| Class / Patent application number | Description | Number of patent applications / Date published |
|---|
| 600214000 | Plural blades on single handle | 39 |
| 20080306345 | Vaginal Speculum Arrangement - A vaginal speculum arrangement includes a blade system for opening the vagina having a first blade ( | 12-11-2008 |
| 20090099422 | Specula - A supplementary blade for a speculum, the speculum having a plurality of primary blades movable relative to each other for opening and closing, wherein the supplementary blade comprises an anchor portion attachable to the speculum and a blade portion movable with respect to the anchor portion, and the blade portion is shaped to interact with at least one of the primary blades to move into an extended position in response to opening of the primary blades. | 04-16-2009 |
| 20090221879 | Minimally Invasive Retractor Having Separable Blades - A device, system and method for orthopedic spine surgery using a screw-based retractor are disclosed herein and allows for access to the spine through a minimally or less invasive approach. The retractor device is designed to be coupled to a pedicle screw and then to have opposed arms of the retractor spread apart to open the wound proximally. The retractor is removed by pulling it out of the wound whereby the retractor is separated along an asymmetric stress riser to pass over the pedicle screw head. The retractor is intended to be made of a flexible metal material, sterile packaged and disposable after one use. A system and method for using the retractor and performing a minimally invasive spine surgical procedure are also disclosed. | 09-03-2009 |
| 20100105986 | Surgical Access System and Related Methods - A system for accessing a surgical target site and related methods, involving an initial distraction system for creating an initial distraction corridor, and an assembly capable of distracting from the initial distraction corridor to a secondary distraction corridor and thereafter sequentially receiving a plurality of retractor blades for retracting from the secondary distraction corridor to thereby create an operative corridor to the surgical target site, 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 before, during, and after the establishment of an operative corridor to a surgical target site. | 04-29-2010 |
| 20100105987 | SURGICAL ACCESS SYSTEM AND RELATED METHOD - 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 before, during, and after the establishment of an operative corridor to a surgical target site. | 04-29-2010 |
| 20100121153 | RETRACTOR CANNULA SYSTEM FOR ACCESSING AND VISUALIZING SPINE AND RELATED METHODS - Retractor cannula systems may be used for accessing and visualizing the spine and related methods of treatment, including a forward-looking retractor cannula system for creating a working space and the retractor cannula system having atraumatic dissection capability to allow visualization in spine. The devices and methods described may be used, for example, to perform annulus repair, herniated disc excision, and denervation of neurological tissue; to dispense pharmacological agents and/or cell or tissue therapy agents; to diagnose disc degeneration and bony degeneration, spinal stenosis, and nucleus decompression, and to perform disc augmentation. | 05-13-2010 |
| 20100228096 | METHODS AND DEVICES FOR PROVIDING ACCESS INTO A BODY CAVITY - Methods and devices are provided for providing surgical access into a body cavity. In one embodiment, a surgical access device is provided that includes a housing coupled to a retractor. The housing can be have one or more sealing ports for receiving surgical instruments. Each sealing port can include one or more sealing elements therein for sealing the port and/or forming a seal around a surgical instrument disposed therethrough. Each sealing port can be in a fixed position relative to the housing and can be rotatable with the housing relative to the retractor. A plurality of safety shields can extend from the housing into the retractor to protect the retractor from instruments inserted through the sealing ports and into the retractor. | 09-09-2010 |
| 20100268036 | Surgical retraction device - The invention relates to a surgical retraction device which comprises at least two support arms which are moveable relative to each other and are held directly or indirectly upon one another and upon which at least one surgical restraining element for restraining bones or body tissue is or can be arranged, and which also comprises a support arm positioning mechanism for moving and changing a position of the at least two support arms relative to each other, it is proposed that the support arm positioning mechanism should comprise a coarse adjustment mechanism and at least one fine adjustment mechanism with which a position of the at least two support arms relative to each other can be changed mutually independently. | 10-21-2010 |
