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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8167798 | Methods and apparatus for performing minimally invasive surgery A device for expanding an elongate opening formed in a skin layer of a patient includes a first arm for engaging one side of the opening and a second arm for engaging the other side of the opening. The device further includes a spreader mechanism, coupled to at leas... | 05/01/2012 |
| 8105236 | Surgical access device, system, and methods of use A surgical access device can include a plurality of retractor members that together define a lumen having a first cross-sectional dimension. Each of the plurality of retractor members can be moved radially outward to at least a second cross-sectional dimension to cr... | 01/31/2012 |
| 8007435 | Tissue retraction device A self-retaining retractor is described. The retractor can be sized for small patients, such as young children or infants or some animals. The retractor has two blades that are capable of holding tissue separated during a procedure, such as a tracheotomy. ... | 08/30/2011 |
| 7981030 | 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... | 07/19/2011 |
| 7976464 | Access systems and methods for minimally invasive surgery A device for retracting tissue provides access to a spinal location within a patient. The device includes an elongate body and a passage. The elongate body has a proximal portion and a distal portion. The elongate body defines a length between the proximal and dista... | 07/12/2011 |
| 7931590 | Tissue stabilizer and methods of using the same Devices and methods are provided for stabilizing tissue, e.g., a beating heart, within a patient's body. In certain embodiments, the subject devices are characterized by having a shaft and at least two contacting members operatively associated with the shaft where t... | 04/26/2011 |
| 7850608 | Minimal incision maximal access MIS spine instrumentation and method A minimal incision maximal access system allows for maximum desirable work space exposure within the incision along with maximum access to the operative field utilizing a minimum incision as small as the width of the working tube. Instead of multiple insertions of d... | 12/14/2010 |
| 7785253 | Surgical access system and related methods A retractor-based access system for performing minimally invasive spine surgery via an anterior approach. The anterior access system and related methods of the present invention involve a plurality of retractor blades under the control of a single retractor handle a... | 08/31/2010 |
| 7780594 | Retractor and methods of use A retractor is disclosed. The retractor includes a housing, at least one blade holder slidably coupled to the housing, and an actuator handle to control sliding movement of the blade holder. The blade holder and the actuator handle hold at least one blade. ... | 08/24/2010 |
| 7691057 | 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... | 04/06/2010 |
| 7645232 | Access device for minimally invasive surgery A retractor has a proximal portion comprising a first side portion having a first longitudinal edge and a second side portion having a second longitudinal edge. The first and second portions being movable relative to each other such that the first and second longitu... | 01/12/2010 |
| 7594888 | Expandable ports and methods for minimally invasive surgery An expandable port for minimally invasive surgery includes a first section, a second section, and at least one intermediate section. The port is expandable from a closed configuration in which the first section is proximate the second section along at least a portio... | 09/29/2009 |
| 7566302 | Expandable access device An expandable access device for providing access to a surgical site in the body. The expandable access device comprises a first blade, a second blade and a connection mechanism operable connecting the first and second blades. Each blade may have a first portion, a s... | 07/28/2009 |
| 7537565 | Surgical retractor with rotating blades A surgical retractor includes a retractor body and a retractor arm. The retractor arm includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion is attached to the retractor body and the second portion is rotatably attached to the first portion. The second por... | 05/26/2009 |
| 7524285 | 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... | 04/28/2009 |
| 7455639 | Opposing parallel bladed retractor and method of use A retractor is provided for maintaining substantially parallel blade alignment with the longitudinal axis of the retractor during opening and closing the retractor blades. The retractor includes rotatable blade receptacles and hinged blade arms interconnected to rot... | 11/25/2008 |
| 7407483 | Minimally invasive surgical access device A minimally invasive surgical access device that allows access to a pathology being treated while significantly reducing the risk of damaging anatomical structures proximate the pathology. The access device includes a base portion having a central bore extending the... | 08/05/2008 |
| 7404795 | Femoral ring loader An instrument for inserting an implant between vertebral bodies, including a holder adapted to hold the implant during insertion of the implant between the vertebral bodies, a retractor adapted to retract the holder away from the implant after the insertion, and a g... | 07/29/2008 |
| 7344495 | Surgical retractor apparatus for use with a surgical port An improved surgical retraction apparatus (and corresponding method of operation) includes a plurality of rigid retraction members disposed about a central axis that move radially with respect to the central axis between a closed state and an open state. In the clos... | 03/18/2008 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 7261688 | 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... | 08/28/2007 |
| 7238145 | Oral-lever resistance exercise device An oral exercise device that is portable, that has adjustable resistance and that allows the tongue to perform isotonic exercises in an environment that closely approximates the natural configuration of the tongue and the mouth to improve disorders of speech and swa... | 07/03/2007 |
| 7226451 | Minimally invasive access device and method A device that provides access to a surgical location within a patient has an elongate body that has a proximal end, a distal end, and an inner surface. The inner surface defines a passage that extends through the elongate body. The elongate body is capable of having... | 06/05/2007 |
| 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 |
| 7195592 | Surgical retractor apparatus for use with a surgical port An improved surgical retraction apparatus (and corresponding method of operation) includes a plurality of rigid retraction members disposed about a central axis that move radially with respect to the central axis between a closed state and an open state. In the clos... | 03/27/2007 |
| 7189234 | Interspinous process implant sizer and distractor with a split head and size indicator and method The present invention enables a physician to distract a previously created opening, determine the size of the opening, and alternatively, subsequently assist in inserting an implant between adjacent spinous processes. The distracting device has two prongs which sepa... | 03/13/2007 |
| 7182730 | Anal retractor An anal retractor includes four retractor valves (48), which are offset 90° relative to each other and can be moved radially apart from each other. For this the four retractor valves (48) are guided by sleds (30) in radial guide slots (14 | 02/27/2007 |
| 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 |
| 7179225 | Access systems and methods for minimally invasive surgery A retractor has an elongate body and an expandable shroud. The elongate body has an outer surface and an inner surface partially defining a passage. The elongate body also has a first longitudinal edge and a second longitudinal edge. The elongate body is capable of ... | 02/20/2007 |
| 7175594 | Ophthalmic sulcus speculum Devices in accordance with certain embodiments of the present sulcus speculum are designed to be placed into the sulcus of an eye to perform one or more of the following functions: evacuation of fluid, opening of the lids, and application of drugs such as anesthetic... | 02/13/2007 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 7144368 | Guided retractor and methods of use The present invention provides methods and apparatus in which a surgical retractor comprises a plurality of mechanically coupled tissue retaining walls that are guided into position along one or more guides previously implanted into the patient. The walls are prefer... | 12/05/2006 |
| 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 |
| 7118528 | Hemorrhoids treatment method and associated instrument assembly including anoscope and cofunctioning tissue occlusion device A surgical instrument assembly for the treatment of hemorrhoids includes an anoscope and a hemorrhoid occlusion device. The anoscope includes a hollow body closed at a distal end and at least partially open at a proximal end to define a longitudinal channel. The hol... | 10/10/2006 |
| 7081118 | Medical tool The invention concerns a medical tool, in particular a vertebral distractor (1), with a first (2) and a second link part (3), wherein the first link part (2) is connected with the second link part (3) via a rotation axis (4)... | 07/25/2006 |
| 7063705 | Fluoroscopic locator and registration device A registration device is used to couple an identification superstructure of a surgical navigation system to the spinal column. The registration device includes a pair of vertebral engaging members positionable in a spinal disc space. At least one of the vertebrae en... | 06/20/2006 |
| 7037314 | Multiple band ligator and anoscope system and method for using same A hemorrhoidal ligator and anoscope system used to facilitate ligation of internal hemorrhoids. The ligating device consists of head, shaft and firing handle assemblies and is capable of storing and releasing multiple rubber bands singularly. The ligating device com... | 05/02/2006 |
| 7029438 | Anoscope An anoscope for use with a medical instrument insertable within the interior of the anoscope. The anoscope comprises a tubular member having a longitudinal axis with a proximal end and a distal end. The distal end is insertable into the rectum of a patient while the... | 04/18/2006 |
