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!!
PatentStorm News
Make the Most of Our Site
See this month's Top Inventors and Most Cited Patents.
Stay on top of the latest innovations by subscribing to an RSS feed.
Registered users: Manage your profile.
| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8187180 | Video rectractor A retractor with a video system that has a blade portion detachably secured thereto is disclosed. In one embodiment, the video system is sealed within the retractor during use so that it need not be sterilized between uses. The blade portion is either reusable, in w... | 05/29/2012 |
| 8047987 | Blade insert illuminator A blade insert illumination system includes one or more illumination elements composed of a transparent or semi-transparent polymer that is preferably biocompatible and sterilizable. The illumination elements operate as a waveguide and may incorporate optical compon... | 11/01/2011 |
| 7874982 | Illuminated surgical access system including a surgical access device and coupled light emitter A surgical access system for providing access to a surgical site in a patient includes a surgical access device defining a port and a light emitter coupled to the surgical access device for illuminating the port. The light emitter preferably comprises an elongated s... | 01/25/2011 |
| 7556601 | Systems and techniques for illuminating a surgical space Methods and devices for illuminating a surgical space during surgery in a patient are provided. A retractor provides a working path for access to a location in the patient. A light instrument is positionable in working channel to emit light at the surgical space wit... | 07/07/2009 |
| 7503894 | Lit retractor An apparatus includes a surgical retractor and a light conduit releasably coupled to the surgical retractor. In an alternative embodiment, a method of illuminating a surgical cavity includes expanding the cavity with a plurality of surgical retractors, transmitting ... | 03/17/2009 |
| 7384392 | Disposable expandable cordless lighted retractor A surgical instrument to manipulate a patient's tissues, comprising a handle, a first blade, a second blade, and a blade actuator, and may further comprise a light and a power source. The first blade and the second blade each extend from the handle. The second blade... | 06/10/2008 |
| 7371213 | Lit retractor An apparatus for illuminated retraction of a surgical cavity includes a surgical retractor having a generally tubular body forming a cannula insertable into a surgical cavity. The cannula has an inner surface defining a passage from a first end to a second end and a... | 05/13/2008 |
| 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 |
| 7306559 | Illuminated surgical retractor Illuminated surgical retractors include at least one retractor blade and a light delivery system. In some embodiments of the invention, the light delivery system includes a light emitter in the form of an elongated light emitting blade portion extending along the le... | 12/11/2007 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 7150714 | Minimally invasive surgical spinal exposure system A minimally invasive retractor system is shown which has a support frame having two opposing pairs of horizontally oriented sides. The sides of the frame can be adjusted to vary an interior space of the frame. Four retractor blades are mounted on the frame for engag... | 12/19/2006 |
| 7052456 | Airway products having LEDs The present invention relates to an illuminated airway product that will allow visualization of the airway of a patient during intubation. The illuminated airway product includes a light source such as an LED disposed at its distal end. The LED shines axially, radia... | 05/30/2006 |
| 7008377 | Surgical access port A device for retracting edges of an incision in a surface to form an opening including: a flexible, tubular skirt having an upper end, a lower end, and a channel therebetween; a ring connected to the lower end of the skirt for maintaining the lower end in an open co... | 03/07/2006 |
| 6939296 | Laparoscopic illumination apparatus and method An access device particularly adapted for use in laparoscopic surgery facilitates access with instruments, such as the hand of the surgeon, across a body wall and into a body cavity. The device can be formed of a gel material having properties for forming a zero sea... | 09/06/2005 |
| 6923762 | Venoscope apparatus An improved instrument for viewing subcutaneous venous structure, known as a VENOSCOPE, which includes a clamshell housing, having a first fixed arm extending therefrom, and a second movable arm captured by upper and lower portions of the housing; a first high inten... | 08/02/2005 |
| 6817978 | 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... | 11/16/2004 |
| 6805666 | Pivotal and illuminated saphenous vein retractor with tapered design An illuminated surgical retractor for defining and illuminating a subcutaneous surgical field in the space near a vessel (such as the saphenous vein or radial artery) during a procedure for harvesting the vessel, wherein the illuminated surgical retractor includes a... | 10/19/2004 |
| 6602188 | Surgical instrument and associated method An surgical instrument for use during procedures to harvest saphenous veins simultaneously retracts tissue and exposes sections of the vein. Removable spacer limbs are selectively attached to the instrument to aid in retracting tissue and to make the inst... | 08/05/2003 |
| 6554768 | Illuminated deep pelvic retractor An illuminated deep pelvic surgical retractor for illuminating a surgical site and retracting tissue adjacent thereto, the illuminated surgical retractor having a handle member interconnected at an obtuse angle to a first elongate section and a second elo... | 04/29/2003 |
| 6497654 | Illuminated rectal retractor An illuminated retractor for creating a working space for dissecting instruments in support of a surgical procedure such as rectal examination or for the removal of polyps or hemorrhoids or other types of procedures which require the illumination and acce... | 12/24/2002 |
| 6482153 | Illuminated surgical retractor A illuminated surgical retractor for illuminating a subcutaneous surgical field in the space between a vessel, such as the saphenous vein, and the subcutaneous tissue when the illuminated retractor is used to retract the subcutaneous tissue away from the ... | 11/19/2002 |
| 6468206 | Illuminated surgical retractor A illuminated surgical retractor for illuminating a subcutaneous surgical field in the space between a vessel, such as the saphenous vein, and the subcutaneous tissue when the illuminated retractor is used to retract the subcutaneous tissue away from the ... | 10/22/2002 |
| 6440063 | Surgical access port and laparoscopic surgical method A device for retracting edges of an incision in a surface to form an opening including: a flexible, tubular skirt having an upper end, a lower end, and a channel therebetween; a ring connected to the lower end of the skirt for maintaining the lower end in... | 08/27/2002 |
| 6432049 | Adjustable vaginal speculum light A small, lightweight, self contained light having a single cell rechargeable 3 volt battery and also having a support bracket with a device for attachment to the common metal speculum more often referred to as the Graves Metal Speculum. The light having a... | 08/13/2002 |
| 6428473 | Illuminated rectal retractor An illuminated rectal retractor for creating a working space for dissecting instruments in support of a surgical procedure such as rectal examination or for the removal of polyps or hemorrhoids or other types of procedures which require the illumination a... | 08/06/2002 |
| 6406293 | Hand-held dental transilluminating device A dental transilluminating device has a detachable plastic wand which serves as an optical waveguide and illumination aperture. The wand is configured to allow a wide variety of illumination apertures by cutting the tip of the wand at any desired position... | 06/18/2002 |
| 6364832 | Vaginal lateral walls retractor for use in combination with vaginal specula and method of performing vaginal/cervical examination A vaginal lateral walls retractor for use with a vaginal speculum to retract the vaginal lateral walls during vaginal/cervical examinations includes a generally tubular sleeve having cross-sectional dimensions that allow the sleeve to fit in between blade... | 04/02/2002 |
| 6350236 | Illuminated saphenous vein retractor A illuminated surgical retractor for illuminating a subcutaneous surgical field in the space between a vessel, such as the saphenous vein, and the subcutaneous tissue when the illuminated retractor is used to retract the subcutaneous tissue away from the ... | 02/26/2002 |
| 6322499 | Pivotal and illuminated saphenous vein retractor An illuminated surgical retractor for illuminating a subcutaneous surgical field in the space between a vessel, such as the saphenous vein, and the subcutaneous tissue when the illuminated retractor is used to retract the subcutaneous tissue away from the... | 11/27/2001 |
| 6228025 | Illuminated saphenous vein retractor A illuminated surgical retractor for illuminating a subcutaneous surgical field in the space between a vessel, such as the saphenous vein, and the subcutaneous tissue when the illuminated retractor is used to retract the subcutaneous tissue away from the ... | 05/08/2001 |
| 6210325 | Cam-activated adjustable arm and illuminated tubular retractor A retractor system of the present invention includes an adjustable arm, a carriage, and an activating device disposed in the carriage. The activating device causes movement of at least the adjustable arm to selectively stiffen or release the adjustable ar... | 04/03/2001 |
| 6196968 | Direct vision subcutaneous tissue retractor and method for use A retractor includes an elongate member having an arcuate cross-section defining an elongate passage therein, and a handle molded to its proximal end. A transparent illumination member has a proximal portion connectable to a light source, and a distal por... | 03/06/2001 |
| 6162172 | Methods and apparatus for retracting tissue Surgical apparatus and associated methods of use are provided for retracting tissue around an incision. The apparatus includes a member having an inner peripheral surface and an outer peripheral surface. An adjustable aperture is definable within the inne... | 12/19/2000 |
| 6142936 | Surgical access port and method for accessing a patient's body cavity A device for retracting edges of an incision in a surface to form an opening including: a flexible, tubular skirt having an upper end, a lower end, and a channel therebetween; a ring connected to the lower end of the skirt for maintaining the lower end in... | 11/07/2000 |
| 6142935 | Illuminating soft tissue retractor The present invention provides a retractor for providing surgical access through a passage in tissue, together with methods for its use and deployment. The retractor comprises an anchoring frame having an upper surface, a lower surface, and an opening the... | 11/07/2000 |
| 6080105 | Illuminated dental and surgical retractor and kit including plurality of blades and blades recharging base An illuminated retractor provides a handle and a blade, the blade having a forward portion composed of a light transmissive material. The forward portion blade of the extends from handle and is formed suitably for retraction of body tissue adjacent to a b... | 06/27/2000 |
| 6059723 | Fiberoptically illuminated tongue depressor A fiberoptically illuminated medical appliance, and in particular, an illuminated tongue depressor includes a light conducting blade, at least a portion of which is light projecting. The blade includes a light inlet that is operably engaged with the outle... | 05/09/2000 |
| 5967971 | Surgical instrument Surgical instrument, particularly a surgical retractor, for use in harvesting saphenous veins for use in coronary bypass operations. The retractor includes a handle, a retractor blade member including first and second limbs which define a view area axis, ... | 10/19/1999 |
| 5951465 | Device for carrying out manipulations in the human body Disclosed is a device for carrying out manipulations in the human body, in particular in the uterus. The device includes a hook element provided with at least one hook which is connected via a rod, which is guided in a shaft, to a grip end provided at a p... | 09/14/1999 |
