US3731673A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Self-retaining muscle retractor
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1971-03-29
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Granted: 1973-05-08
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Expires: 1991-03-29
Abstract
Abstract A self-retaining muscle retractor including a pair of elongated members formed on their respective one extremities with boneengaging portions and on their respective opposite extremities with lever arms. One of the lever arms has one end of a rigid brace pivotally connected thereto and the free end of such brace is engageable with a latching element included on the other lever arm whereby the bone-engaging portions may be inserted in an incision and engaged on opposite sides of a bone, the lever arms spread apart to retract the muscles away from such bone and the free end of the brace engaged with the latching element to maintain the incision open for convenient access to the bone.
Inventors
- 👤 W Halloran
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 07:57
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
187 words
A self-retaining muscle retractor comprising: a first rigid, elongated member formed on one extremity with a bone-engaging portion, its other extremity being a first lever arm, said first lever arm including first brace-engaging means and a latch element; a second rigid, elongated member formed on its one extremity with a bone-engaging portion, its other extremity being a second lever arm including a second brace-engaging means and a second latch element; a first brace comprising a rigid link pivotally engaged on one end with said first brace-engaging means and engageable on its opposite end with said second latch element; a second brace comprising a rigid link pivotally engaged on one end with said second brace-engaging means and engageable on its opposite end with said first latch element whereby said respective bone-engaging portions of said first and second members may be inserted into an incision to engage opposite sides of an exposed bone and said other ends of said arms spread apart and said opposite ends of said first and second braces selectively engaged with said respective second and first latch elements to maintain said lever arms spread apart.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
187 words
A self-retaining muscle retractor comprising: a first rigid, elongated member formed on one extremity with a bone-engaging portion, its other extremity being a first lever arm, said first lever arm including first brace-engaging means and a latch element; a second rigid, elongated member formed on its one extremity with a bone-engaging portion, its other extremity being a second lever arm including a second brace-engaging means and a second latch element; a first brace comprising a rigid link pivotally engaged on one end with said first brace-engaging means and engageable on its opposite end with said second latch element; a second brace comprising a rigid link pivotally engaged on one end with said second brace-engaging means and engageable on its opposite end with said first latch element whereby said respective bone-engaging portions of said first and second members may be inserted into an incision to engage opposite sides of an exposed bone and said other ends of said arms spread apart and said opposite ends of said first and second braces selectively engaged with said respective second and first latch elements to maintain said lever arms spread apart.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
A self-retaining muscle retractor as set forth in claim 1 wherein: said first and second arms are each formed with an enlarged pad portion adjacent said bone-engaging portion.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
A self-retaining muscle retractor as set forth in claim 1 that includes: a coupling for receiving said opposite ends of said first and second braces to maintain them butted together and said members angled apart at a selected angle.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
A self-retaining muscle retractor as set forth in claim 1 wherein: said second brace is longer than said first brace.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
180 words
A self-retaining muscle retractor comprising: a first rigid, elongated member formed on one extremity with a bone-engaging portion, its other extremity being a first lever arm, said first lever arm including brace-engaging means; a second rigid, elongated member separate from said first member and formed on one extremity with a bone-engaging portion, its other extremity being a second lever arm; rigid elongated brace means interposed between said lever arms and engageable on one end with said brace-engaging means and on its opposite end with said second lever arm; and a latch element for engagement between said opposite end of said brace means and said second lever arm whereby said respective bone-engaging portions of said first and second members may be inserted into an incision to engage opposite sides of an exposed bone and, said other ends of said lever arms spread apart, said brace means interposed between said lever arms with said one extremity thereof engaged with said brace-engaging means and said latch element engaging said opposite end with said second lever arm to maintain said lever arms spread apart.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
180 words
A self-retaining muscle retractor comprising: a first rigid, elongated member formed on one extremity with a bone-engaging portion, its other extremity being a first lever arm, said first lever arm including brace-engaging means; a second rigid, elongated member separate from said first member and formed on one extremity with a bone-engaging portion, its other extremity being a second lever arm; rigid elongated brace means interposed between said lever arms and engageable on one end with said brace-engaging means and on its opposite end with said second lever arm; and a latch element for engagement between said opposite end of said brace means and said second lever arm whereby said respective bone-engaging portions of said first and second members may be inserted into an incision to engage opposite sides of an exposed bone and, said other ends of said lever arms spread apart, said brace means interposed between said lever arms with said one extremity thereof engaged with said brace-engaging means and said latch element engaging said opposite end with said second lever arm to maintain said lever arms spread apart.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
48 words
A self-retaining muscle retractor as set forth in claim 5 that includes: a plurality of latching elements spaced along said second lever arm for being selectively engaged by said opposite end of said brace means whereby said brace means may hold said members braced apart at different angles.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
A self-retaining muscle retractor as set forth in claim 5 wherein: said first and second members include clamp-receiving apertures therein adjacent said one extremities.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
A self-retaining muscle retractor as set forth in claim 5 that includes: means for securing said opposite end of said brace means in engagement with said latching element.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
54 words
A self-retaining muscle retractor as set forth in claim 5 wherein: said brace engaging means is in the form of pivot means connecting said one extremity of said brace to said first lever arm; and said latch element is in the form of notch means formed on the free extremity of said brace means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
A self-retaining muscle retractor as set forth in claim 9 wherein: said notch means includes a plurality of notches spaced along said free extremity.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
53 words
A self-retaining muscle retractor as set forth in claim 9 wherein: said first lever arm is formed with an upwardly opening slot for receipt of said one end of said brace means; and said pivot means is in the form of a pivot pin projecting across said slot and through said brace means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
A self-retaining muscle retractor as set forth in claim 9 that includes: means for securing said opposite end of said brace means in engagement with said latching element.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2695607A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-05-07 | 1976-11-06 | 1977-05-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-05-07 | 1980-11-06 | 1981-05-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-05-07 | 1984-11-06 | 1985-05-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |