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US5728046A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Surgical retractor

Assignee: Aesculap AG
•
Filing: 1996-03-18
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Granted: 1998-03-17
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Expires: 2016-03-18
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Abstract

Abstract In a surgical retractor having a frame on which at least two retractor elements are mounted, if desired, so as to be displaceable, to enable individual adjustment of the forces exerted by the retractor elements on the surrounding tissue, it is proposed that the frame have at least one support foot which carries attachment means for fixing on a bone.

Inventors

  • 👤 Heinz Michael Mayer
  • 👤 Stephan Eckhof
  • 👤 Nicola Giordano
  • 👤 Dieter Weisshaupt

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-23 03:34
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/02; A61B17/0293; A61B17/56; A61B17/58; A61B17/68; A61B17/70; A61B17/7074; A61B17/7076; A61B17/7077; A61B17/025; A61B2017/0256

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim 112 words
A surgical retractor apparatus, comprising: a frame defining a central opening adapted to provide access to the site of operation during surgery; first and second holders secured to said frame; first and second support feet adapted to be secured to said first and second holders respectively and extending into said central opening and away from said frame; first and second attachment means for attaching said first and second support feet to respective bone portions; and opposing first and second retractor elements secured to said frame, wherein at least said first retractor element is adjustably secured to said frame so as to be displaceable relative to said frame and said second retractor element.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 112 words
A surgical retractor apparatus, comprising: a frame defining a central opening adapted to provide access to the site of operation during surgery; first and second holders secured to said frame; first and second support feet adapted to be secured to said first and second holders respectively and extending into said central opening and away from said frame; first and second attachment means for attaching said first and second support feet to respective bone portions; and opposing first and second retractor elements secured to said frame, wherein at least said first retractor element is adjustably secured to said frame so as to be displaceable relative to said frame and said second retractor element.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 44 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: at least one of said first and second feet is adjustably held by the respective holder so as to be displaceable relative to said frame to provide a displacement of said respective bone portions relative to one another.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 30 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the displacement of said first retractor element is substantially transverse to the displacement of said at least one of said first and second feet.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 19 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: said frame extends in a circumferentially closed path to define said central opening.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 10 words
The apparatus of claim 4, wherein: said frame is rectangular.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 12 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: said bone portions are vertebral bodies.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 40 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: said first and second feet are adjustably held by the respective holder so as to be displaceable relative to said frame to allow a displacement of said respective bone portions relative to one another.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 39 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: said first and second support feet extend toward one another in said central opening; and said first and second support feet extend away from said frame while being substantially parallel to one another.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 19 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: said first and second attachment means comprise respective first and second bone screws.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 39 words
The apparatus of claim 9, wherein: said first and second bone screws are rigidly coupled to respective first and second extension rods which extend away from said bone portions when said bone screws are secured to said bone portions.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 25 words
The apparatus of claim 10, wherein: said first and second support feet are adapted to be supported by said first and second extension rods, respectively.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 30 words
The apparatus of claim 11, wherein: said first and second support feet have respective first and second boreholes which are adapted to receive said first and second extension rods, respectively.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 23 words
The apparatus of claim 12, wherein: said first and second boreholes are adapted to removeably receive said first and second extension rods, respectively.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 38 words
The apparatus of claim 12, wherein: said first and second boreholes are adapted to removeably receive said first and second extension rods, respectively, after said first and second bone screws have been secured to said respective bone portions.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 24 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: at least one of said first and second support feet is rigidly coupled to a respective retractor blade.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 24 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: at least one of said first and second support feet is designed integrally with a respective retractor blade.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 29 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: said frame extends in a plane; and said first and second support feet extend away from said frame substantially perpendicularly to said plane.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 15 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: said first and second support feet are L shaped.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 24 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: said first and second support feet include respective threaded spindles for engaging said first and second holders, respectively.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 13 words
The apparatus of claim 19, wherein: said respective threaded spindles extend substantially collinearly.

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2001-03-16 2001-09-15 2002-03-17 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2005-03-16 2005-09-15 2006-03-17 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2009-03-16 2009-09-15 2010-03-17 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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