavity of a patient during a gynecological endoscopic examination. The sheath protects against transmission of potentially harmf... | 10/24/1995 |
| 5243966 | Method for speculum sheathing and sheathing use A method for sheathing speculum arms, utilizing the combination comprising a holder sheet structure having spaced sections; first and second sheaths extending in substantially parallel relation between the sections, the sheaths respectively associated wit... | 09/14/1993 |
| 5179936 | Disposable speculum with membrane bonding ring A sanitary protective cover or sheath for the ear canal probe of a tympanic thermometer. The speculum has a generally tubular body portion and an infrared transparent membrane attached to and sealing the forward end of the body portion. While the tubular ... | 01/19/1993 |
| 5178133 | Laparoscopic retractor and sheath A laparoscopic retractor is shown for manually maneuvering tissue which would otherwise obstract the view from the operative site. Laparoscopy is a method of visually examining the peritoneal cavity by means of a long slender endoscope (laparoscope) equip... | 01/12/1993 |
| 5163418 | Speculum cover A probe cover for an infrared thermometer has a pleated sheath which fits over the thermometer probe and a base, which is engageable with the probe, is attached to the periphery of the sheath to hold the sheath over the probe. The sheath is made of a thin... | 11/17/1992 |
| 5007409 | Medical speculum blade sheath A soft, resilient, silicone rubber sheath for covering each of the cold metal blades of a vaginal speculum reduces the shock of an often painful examination and a possible long-lasting emotional shock to adolescent patients.... | 04/16/1991 |
| 4807600 | Speculum protector A disposable cover of a novel type is provided for each of the blades of a vaginal speculum to prevent cross contamination of patients examined by the same instrument but also to allow for improved surgical visibility.... | 02/28/1989 |
| 4662360 | Disposable speculum A sanitary protective cover or sheath for the ear canal probe of a tympanic thermometer has a generally tubular body portion and an infrared transparent membrane attached to and sealing the forward end of the tubular body portion. While the tubular body p... | 05/05/1987 |
| 4643172 | Luminescent tongue depressor A luminescent tongue depressor having a luminiferous depressor element connected to a handle. Means to illuminate the depressor element is preferably a monatomic gas contained within a vacuum tube positioned within the handle element of the device. A conc... | 02/17/1987 |
| 4597382 | Medical speculum and procedure A sleeve shaped body having a liquid absorbent segment and a wettable segment is positioned on a speculum member during a medical procedure in which a laser instrument is utilized. The liquid absorbent segment inhibits reflection and dissipates the energy... | 07/01/1986 |
| 4492220 | Vaginal speculum protector Disposable covers for the blades of a vaginal speculum are provided to prevent cross contamination of patients examined by the same instrument.... | 01/08/1985 |
| 4143652 | Surgical retaining device A surgical retaining device for holding a surgical instrument in place, typically wound hooks, comprising a holder block for displaceably securing the surgical retaining device at a stationary object and at least one insert element into which there can be... | 03/13/1979 |
