US3882855A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Retractor for soft tissue for example brain tissue
Assignee: Heyer Schulte Corp
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Filing: 1973-11-12
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Granted: 1975-05-13
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Expires: 1993-11-12
Abstract
Abstract A retractor for tissue comprising a deformable metal blade having a pair of opposite faces and a peripheral edge bounding and interconnecting the faces. A sheath comprising a flexible material which is non-adherent to brain tissue, such as silicon elastomer, includes a cover portion that covers at least part of the blade, having an exposed bearing face for bearing against soft tissue, such as brain tissue, and a flexible skirt portion extending from the said cover portion and projecting beyond the peripheral edge. The sheath may be reinforced by a mesh and have an irregular surface, if desired.
Inventors
- 👤 Rudolf R Schulte
- 👤 Harold D Portnoy
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-22 20:45
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/02; A61L; A61L31/00; A61L31/04; A61L31/048; A61L31/06; A61L31/12; A61L31/125
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
136 words
A retractor for tissue comprising: a deformable metal blade having a pair of opposite faces and a peripheral edge bounding and interconnecting said faces; and a sheath enveloping at least a part of said blade, said sheath comprising a cover portion covering at least said part of both faces of said blade and having an exposed bearing face for bearing against brain tissue, and a skirt portion extending from said cover portion and projecting to a free edge beyond said peripheral edge, said portions comprising a material which is non-adherent to brain tissue the skirt being thinner adjacent to its free edge than it is adjacent to the peripheral edge of the blade and being sufficiently flexible as to bend upon contact with soft tissue such as brain tissue without cutting, tearing, or bruising said tissue.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
136 words
A retractor for tissue comprising: a deformable metal blade having a pair of opposite faces and a peripheral edge bounding and interconnecting said faces; and a sheath enveloping at least a part of said blade, said sheath comprising a cover portion covering at least said part of both faces of said blade and having an exposed bearing face for bearing against brain tissue, and a skirt portion extending from said cover portion and projecting to a free edge beyond said peripheral edge, said portions comprising a material which is non-adherent to brain tissue the skirt being thinner adjacent to its free edge than it is adjacent to the peripheral edge of the blade and being sufficiently flexible as to bend upon contact with soft tissue such as brain tissue without cutting, tearing, or bruising said tissue.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
A retractor according to claim 1 in which the bearing face is irregular in surface contour.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
A retractor according to claim 1 in which the material is one selected from the group consisting of silicone elastomer, Polyethylene, mylar, teflon and Kel-F.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
A retractor according to claim 1 in which the material is silicone elastomer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
A retractor according to claim 4 in which the cover portion includes a mesh reinforcement which is contained within said silicone elastomer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
12 words
A retractor according to claim 5 in which the mesh is dacron.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
47 words
A retractor according to claim 1 in which the sheath comprises a pair of sheets of silicone elastomer, each overlaying a said part of a respective face, and including an extension that projects beyond said peripheral edge, said extensions being joined together to form said skirt portion.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
44 words
A retractor according to claim 7 in which the extension of one layer projects farther beyond the peripheral edge than the extension of the other layer, whereby the skirt is thicker adjacent to the peripheral edge than at the free edge of the skirt.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
A retractor according to claim 8 in which the bearing face is irregular in surface contour.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
A retractor according to claim 7 in which the cover portion includes a mesh reinforcement which is contained within said silicone elastomer.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
A retractor according to claim 10 in which the mesh reinforcement extends into the skirt portion.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
A retractor according to claim 11 in which the bearing face is irregular in surface contour.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1944009A
Cited
US3288131A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-05-12 | 1978-11-11 | 1979-05-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-05-12 | 1982-11-11 | 1983-05-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-05-12 | 1986-11-11 | 1987-05-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |