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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7766825 | Retractor with interchangeable retractor blades The present invention relates to a surgical retractor. The surgical retractor may include a handle having a longitudinal axis and proximal and distal ends, a first coupling mechanism adjacent the proximal end of the handle, and a blade member having a proximal end a... | 08/03/2010 |
| 7736308 | Surgical retractor A surgical retractor 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 continues pumping. Tape or thread can be u... | 06/15/2010 |
| 7611460 | Surgical support arm docking apparatus An assembly for exchanging retractor support arms within a retractor support clamp. The assembly includes a main body having a surface defining a cavity extending into the main body from a first end. A support arm having an end portion with a substantially complimen... | 11/03/2009 |
| 7569014 | Connector for a surgical retractor A connector for a surgical retractor is shown. The connector includes a body member having an opening for receiving a nipple of a retractor blade. The connector also includes a retainer pivotally attached to the body member between an open position and a closed posi... | 08/04/2009 |
| 7473223 | Push-button activated grasper for surgical retractor A grasper for a surgical retractor is provided. The grasper has a grasper body, a push-button activator and a holder to releasably retain a connector head of, for example, a retractor blade. The holder is configured to move from a first position, located at least pa... | 01/06/2009 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 7311663 | Multi-positionable vaginal speculum with removable blades A speculum provides visual access to a body cavity, and such instrument is used by physicians for vaginal examination. The speculum comprises a handle having a frontal portion and a rear portion slidingly secured to the frontal portion. A blade angle positioner is p... | 12/25/2007 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 7284301 | Hand tools with ergonomic hand grip An ergonomic hand grip for a hand operated tool has a pair of spaced apart curvilinear side beams having first ends and second ends, the first ends being coupled to each other; a forearm brace coupling the second ends of the side beams to each other, the forearm bra... | 10/23/2007 |
| 7276024 | Surgical retractor A retractor for use in surgery, such as chest surgery, comprises two arms (4,6) each adapted to carry a blade (14,16) engageable with one side of an incision, the two arms (4,6) being connected by a pivot (8) at one end portion such that ... | 10/02/2007 |
| 7270632 | Surgical retractor having lifting capability A surgical retractor includes a pair of small grips that are disposed at the ends of arms that can be moved toward or away from each other. The grips engage and separate the sides of an incision that has been made in a patient. A lifting mechanism that can be attach... | 09/18/2007 |
| 7235049 | Surgical retractor and method of positioning an artery during surgery The 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 cont... | 06/26/2007 |
| 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 |
| 7223233 | Systems and techniques for illuminating a surgical space Methods and devices for illuminating a surgical space in a patient are provided. A retractor provides a portal or working path for access to a working space location in the patient. The retractor transmits and emits light from a light delivery system to illuminate t... | 05/29/2007 |
| 7220228 | Surgical retractor blade and system In accordance with the present invention, there is disclosed surgical methods and apparatus for accessing and stabilizing the heart. The methods and apparatus facilitate access to an anastomosis site, allows various instruments or devices to be maneuvered and secure... | 05/22/2007 |
| 7210485 | Method for spinal surgery Spinal surgery is carried out under direct visualization through a relatively small opening formed in a patient's skin. Intervening tissue between the opening and the surgical site is displaced so as to form a keyhole channel therethrough. The channel is characteriz... | 05/01/2007 |
| 7201716 | Method and apparatus for temporarily immobilizing a local area of tissue The invention is a method and apparatus for performing beating heart surgery, in which a single articulating arm supports multiple suction pods. Once the suction pods are applied to the heart surface, tightening a cable fixes the arm in place. Then, the suction pods... | 04/10/2007 |
| 7191683 | Swivel retractor blade assembly A retractor clamp assembly includes a clamp positionable about a support ring. A retractor shaft extends from the clamp and has a connector at the end with a retractor blade connected thereto by a stem. The connector is preferably equipped with a first slot limiting... | 03/20/2007 |
| 7189201 | Method and apparatus for temporarily immobilizing a local area of tissue A method and apparatus for temporarily immobilizing a local area of tissue. In particular, the present invention provides a method and apparatus for temporarily immobilizing a local area of tissue within a patient's body cavity. In one embodiment, the tissue immobil... | 03/13/2007 |
| 7172554 | Retractor instrumentation for total hip arthroplasty, and methods of using same The present invention is directed to retractor instrumentation for total hip arthroplasty, and methods of using same. In one illustrative embodiment, the device comprises a body, a first pin coupled to the body, and a second pin coupled to said body, wherein at leas... | 02/06/2007 |
| 7165548 | Methods and devices for use in performing pulmonary procedures Systems, methods and devices for performing pulmonary procedures, and in particular treating lung disease. A flow control element includes a valve that prevents airflow in the inhalation direction but permits airflow in the exhalation direction. The flow control ele... | 01/23/2007 |
| 7156805 | Surgical retractor A surgical retractor system comprises a support frame and an instrument mounting assembly. The instrument mounting assembly includes a fastening member for securing the mounting assembly to the support frame, a loading member for attaching to the mounting assembly, ... | 01/02/2007 |
| 7147599 | Surgical retractor with improved arms A surgical retractor comprising a laterally extending rack having a first arm connected to the rack spaced from a movable second arm connected to the rack. In the preferred embodiment, the first and second arms have first segments connected to the rack connected to ... | 12/12/2006 |
| 7141015 | Expandable and pivotally adjustable surgical retractor A surgical retractor is disclosed comprising first and second arms, each arm having a utility end and a handle end; first and second blades connected to the utility end of the first and second arms, each blade being pivotally adjustable about the longitudinal axis o... | 11/28/2006 |
| 7137949 | Surgical instrument A mounting assembly for mounting a surgical instrument to a base, which facilitates positioning a surgical instrument relative to the surgical site so that only the minimum portion of the instrument is positioned in the free space available around the surgical site.... | 11/21/2006 |
| 7125379 | Surgical support arm docking apparatus An assembly for exchanging retractor support arms within a retractor support clamp. The assembly includes a main body having a surface defining a cavity extending into the main body from a first end. A support arm having an end portion with a substantially complimen... | 10/24/2006 |
| 7108698 | Combined distractor and retractor instrument and methods A surgical instrument for use during a spinal surgery procedure. The surgical instrument being configured to distract two adjacent vertebral elements and retract the nerve root to provide access to the distracted site. The instrument including an elongated blade mem... | 09/19/2006 |
| 7097616 | Surgical clamp A surgical joint includes a first clamping member for engaging a first support member and a second clamping member for engaging a second support member. The first clamping member includes a clamping bore wherein the first support member is positionable within the cl... | 08/29/2006 |
| 7048683 | Method and apparatus for temporarily immobilizing a local area of tissue A method and apparatus for temporarily immobilizing a local area of tissue. In particular, the present invention provides a method and apparatus for temporarily immobilizing a local area of heart tissue to thereby permit surgery on a coronary vessel in that area wit... | 05/23/2006 |
| 7044909 | Video laryngoscope with detachable light and image guides A combination laryngoscope and video display for providing images of the area ahead of the laryngoscope to facilitate insertion without damaging the surrounding tissue; the laryngoscope having a detachable blade and a rigid, detachable light and image guide attachme... | 05/16/2006 |
| 7018332 | Circumferential retractor apparatus A circumferential retractor apparatus including a first retractor paddle having a grasping surface and a body portion supporting the grasping surface, a second retractor paddle having a grasping surface and a body portion supporting the grasping surface and an elast... | 03/28/2006 |
| 7011094 | Bronchial flow control devices and methods of use A flow control device includes a sealing component that can be positioned within a bronchial lumen. The sealing component can comprise two or more overlapping segments that are movable relative to one another such that the segments collectively form a seal that can ... | 03/14/2006 |
| 7001333 | Surgical retractor system The present invention provides an improved surgical retractor system useful for holding tissue away from a surgical site during a medical or dental procedure. In one embodiment, the surgical retractor system is comprised of a tubular member, such as a cannula, and a... | 02/21/2006 |
| 6994669 | Apparatus and method for cardiac surgery The invention provides a stabilizer having a foot to stabilize a patient's heart. The stabilizer has a first foot which is larger than a second foot. The first foot has lateral surfaces which are used to retract other parts of the heart while contact surfaces stabil... | 02/07/2006 |
| 6979291 | Surgical retractor having curved arms A surgical retractor having a lateral rack with two longitudinal arms extending therefrom. At least one of the arms has a curved segment. It is preferable that the curved segment extend at least one third the length of the arm and be concavely oriented toward the op... | 12/27/2005 |
| 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 |
| 6958038 | Multipositional ratchet device for surgical retractor The invention disclosed herein relates to a multipositional ratchet device for use in conjunction with a surgical retractor assembly. The ratchet device of the invention permits both independent and simultaneous adjustment of the longitudinal axial positioning of a ... | 10/25/2005 |