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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8187179 | Surgical access system and related methods A system for accessing a surgical target site and related methods, involving an initial distraction system for creating an initial distraction corridor, and an assembly capable of distracting from the initial distraction corridor to a secondary distraction corridor ... | 05/29/2012 |
| 8182519 | Method for performing minimally invasive surgury Pedicle screw apparatuses each including a pedicle screw assembly and an attached pedicle screw extender are placed in a true percutaneous manner, thereby overcoming issues resulting from placing pedicle screw assemblies through a retractor. Thus, a retractor can ad... | 05/22/2012 |
| 8133175 | Device for temporarily immobilizing tissue in the area of a pulsating blood vessel A device serves for temporarily immobilizing a tissue in an area of a pulsating blood vessel during a cardiac and thoracic surgical intervention. A pod of the device can be placed onto a tissue beneath a pulsating blood vessel. The pod has a rigid holder supporting ... | 03/13/2012 |
| 8118737 | Retractor device for cervical spinal fusion A retractor device for cervical spinal fusion surgery. The retractor device includes a first post assembly having a first pin for mounting the first post assembly to a first vertebral body and a first rod coupled thereto in a multi-axial manner so that the first rod... | 02/21/2012 |
| 8105235 | Stabilizer for robotic beating-heart surgery Surgical methods and devices allow closed-chest surgery to be performed on a heart of a patient while the heart is beating. A region of the heart is stabilized by engaging a surface of the heart with a stabilizer without having to stop the heart. Motion of the targe... | 01/31/2012 |
| 8057387 | System, method and apparatus for regulating vacuum supplied to surgical tools A system, method and apparatus for regulating vacuum applied to surgical suction devices allowing the use of a single vacuum regulator and associated canister to provide vacuum to two suction devices, such as a suction stabilizer and a suction retractor. Vacuum cont... | 11/15/2011 |
| 7988624 | Devices and methods for percutaneous tissue retraction and surgery Methods and devices for performing percutaneous surgery in a patient are provided. A retractor includes a working channel formed by a first portion coupled to a second portion. The first and second portions are movable relative to one another from an unexpanded conf... | 08/02/2011 |
| 7981029 | Instruments and methods for minimally invasive tissue retraction and surgery Methods and devices retract tissue for minimally invasive surgery in a patient. A retractor includes a working channel formed by a first portion and a second portion. The first and second portions are movable relative to one another from a first configuration for in... | 07/19/2011 |
| 7976463 | Instruments and methods for minimally invasive tissue retraction and surgery Methods and devices retract tissue for minimally invasive surgery in a patient. A retractor includes a working channel formed by a first portion and a second portion. The first and second portions are movable relative to one another from a first configuration for in... | 07/12/2011 |
| 7951077 | Method and instruments for breast augmentation mammaplasty A method and instruments for performing breast augmentation mammaplasty in a patient are provided. The method includes making an incision to gain access to an area underneath the breast of the patient, and providing a retractor including a shaft and a tubular member... | 05/31/2011 |
| 7931589 | Surgical retractor device and related methods A surgical retractor device. The surgical retractor device includes a frame having an outer frame member and an inner frame member coupled to the outer frame member for relative movement about a frame pivot axis, and a frame driver operable to rotate the outer frame... | 04/26/2011 |
| 7922657 | Surgical retractors and method of operation A first surgical retractor (302) according to the invention includes a handle (308) that defines an axis (320) and has first and second ends. A retractor blade (306) is secured to the second end of the handle. The blade is of a size and s... | 04/12/2011 |
| 7909762 | Vein harvesting system including dilator shaft and removable retractor housing The invention provides a system and method for harvesting a vessel section. The system comprises an endoscope, at least one harvesting tool, and an elongated instrument comprising a shaft and a housing. The shaft includes a viewable region along a length of the shaf... | 03/22/2011 |
| 7892173 | Surgical access system and related methods A surgical access system including a tissue distraction assembly and a tissue retraction assembly, both of which may be equipped with one or more electrodes for use in detecting the existence of (and optionally the distance and/or direction to) neural structures bef... | 02/22/2011 |
| 7762951 | Vein harvesting system including dilator shaft and removable retractor housing The invention provides a system and method for harvesting a vessel section. The system includes an endoscope, at least one harvesting tool, and an elongated instrument including a shaft and a housing. The shaft includes a viewable region along a length of the shaft ... | 07/27/2010 |
| 7736307 | Surgical instruments for accessing and stabilizing a localized portion of a beating heart Surgical devices for stabilizing the heart are disclosed which facilitate anastomosis under beating heart conditions. Various instruments or devices may be maneuvered and secured on a retractor device to provide stabilization of the heart. An instrument mount is pro... | 06/15/2010 |
| 7585277 | Surgical instruments and procedures for stabilizing the beating heart during coronary artery bypass graft surgery Methods and devices which a surgeon may use to stabilize the beating heart during a surgical procedure on the heart. A stabilizing device may be introduced through an opening in the chest and brought into contact with the beating heart. By contacting the heart with ... | 09/08/2009 |
| 7513869 | Instruments and methods for minimally invasive tissue retraction and surgery Methods and devices retract tissue for minimally invasive surgery in a patient. A retractor includes a working channel formed by a first portion and a second portion. The first and second portions are movable relative to one another from a first configuration for in... | 04/07/2009 |
| 7476199 | Device to permit offpump beating heart coronary bypass surgery A system for manipulating a heart during cardiac surgery permits coronary surgery on a beating heart while maintaining cardiac output unabated and uninterrupted. Circumflex coronary artery surgery can be performed using the system. A component of the system engages ... | 01/13/2009 |
| 7473222 | Instruments and methods for minimally invasive tissue retraction and surgery Methods and devices retract tissue for minimally invasive surgery in a patient. A retractor includes a working channel formed by a first portion and a second portion. The first and second portions are movable relative to one another from a first configuration for in... | 01/06/2009 |
| 7468030 | Surgical retractor A present invention relates to a surgical retractor that immobilizes tissue at a surgical site. A preferred embodiment of the retractor is used during minimally invasive direct coronary bypass procedures to arrest movement of the grafting site while the heart contin... | 12/23/2008 |
| 7445598 | Endoscopic organ retractor and method of using the same In an organ retractor including a shaft defining a longitudinal axis and a longitudinal plane, and at least one organ support assembly operatively coupled to the shaft. The organ support assembly includes a plurality of ribs having a first position, in which each of... | 11/04/2008 |
| 7427264 | Instruments and methods for selective tissue retraction through a retractor sleeve Methods and instruments for performing surgery in a patient are provided that minimize tissue dissection and retraction to access locations within the patient. One specific application concerns devices, instruments and techniques that provide for selective retractio... | 09/23/2008 |
| 7399272 | Methods and apparatus providing suction-assisted tissue engagement A device for providing suction to tissue is disclosed. A method of suctioning tissue is also disclosed. ... | 07/15/2008 |
| 7396328 | Surgical retractor with attachment A retractor configured for anchorage to the acetabular area of the hip bone via a bendable pin, such that the bent pin retains the retractor in a selected position. The retractor includes a site anchor portion, with a spacer portion extending upward from a leading e... | 07/08/2008 |
| 7361191 | Heart wall actuation device for the natural heart An actuation system for assisting the operation of the natural heart comprises a framework for interfacing with a natural heart, through the wall of the heart, which includes an internal framework element configured to be positioned within the interior volume of a h... | 04/22/2008 |
| 7347828 | Suction adapter for medical instrument A suction adapter for use with first and second medical devices capable of accommodating suction, the adapter including a manifold having at least three ports and a flexible flow valve. The ports may include: a suction port configured for connecting to a suction sou... | 03/25/2008 |
| 7338441 | Superelastic/shape memory tissue stabilizers and surgical instruments A surgical instrument is used for temporary use in a medical procedure in a mammalian body. The surgical instrument is configured to be changed between two shapes upon application of one or both of heating and cooling. The instrument includes a first member, a secon... | 03/04/2008 |
| 7338434 | Method and system for organ positioning and stabilization This invention provides a heart positioning device, method and system for positioning, manipulating, holding, grasping, immobilizing and/or stabilizing a heart. The heart positioning device may include a suction head and a shaft with a means for remotely changing th... | 03/04/2008 |
| 7326177 | Tissue stabilizer having an articulating lift element Devices and methods are disclosed for stabilizing tissue within a patient's body during a surgical operation to provide a relatively motionless surgical field, such as during a coronary artery bypass graft procedure. The devices include tissue stabilizers which enga... | 02/05/2008 |
| 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 |
| 7320666 | Fulcrum wedge clamp A surgical joint includes a first clamping member comprising a first clamping surface for engaging a first surgical rod and an attachment end. A second clamping member is mounted with respect to the first clamping member wherein the second clamping member comprises ... | 01/22/2008 |
| 7320687 | Tendon stripper The invention includes a tendon stripper comprising: (a) a frame, including a cautery, that is adapted to separate surrounding tissue along a length of a tendon; (b) a handle mounted to the frame that is adapted to reposition the frame with respect to the tendon; an... | 01/22/2008 |
| 7311664 | Apparatus for temporarily engaging body tissue An improved tissue engagement device such as a suction stabilizer or retractor. The stabilizer or retractor is provided with one or more suction pods mounted to the distal end of a flexible arm. The flexible arm is coupled to a base assembly, which attaches the arm ... | 12/25/2007 |
| 7311661 | Organ retractor and method of using the same The present disclosure relates to an endoscopic retractor apparatus for retracting and/or positioning organs during minimally invasive surgery. The apparatus includes an elongate shaft having proximal and distal ends and a lumen extending therebetween, and a retract... | 12/25/2007 |
| 7311662 | Illuminated retractor for use in connection with harvesting a blood vessel from the arm An illuminated surgical retractor for defining and illuminating a subcutaneous surgical field in the space near a vessel (such as the radial artery or the basilic vein) during a procedure for harvesting the vessel, wherein the illuminated surgical retractor includes... | 12/25/2007 |
| 7309312 | Apparatus for retaining otherwise hand-held retractors and method of use A retractor retaining device retains an otherwise hand-held retractor in a retracting position within a surgical wound. The retractor retaining device includes a clamp that is attachable to a retractor support that is positioned about the wound. A retaining plate is... | 12/18/2007 |
| 7309344 | Transparent dilator device and method of use A medical device for use with an endoscope is provided. The medical device can include a tube with a first channel for receiving the endoscope. A transparent segment can extend from the distal end of the tube, and the transparent segment can have a first outer diame... | 12/18/2007 |
| 7300400 | Pediatric liver retractor A pediatric liver retractor with a supporting shaft configured traversing a pediatric abdominal wall. A hook portion terminating in an insertion tip is configured generally in a U-shape, with a hook aperture and a hook depth, which along with the insertion tip, are ... | 11/27/2007 |
| 7294103 | Retractor with inflatable blades A surgical retractor is configured to provide surgical access in thoracic surgery, for example through an intercostal incision. The surgical retractor includes at least one inflated or inflatable member to cushion the ribs and surrounding tissue from injury or traum... | 11/13/2007 |
