Celebrity Inventors
Mark Twain (Samuel L. Clemens) received Patent No. 121,992 for "An Improvement in Adjustable and Detachable Straps for Garments." He later received two more patents: one for a self-pasting scrapbook and one for a game to help players remember important historical dates.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8152721 | Radial expansible retractor for minimally invasive surgery An improved radial expansible retractor and a method of minimally invasive surgery, by opening a channel in the brain or other soft tissue of a patient, by inserting the radial expansible retractor into the body of the patient, and by widening the channel at a conti... | 04/10/2012 |
| 8114019 | Surgical access system and related methods A surgical access system including a tissue distraction assembly and a tissue refraction 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... | 02/14/2012 |
| 8083673 | Examination apparatus An apparatus and method for an examination apparatus that includes a manually movable structure having a first movement from a free state to a compressed state and a second reversing movement from the compressed state to the free state. Also included is a plurality ... | 12/27/2011 |
| 7985179 | Retraction apparatus and method of use A retraction apparatus and method are disclosed that provide optimized access to a surgical site. In one form, a retraction frame has a retraction opening with two sets of blades operating therein. The blades are used to sequentially retract the tissue from about an... | 07/26/2011 |
| 7981031 | Surgical access devices and methods of minimally invasive surgery A surgical access device includes a proximal frame of fixed construction and a plurality of tissue engaging blades connected to the frame. The plurality of tissue engaging blades may include a first blade that is rotatable, independent of other blades, about an axis... | 07/19/2011 |
| 7935053 | Surgical Retractor System A surgical retractor system having a frame and a plurality of arms connected thereto is disclosed. At least one arm is moveable relative to the frame and the relative movement is constrained to a direction along the longitudinal axis of the arm. At least one retract... | 05/03/2011 |
| 7819801 | 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... | 10/26/2010 |
| 7798960 | Speculum A speculum for the insertion and expanding of a body cavity. The speculum comprises a plurality of blades pivotally connected around a ring-shaped frame, the first ends thereof extending longitudinally and meeting at a point distant from the frame to form a generall... | 09/21/2010 |
| 7618367 | Three-prong retractor with elastomeric sheath A three-prong retractor is disclosed which is inserted into an incision in a patient in order to create an area for surgery. The retractor opens such that two blades move away from a first blade to create an elongated opening. The two blades may then move away from ... | 11/17/2009 |
| 7374534 | Retractor and method for percutaneous tissue retraction and surgery A retractor for percutaneous surgery in a patient which includes an elongate retractor tube composed of circumferentially arranged elongate independent tube segments with proximal ends of the tube segments respectively hinged to a unitary collar whereby the distal e... | 05/20/2008 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 7288065 | Access platform for internal mammary dissection An access platform having a first and a second blade interconnected to a spreader member that laterally drives the blades apart or together and a sternal pad interconnected to a blade. The superior blade is preferably pivotally coupled to the spreader member such th... | 10/30/2007 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 7211099 | Medical instrument The invention relates to a medical instrument, comprising a shaft, the proximal end of which has a handle, with at least two grip pieces and the distal end of which has a tool, with at least two jaw pieces, whereby at least one jaw piece of the tool may be adjusted ... | 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 7108688 | Remote center positioner The invention is directed to a remote center positioner used to support an instrument and provide a center of spherical rotation, remote from any bearings or mechanical supports, at a desired location of the instrument. The remote center positioner is particularly u... | 09/19/2006 |
| 7060029 | Speculum with attachable blades for lateral wall retraction A pair of lateral structures is removably attached to a vaginal speculum after the speculum is inserted and opened to retract anterior and posterior vaginal tissue. Each of the lateral structures includes a blade extending along a side of a space provided between th... | 06/13/2006 |
| 7048744 | Attachable surgical accessory instrument A surgical assisting instrument and device having an elongated rectangular u-shaped body with fasteners extending outward therefrom. These fasteners can be of any number and mounted on the top or sides of the body. The body is affixed vertically on the long handle o... | 05/23/2006 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 6959620 | Device for balancing of a radial threaded spindle eccentricity of a spindle drive A device for balancing eccentricity of a spindle drive (1) to avoid blocking of the spindle drive during lifting movement of a platform (2), in which the platform is mounted on several axiparallel spindles (G1; G2; G3; G4) b... | 11/01/2005 |
| 6957463 | Adjustable support device Provided herein is a support stand useful for supporting various objects which is simultaneously highly variable with respect to many possible attitudes or orientations and enjoys ease and simplicity of adjustment between possible positions. A support device accordi... | 10/25/2005 |
| 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 |
| 6945933 | 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... | 09/20/2005 |
| 6932764 | Multipurpose circular retractor A multipurpose retractor is disclosed for use in surgical operations. The retractor can also be used as a speculum. The retractor is made from metal plates, springs, strings, hinges, rods and a worm gear system. The retractor can expand from having a very small diam... | 08/23/2005 |
| 6869398 | Four-blade surgical speculum A speculum system with four blades is provided. The blades project in approximately the same direction, and each blade is connected to a handle linearly or at an angle. The handles are coupled together. In one embodiment, the distance between the blades is changeabl... | 03/22/2005 |
| 6749563 | Medical instrument that can be spread, especially a laryngoscope The invention relates to a spreadable medical instrument, comprising a handle part and at least two spatula elements which are connected to said handle part and, via at least one adjusting mechanism, can be adjusted parallel or at an angle to one another between an ... | 06/15/2004 |
| 6569091 | Disconnectable vaginal speculum with removeable blades A vaginal speculum consists of two pivotally interconnected disconnectable parts. Each part slidingly supports a movable blade moveable in the longitudinal direction of the speculum. In addition to longitudinal movement, one of the blades can be moved cir... | 05/27/2003 |
| 6436033 | Speculum A speculum includes a main body with a pair of first dilator fingers that are connected at their respective proximal ends to the main body. A second dilator finger extends between the first dilator fingers and is attached to the main body. An actuator is ... | 08/20/2002 |
| 6428474 | Surgical instrument A surgical instrument for spreading apart openings of natural orifices or surgically made openings to perform procedures on internal structures and/or organs of a patient. The instrument includes a pair of upper and lower blades that open to spread apart ... | 08/06/2002 |
| 6416467 | Vaginal speculum and method of using same A medical instrument for expanding a cavity within a body to perform obstetrical and gynecological examinations and procedures, which includes a handle and pluralities of blades. One plurality of blades includes adjustable longitudinal blades for expandin... | 07/09/2002 |
| 6354995 | Rotational lateral expander device A rotating and lateral expansion device with a relative lateral motion of at least two to four blades. Blades are arranged initially such that their effective forcing planes are substantially axially and facially parallel to each other in a closed positio... | 03/12/2002 |
| 6342036 | Self-retaining vaginal retractor The self-retaining vaginal retractor comprises an inverted-U-shaped slotted base plate. A top and pair of cooperating side vagina retracting blades are selectively, removably and adjustably secured to the base plate. Each blade comprises a curved tongue p... | 01/29/2002 |
| 6287251 | Speculum A speculum 10 includes a main body 12 with two dialator fingers 14A and 14B that are connected at their respective proximal ends 16A and 16B to the main body 12. A further dialator finger 28 extends between the fingers 14A and 14B and is fixed to the main... | 09/11/2001 |
| 6196969 | Tissue retractor adapted for the attachment of an auxiliary element A tissue retractor with an adjustable center claw. The retractor includes two pivoted retractor arms. An axially and angularly displaceable, spring biased clamping mechanism is positioned on the pivot axis. In a mounting position, a elongated clamping ele... | 03/06/2001 |
| 6174282 | Speculum A speculum (10) includes a main body (12) with two dilator fingers (14A and 14B) that are connected at their respective proximal ends (16A and 16B) to the main body (12). A further dilator finger (28) extends between the fingers (14A and 14B) and is fixed... | 01/16/2001 |