| 20110004067 | Surgical Retractors 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 rotatably connected to the blade assembly and that is rotatable independent of other blades of the retractor. | 01-06-2011 |
| 20120010472 | RETRACTOR FOR USE DURING RETROPERITONEAL LATERAL INSERTION OF SPINAL IMPLANTS - A method is disclosed for introducing a spinal disc implant into an intervertebral space of a subject. The subject is placed in a lateral position, and the anterior face of the spinal disc intervertebral space is accessed, between the L5 and S1 vertebrae, from an anterior and lateral retroperitoneal approach. An operative corridor to the anterior face of the spinal disc space is established by introducing a retractor instrument anterolaterally to the spinal disc space between the anterior superior iliac spine and the anterior inferior iliac spine. The damaged spinal disc contents are removed from the intervertebral space through the operative corridor, and the implant is advanced into the intervertebral space at an oblique angle and pivoted to position the implant substantially laterally within the intervertebral space. Elongated retractor and insertion instruments, as well as a modified disc implant, are also disclosed for carrying out the method. | 01-12-2012 |
| 20120071726 | SPECULUM - A speculum having first and second arms beginning at a proximal point and ending at a distal end and having a cup positioned at the distal end, an attachment portion positioned on the first arm and proximal to the cup, and a user manipulation element positioned within the attachment portion. In another embodiment the speculum has a generally U-shaped frame having a proximal point and pair of distal ends, a pair of cups attached to the distal ends, a pair of user manipulation elements attached to the frame and positioned between the cups and the proximal point so that the user manipulation elements can rotate relative to the frame. | 03-22-2012 |
| 20120149991 | METHOD OF USING A SURGICAL TISSUE RETRACTOR - A method of performing an operation, e.g. a spinal operation, on a patient using a retractor comprising a pair of blade assemblies which are adapted to open about a set of axes that are not parallel to a third spatial axis, and further comprising a pair of arms, which are adapted to move the pair of blade assemblies apart from one another in the third spatial axis. In the method, the blade assemblies are closed to assume a low profile, inserted into a relatively small incision, and stretched apart from each other, thereby stretching the skin about the incision to form an aperture longer than the incision. The blade assemblies are then opened by rotating the blades about the set of axes, stretching the skin around the incision in a second direction that is substantially perpendicular to the first direction (i.e. the direction of the incision.). | 06-14-2012 |
| 20130096387 | SURGICAL RETRACTOR ASSEMBLY AND METHOD - A surgical retractor comprises a support comprising a first mating part comprising a shaft, which defines a longitudinal axis, extending therefrom. At least one tissue engaging member extends between a first end defining a first axis and a second end defining a second axis and having a tissue engaging surface disposed along the second axis. The first end comprises a second mating part comprising a wall that defines an elongated cavity disposed along the first axis and being configured to receive the shaft such that the first axis and the longitudinal axis are co-axial. The wall is engageable with the shaft to align the second mating part with the first mating part such that the second axis intersects the longitudinal axis. Methods of use are disclosed. | 04-18-2013 |
| 20130225934 | EXPANDABLE ENDOSCOPIC HOODS AND RELATED METHODS OF USE - A medical device for tissue resection and related methods of use are disclosed. The device may include an elongate member having a proximal end and a distal end. The distal end of the elongate member may include a distal portion defining an end face and a cavity extending distally therefrom. The distal portion may further include multiple sections configured to transition between a first position and a second position different from the first position. The medical device may further include a mechanism configured to adjust a volume of the cavity by moving at least one of the multiple sections from the first position to the second position. | 08-29-2013 |
| 20130261402 | Methods and Devices for Tissue Retraction - Methods and devices are provided for retracting tissue. In one exemplary embodiment, a retractor is provided that includes a base, a plurality of blades extending from the base, and an actuator coupled to the base and operatively connected to the blades. The actuator can be configured to be actuated to move the blades relative to the base, thereby allowing the blades to retract tissue. The actuator can be self-locking so as to allow the blades to be freely movable within their entire range of motion relative to the base through actuation of the actuator without using another mechanism to lock the blades in a fixed position and to unlock the blades from the fixed position. The retractor can be formed from one or more radiolucent materials. | 10-03-2013 |
| 20130289355 | Stand-Alone Access System for Minimally Invasive Spinal Surgery - A retractor assembly for defining a working channel to a surgical site for conducting minimally invasive spinal surgery includes a plurality of relatively articulable components. Temporary interconnections are formed between adjacent sidewalls of the components to hold the components in a desired configuration, such as in a closed triangular form. The components are articulable relative to each other for adjusting the working channel or for performing surgical functions. | 10-31-2013 |
| 20140005489 | SURGICAL RETRACTOR WITH VIDEO CAMERAS | 01-02-2014 |
| 20140024900 | SURGICAL RETRACTOR AND METHOD OF USE - A surgical retractor includes a first member defining a longitudinal axis. The first member includes a blade disposed in spaced apart relation relative to the longitudinal axis and a grip surface. A second member has a blade disposed in spaced apart relation relative to the longitudinal axis and a grip surface. The grip surfaces are configured to be drawn together along the longitudinal axis such that the blades are engageable with tissue and connected with the grip surfaces such that the grip surfaces provide a tactile feedback of the tissue engagement. Systems and methods of use are disclosed. | 01-23-2014 |
| 20140039269 | 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 before, during, and after the establishment of an operative corridor to a surgical target site. | 02-06-2014 |
| 20140066718 | SURGICAL DEVICE FOR MINIMALLY INVASIVE SPINAL FUSION AND SURGICAL SYSTEM COMPRISING THE SAME - A surgical device is disclosed which may advantageously perform the functions of both a retractor and a distractor. The device has two retractor blades facing each other and held in a common frame, the retractor blades are insertable into a surgical incision in a patient and moveable away from each other along a main axis (x) so as to widen the surgical incision; and a connecting pin attached at a distal end of each retractor blade. Each connecting pin is attachable to a pedicle screw anchored to respective vertebrae of the patient, so that moving away the two retractor blades along the main axis (x) determines a distraction of the vertebrae. | 03-06-2014 |
| 20140114135 | Tissue Retractor - A tissue retractor device for retracting tissue includes a base and a plurality of blades connected to and distributed around said base. Each of the blades is outwardly movable from the base and includes a respective sloped portion on an interior region of the blades. The tissue retractor includes a pusher engaged to the base. A portion of said pusher abuts the sloped portion of each of the blades. Movement of the pusher in a longitudinal direction engages a portion of the pusher against said sloped portion of each of the blades to move the blades and angularly displace the blades between a respective closed position and an open position. | 04-24-2014 |
| 20140114136 | Tissue Retractor - A tissue retractor device for retracting tissue is disclosed. The device includes a base connected to a plurality of blades distributed around the base. Each of the blades is outwardly movable from the base. A pusher is engaged to the base. The pusher is movable in a longitudinal direction to move the blades to angularly displace each of the blades from a respective closed position to an open position. At least one biasing device is engaged with the base that biases the respective ones of the blades toward a closed position. The closed position is where the blades are relatively close together with respect to the open position. | 04-24-2014 |
| 20140121467 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR SIMULTANEOUS RETRACTION AND DISTRACTION OF BONE AND SOFT TISSUE - A surgical access system includes an access device having a tubular shape and a channel extending through the device that is sized to receive a surgical instrument. The outer surface of the device defines a support section and access section having an aperture extending through the wall of the device. The aperture has a wider distal portion and a narrower proximal portion and the surgical instrument may be inserted through the aperture. The access device simultaneously retracts soft tissue and distracts bone when inserted into the surgical site while allowing a surgeon access to the surgical site. | 05-01-2014 |
| 20140180016 | SURGICAL ACCESS SYSTEM AND RELATED METHODS - A system for accessing a surgical target site and related methods, involving an initial distraction system for creating an initial distraction corridor, and an assembly capable of distracting from the initial distraction corridor to a secondary distraction corridor and thereafter sequentially receiving a plurality of retractor blades for retracting from the secondary distraction corridor to thereby create an operative corridor to the surgical target site, 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 before, during, and after the establishment of an operative corridor to a surgical target site. | 06-26-2014 |
| 20140221761 | MUSCLE RETRACTOR FOR SPINE SURGERY - Provided is a muscle retractor for spine surgery including: first and second retractors having blades configured to support a spine and muscles, and insertion blocks extending from the blades and having facing open surfaces; an expander having expansion arms slidably inserted into the insertion blocks of the first and second retractors, a gear rack movably installed at both of the expansion arms and having a gear section formed at one surface thereof, and a ratchet installed at the expansion arm moving along the gear rack and locked to or released from the gear section of the gear rack; a slider accessibly inserted into the blade of the first retractor or the second retractor in a projected state; and an auxiliary plate pivotally installed at a lower portion of the blade of the first retractor of the first and second retractors supporting the muscles. | 08-07-2014 |
| 20140288379 | 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 before, during, and after the establishment of an operative corridor to a surgical target site. | 09-25-2014 |
| 20140309499 | SPECULUM - A speculum includes an upper blade, a lower blade, a link member, a handle portion, a curved portion, and a light source. The link member connects the upper blade and the lower blade to allow the upper blade and the lower blade to move between an open state and a close state. The curved portion connects the lower blade and the handle portion. The light source is disposed on the curved portion. | 10-16-2014 |
| 20140330084 | SURGICAL RETRACTOR WITH SPREADABLE RAKES - The present invention relates to a spreadable retractor, including a rake plate having a pair of laterally separated rake mountings; a pair of rakes, one of the rakes moveably mounted to each of the laterally separated rake mountings, wherein each of the rakes comprises a rake shaft extending away from the rake plate; and a rake spreader mounted to the rake plate at a position between the laterally separated rake mountings, the rake spreader operably linked to and configured to spread the pair of rakes apart from each other. The spreadable retractor of the present invention provides the ability for surgical personnel to use a single device to both lift and spread tissues and bones in the vicinity of a surgical incision. | 11-06-2014 |
| 20140330085 | Methods And Devices For Tissue Retraction - Methods and devices are provided for retracting tissue. In one exemplary embodiment, a retractor is provided that includes a base, a plurality of blades extending from the base, and an actuator coupled to the base and operatively connected to the blades. The actuator can be configured to be actuated to move the blades relative to the base, thereby allowing the blades to retract tissue. The actuator can be self-locking so as to allow the blades to be freely movable within their entire range of motion relative to the base through actuation of the actuator without using another mechanism to lock the blades in a fixed position and to unlock the blades from the fixed position. The retractor can be formed from one or more radiolucent materials. | 11-06-2014 |
| 20140336471 | KIT OF PARTS FOR USE IN RETRACTING BODY TISSUE - A retractor for use in spinal surgery comprises a frame including a ring member defining a generally central interior space. A plurality of blades is releasably supported respectively to slidable arms each supported on the ring member for individual translational movement relative to the ring member. The blades define an initial substantially enclosed opening that is expandable for use in a surgical procedure. A clutch mechanism supported on the ring member is associated with each arm to individually selectively engage each such arm with a rotatable main gear such that upon rotation of the main gear by a single actuator any one, all or any desired combination of arms may be translated relative to the ring member to move the blades and expand the opening in one or more selected desired directions. | 11-13-2014 |
| 20150018628 | Surgical Access System and Methods - A method for retracting tissue in a surgical procedure includes inserting a first blade of a retractor system into an incision in a body of a patient. The retractor system includes a first articulating arm and a second articulating arm. The first articulating arm is coupled to a retractor assembly blade. The retractor assembly blade has a handle portion and the first blade. The second articulating arm is coupled to a bracket securing a second blade. The method includes retracting tissue using the first blade, inserting the second blade into the incision in the body of the patient and retracting tissue using the second blade. | 01-15-2015 |
| 20150051448 | SURGICAL RETRACTOR SYSTEM AND METHODS OF USE - The present disclosure describes a surgical retractor system and method. The surgical retractor includes an elongate element defining an operational axis, a first blade secured to the elongate element and comprising a blade face, a second blade moveably secured to the elongate element, wherein the second blade defines a reference point located thereon, and wherein a movement of the second blade moves the reference point in a linear direction parallel to the operational axis and orthogonal to the blade face. A guide element may be removably located within an opening located on either the first blade or the second blade. | 02-19-2015 |
| 20150099939 | DOUBLE RETRACTOR BLADES - The present application relates to a double blade for a surgical retractor having a base body with a substantially cylindrical mounting mandrel for mounting the double blade on a surgical retractor, and at least two blade elements that are so mounted on the base body as to be rotatable and/or displaceable through at least a certain angular range with respect to the base body. Moreover, the present application relates to a blade arrangement in which a double blade is connected to a connecting element of a further double blade, or a single blade. In this case, the at least one double blade or, optionally, the single blade is rotatable with respect to the connecting element. In addition, the application relates to a retractor with a double blade, a blade arrangement or a blade assembly comprising double blades and a blade arrangement. | 04-09-2015 |
| 20150112148 | Vaginal Speculum - A vaginal speculum, conical in shape made out of clear plastic resin or metal that when closed can easily and gently be inserted into the introitus (vaginal opening). In certain embodiments, an obturator is used to introduce and/or expand the speculum. Various mechanisms are disclosed for dilating the speculum, after it has been inserted, so as to allow inspection of the patient's cervix. Such dilation can be effected relative to multiple axes, or even in substantially continuous, radial fashion about the periphery of the speculum, for improved visualization. In addition, this speculum has a handle that is oriented such that a vaginal exam can be performed on a standard exam table. The handle also includes a receptacle that receives a standard pen light. A light pipe directs light from the pen light to illuminate the cervix. | 04-23-2015 |
| 20150305732 | EYELID SPECULUM - An eyelid speculum for retracting a pair of eyelids, comprises: a first arm having a first blade portion contoured to generally conform to an eyeball globe and one of the pair of eyelids; a second arm having a second blade portion contoured to generally conform to the eyeball globe an the other of the pair of eyelids; and a mechanism carrying the first arm and the second arm. The mechanism is operable to hold the first arm and the second arm parallel to and in proximity to each other so that the first blade portion and the second blade portion may be inserted between said eyelids to engage said eyelids. The mechanism is further operable to move the first arm and the second arm apart from each other while maintaining the first arm and the second arm in parallel such that the first blade portion and the second blade portion retract said pair of eyelids. The mechanism advantageously moves away from the surgical field of the eye when retracting the eyelids. | 10-29-2015 |
| 20160051136 | RETRACTING CANNULA WITH ILLUMINATION AND METHODS OF USE - A surgical instrument includes a first member including a body having a first portion including a first extension defining a first longitudinal axis. The body includes a second portion having a projection defining a second longitudinal axis extending transverse to the first longitudinal axis. The projection includes a flange. A second member includes a first portion having a second extension and a second portion including an opening. The projection extends through the opening. The second member is movable between a first configuration in which the flange is positioned within the opening and the second extension extends parallel to the first longitudinal axis and a second configuration in which the flange is positioned outside of the opening and the second extension extends transverse to the first longitudinal axis. Systems and methods are disclosed. | 02-25-2016 |
| 20160174958 | SURGICAL ACCESS SYSTEM AND RELATED METHODS | 06-23-2016 |
| 20160192922 | RETRACTING TISSUE | 07-07-2016 |
| 20180021056 | RETRACTOR CANNULA SYSTEM FOR ACCESSING AND VISUALIZING SPINE AND RELATED METHODS | 01-25-2018 |
