US4889107A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Surgical retractor
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1988-02-10
•
Granted: 1989-12-26
•
Expires: 2008-02-10
Abstract
Abstract A surgical retractor including a barrier member forming a surgical dam for retaining viscera in an abdominal cavity during surgery and which is substantially nonabsorbant and is capable of being bent to a selected configuration and also including a core member enclosed within the barrier member that is capable of retaining the barrier member at the selected configuration. The barrier member is made of a flexible material such as foam plastic and has a cover made of a material impermeable to the passage of blood. The core member is preferably made of a metal capable of being bent to the plurality of selected configurations and being capable of retaining the selected configuration against the pressure of the viscera in the abdominal cavity.
Inventors
- 👤 Jack W. Kaufman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 07:40
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/02; A61B2017/0212; A61F; A61F13/00; A61F13/15; A61F13/44
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
176 words
A surgical retractor, comprising in combination barrier means for forming a surgical dam about an incision, said barrier means being substantially resistant to the absorption of blood and non-absorbent on its outer surfaces and enclosing a volume of compressible material and capable of being bent to a selected configuration in a plane perpendicular to the plane of said barrier means, said barrier means including a plurality of spaced slots in said plane of said barrier means for facilitating bends in the plane of said barrier means, and composite core means enclosed substantially within said compressible material and bending with said barrier means to said selected configuration and for retaining said barrier means at said selected configuration, said composite core means having an H configuration and having a flexible core member made of a metal having no memory and being in the form of a shape or configuration permitting multiple barrier means during use, whereby said surgical retractor is capable of conforming to a spread apart incision wall so as to retain flesh, membrane, muscle and viscera.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
176 words
A surgical retractor, comprising in combination barrier means for forming a surgical dam about an incision, said barrier means being substantially resistant to the absorption of blood and non-absorbent on its outer surfaces and enclosing a volume of compressible material and capable of being bent to a selected configuration in a plane perpendicular to the plane of said barrier means, said barrier means including a plurality of spaced slots in said plane of said barrier means for facilitating bends in the plane of said barrier means, and composite core means enclosed substantially within said compressible material and bending with said barrier means to said selected configuration and for retaining said barrier means at said selected configuration, said composite core means having an H configuration and having a flexible core member made of a metal having no memory and being in the form of a shape or configuration permitting multiple barrier means during use, whereby said surgical retractor is capable of conforming to a spread apart incision wall so as to retain flesh, membrane, muscle and viscera.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The retractor according to claim 1, wherein said core means is a unitary element.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
The retractor according to claim 1, wherein said barrier means includes an elongated body made of said compressible material and a substantially non-absorbent flexible cover for said elongated body.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The retractor according to claim 3, wherein said compressible material is a flexible foam material.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The retractor according to claim 4, wherein said flexible foam material is silicone rubber foam.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The retractor according to claim 4, wherein said non-absorbent flexible cover is made of silicone rubber.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
The retractor according to claim 4, wherein said non-absorbent flexible cover is made of polyvinylchloride.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
The retractor according to claim 4, wherein said non-absorbent flexible cover is made of latex.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
The retractor according to claim 4, wherein said non-absorbent flexible cover is closely fitted onto said body.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
88 words
The retractor according to claim 4, wherein said barrier member includes a pair of opposite side walls, a top wall and an opposite bottom wall, and top walls connected to said side walls, and a pair of opposite end walls connected to said side and said top and bottom walls, said side walls and said end walls being generally upright in the abdominal cavity during surgery wherein said top and bottom walls define a height, said side walls define a width, and said end walls define a length.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
89 words
The retractor according to claim 10, wherein said core means is an elongated flexible core member extending along said length generally midway between said width and said height, said core member has a core height, a core width, and a core length in general alignment with said height, said width, and said length of said barrier member and said core member made of a flexible core material having no memory being of sufficient strength to retain a selected configuration against pressure exerted by the viscera in the abdominal cavity.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
The retractor according to claim 4, wherein said flexible foam material is a plastic urethane foam material.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
The retractor according to claim 1, wherein said barrier means comprises a body means made of said compressible material and a substantially non-absorbent flexible cover for said body means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
The retractor according to claim 13, wherein said compressible material is a flexible foam material.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
176 words
A surgical retractor, comprising in combination barrier means for forming a surgical dam about an incision, said barrier means being substantially resistant to the absorption of blood and non-absorbent on its outer surfaces and enclosing a volume of compressible material and capable of being bent to a selected configuration in a plane perpendicular to the plane of said barrier means, said barrier means including a plurality of spaced slots in said plane of said barrier means for facilitating bends in the plane of said barrier means, and composite core means enclosed substantially within said compressible material and bending with said barrier means to said selected configuration and for retaining said barrier means at said selected configuration; said composite core means having an X configuration and having a flexible core member made of a metal having no memory and being in the form of a shape or configuration permitting multiple barrier means during use, whereby said surgical retractor is capable of conforming to a spread apart incision wall so as to retain flesh, membrane, muscle and viscera.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
176 words
A surgical retractor, comprising in combination barrier means for forming a surgical dam about an incision, said barrier means being substantially resistant to the absorption of blood and non-absorbent on its outer surfaces and enclosing a volume of compressible material and capable of being bent to a selected configuration in a plane perpendicular to the plane of said barrier means, said barrier means including a plurality of spaced slots in said plane of said barrier means for facilitating bends in the plane of said barrier means, and composite core means enclosed substantially within said compressible material and bending with said barrier means to said selected configuration and for retaining said barrier means at said selected configuration; said composite core means having an X configuration and having a flexible core member made of a metal having no memory and being in the form of a shape or configuration permitting multiple barrier means during use, whereby said surgical retractor is capable of conforming to a spread apart incision wall so as to retain flesh, membrane, muscle and viscera.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
14 words
The retractor according to claim 15, wherein said core means is a unitary element.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
38 words
The retractor according to claim 15, wherein said X configuration is formed by a pair of intersecting core members with one said core member passing through a slot provided in the other of said pair of core members.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
24 words
The retractor according to claim 17, wherein said slot in said other core member of said pair of core members is generally centrally disposed.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
29 words
The retractor according to claim 15, wherein said barrier means comprises a body means made of said compressible material and a substantially non-absorbent flexible cover for said body means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
15 words
The retractor according to claim 19, wherein said compressible material is a flexible foam material.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
29 words
The retractor according to claim 15, wherein said barrier means includes an elongated body made of said compressible material and a substantially non-absorbent flexible cover for said elongated body.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
15 words
The retractor according to claim 21, wherein said compressible material is a flexible foam material.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
17 words
The retractor according to claim 22, wherein said flexible foam material is a plastic urethane foam material.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
15 words
The retractor according to claim 22, wherein said flexible foam material is silicone rubber foam.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
15 words
The retractor according to claim 22, wherein said non-absorbent cover is made of silicone rubber.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
14 words
The retractor according to claim 22, wherein said non-absorbent cover is made of polyvinylchloride.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
14 words
The retractor according to claim 22, wherein said non-absorbent cover is made of latex.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
16 words
The retractor according to claim 22, wherein said non-absorbent cover is closely fitted onto said body.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
88 words
The retractor according to claim 22, wherein said barrier member includes a pair of opposite side walls, a top wall and an opposite bottom wall, and top walls connected to said side walls, and a pair of opposite end walls connected to said side and said top and bottom walls, said side walls and said end walls being generally upright in the abdominal cavity during surgery wherein said top and bottom walls define a height, said side walls define a width, and said end walls define a length.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
89 words
The retractor according to claim 29, wherein said core means is an elongated flexible core member extending along said length generally midway between said width and said height, said core member has a core height, a core width, and a core length in general alignment with said height, said width, and said length of said barrier member and said core member made of a flexible core material having no memory being of sufficient strength to retain a selected configuration against pressure exerted by the viscera in the abdominal cavity.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-12-25 | 1993-06-26 | 1993-12-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-12-25 | 1997-06-26 | 1997-12-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-12-25 | 2001-06-26 | 2001-12-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |