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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8162827 | Adjustable polyaxial tissue retractor An adjustable polyaxial tissue retractor includes a retraction bar including a plurality of etched teeth, a retraction blade coupled to the retraction bar, a connector including a quick release component cavity and an outwardly protruding and expandable round bulbou... | 04/24/2012 |
| 7946982 | 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... | 05/24/2011 |
| 7935054 | Minimal access lumbar diskectomy instrumentation and method A minimal incision maximal access system allows for maximum desirable exposure along with maximum access to the operative field utilizing a minimum incision as small as the METRx and Endius systems. Instead of multiple insertions of dilating tubes the design is a st... | 05/03/2011 |
| 7887482 | Minimal access lumbar diskectomy instrumentation and method A minimal incision maximal access system allows for maximum desirable exposure along with maximum access to the operative field utilizing a minimum incision as small as the METRx and Endius systems. Instead of multiple insertions of dilating tubes the design is a st... | 02/15/2011 |
| 7758501 | Surgical reactors and methods of minimally invasive surgery A surgical retractor includes a plurality of blade assemblies interconnected by a plurality of racks. One or more of the blade assemblies is movable along a rack to selectively expand the retractor. At least one of the blade assemblies includes a blade that is rotat... | 07/20/2010 |
| 7691058 | Surgical retractor device and method of use A surgical retractor device includes a frame and at least one retracting member configured for being secured to the collapsible frame. The retracting member is formed from a spring-biased rotatable member, a tension line secured at a proximal end to the spring-biase... | 04/06/2010 |
| 7556600 | Surgical retraction apparatus and associated methods A retractor may be used during spinal surgery. The retractor may include a frame and one or more retractor blades. Each retractor blade may include a coupling arm, a retainer, and a retraction component. The coupling arms may be coupled to the frame such that the co... | 07/07/2009 |
| 7435219 | Surgical retractor positioning device A surgical retractor positioning device is provided to create a surgical working field in a minimally invasive and flexible manner. In one embodiment, the device can include a frame and an arm connected to the frame. The arm can include a proximal end, a distal end ... | 10/14/2008 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 7303568 | Suture and clamp retainer and organizer A suture clamp and/or suture retainer and organizer device for use during a surgical procedure, including an elongated body formed of resilient material and has a plurality of spaced lateral slits through one surface. The slits are individually identified and are si... | 12/04/2007 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 7264589 | Method for humerus retraction A method for performing surgery on a shoulder joint utilizes one positionable support arm attached to a retractor support apparatus. The method includes incising a patient to expose the shoulder joint. After exposing the shoulder joint, the humeral ball is dislocate... | 09/04/2007 |
| 7244260 | Apparatus for holding and arranging threads in surgical operations An apparatus for holding and arranging threads in surgical operations with a flexible structure being in a ring form, connecting straight linear forms or divided linear forms, with flexible metal inserted within foaming material. V shape ditches are cut on the upper... | 07/17/2007 |
| 7232411 | Radiolucent retractor and related components A radiolucent halo-type retractor (20) having a radiolucent curvilinear fixed member (32) connected to a radiolucent curvilinear movable member (34). Each of the fixed and movable members has a radiolucent male coupling (44, 46) projectin... | 06/19/2007 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 7156806 | Stabilized table rail clamp A clamping device which secures a retractor support apparatus to an operating table having a side rail. The clamping device has a first clamping member disposed between a side of the operating table and the side rail. The clamping device also includes a second clamp... | 01/02/2007 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 7122039 | Tying knots A suture knot can be tied during a medical procedure by use of a suture retainer ring in connection with a suturing instrument. The retainer ring allows a user to orient a suture about the instrument, such that a knot in the suture is automatically advanced and tigh... | 10/17/2006 |
| 7112172 | Endoscopic organ retraction system and method of using the same The present disclosure relates to a retraction system for retracting body organs and/or body tissue in a body cavity. The retraction system includes an elongate shaft configured and dimensioned to be inserted into the body cavity, a retractor device operatively asso... | 09/26/2006 |
| 7052457 | Self-retaining retractor A disclosed retraction device for gynecological surgery on a patient comprises, in one embodiment according to the invention, a frame hinged on a handle, the frame comprising a track; and at least one retractor slidably mounted on the track by a jig that does not co... | 05/30/2006 |
| 6997719 | Training model for endoscopic vessel harvesting A leg model, designed to teach endoscopic saphenous vein harvesting, is provided that accurately models the anatomy of the saphenous vein in the human thigh, and closely approximates the subcutaneous tissues in a human. The subcutaneous tissue is formulated and manu... | 02/14/2006 |
| 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 |
| 6939297 | Apparatus and methods 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... | 09/06/2005 |
| 6932765 | Apparatus for retaining otherwise hand-held retractors A retractor retaining device retains an otherwise handheld retractor in the retraction position. The device includes a flexible loop that is detachably attached to a retractor support proximate the surgical wound with the loop engaging a proximal end or handle of th... | 08/23/2005 |
| 6896654 | Surgical retractor having low-friction actuating means and contoured blade arms A retractor for performing surgery, for instance cardiac surgery on the coronary organs of a patient, which has a driving member to which the surgeon input is applied in the form of a mechanical force or torque, a thoracic structure engaging member which interfaces ... | 05/24/2005 |
| 6808493 | Adjustable ratchet retractor support apparatus An adjustable ratchet retractor support apparatus includes in one aspect a rotatable locking mount having first and second surfaces and an axis of rotation perpendicular to the surfaces. First and second rotatable pivot members are disposed respectively on the first... | 10/26/2004 |
| 6746396 | Self-seating surgical access device and method of use A surgical access device includes two opposed side members each of which carries a downwardly depending flange. One lateral member adjustably connects a first end of the first side member to a first end of the second side member, with at least one of these first end... | 06/08/2004 |
| 6709389 | Surgical apparatus and method A surgical instrument includes a frame structure defining proximal and distal portions. The proximal portion has an articulating arm for repositionably mounting to a base and the distal portion supporting a stabilizing member. An attachment mounts on the stabilizing... | 03/23/2004 |
| 6702741 | Medical body access device A medical device for retracting tissue allows access to the inside of the body by "prying open" an existing or created opening in a body. The device comprises a substantially transparent head having first and second head halves defining a substantially co... | 03/09/2004 |
| 6659945 | Self retaining retractor ring An adjustable self retaining retractor ring assembly is provided. The self retaining retractor ring assembly is formed from two half-rings connected together by hinges to form a 360° enclosure or ring. The hinges allow the two half-rings to bend or pivot... | 12/09/2003 |
| 6620097 | Three-dimensional tilt ratchet mechanism A three-dimensional tilt ratchet mechanism that is able to rotate, pivot, and bend forwards or backwards with ease is provided. The mechanism includes a device for multi-dimensional movement and placement of a retractor blade which comprises a first membe... | 09/16/2003 |