US5941819A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for creating a mediastinal working space
Assignee: Maquet Cardiovascular LLC
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Filing: 1997-06-05
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Granted: 1999-08-24
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Expires: 2017-06-05
Abstract
Abstract A mechanical lifting retractor is provided which increases working space in the chest for cardiac surgery by temporarily expanding the space between the rib cage and the pericardium. The lifting device has a pair of parallel right-angled retractors. Distal portions of the retractors are insertable in side-by-side parallel relation between a pair of adjacent ribs in the rib cage and into the mediastinal space between the ribs and sternum and the pericardium beneath them. The distal portions are pivotable into a lifting position in which they are separated by a rotational angle of approximately 180°. Following insertion of the distal portions into the mediastinal space, the distal portions are rotated into the lifting position and oriented in the sagittal plane such that each distal portion extends beneath one of the ribs. A lifting force is applied to the lifting retractor, causing the distal portions to engage the ribs and to lift the rib cage and thereby enlarging the mediastinal space. The lifting force is maintained for the duration of the surgical procedure.
Inventors
- 👤 Albert K. Chin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 15:10
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/02; A61B17/0218; A61B17/0281; A61B17/22; A61B17/22031; A61B17/22032; A61B17/34; A61B17/3417; A61B90/00; A61B90/50; A61B17/3462; A61B17/00234; A61B2017/00238; A61B2017/00243; A61B2017/00261; A61B2017/00535; A61B2017/00557; A61B17/32; A61B2017/320044; A61B2017/320048; A61B90/30; A61B2090/306
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
265 words
Apparatus insertable at least in part through a small opening without performing a sternotomy for creating a work space within a rib cage for cardiac surgery, said apparatus comprising: a lifting body having a superior end, an inferior end and a pair of approximately parallel throughbores passing between the superior and inferior ends; lifting means for applying a lifting force to the lifting body; first and second retractor arms, each retractor arm including an intermediate portion rotatably disposed within one of the throughbores, the intermediate portion having a proximal end extending from the superior end of the lifting body and a distal end extending from the inferior end of the lifting body, and a retractor bar extending angularly from the distal end of the intermediate portion for rotation between an insertion position in which the retractor bars are in close generally parallel relationship to permit their simultaneous passage through the opening and between a pair of adjacent ribs in the rib cage, and a lifting position in which the retractor bars are separated by a rotational angle such that each retractor bar is positioned to engage at least one of said ribs upon application of the lifting force; a position stop mounted to the superior end of the lifting body; and a pair of deployment bars, each deployment bar angularly connected to the proximal end of one of the intermediate portions such that rotation of each deployment bar produces rotation of one of the retractor arms, and such that the deployment bars abut the position stop when the retractor bars are in the insertion position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
265 words
Apparatus insertable at least in part through a small opening without performing a sternotomy for creating a work space within a rib cage for cardiac surgery, said apparatus comprising: a lifting body having a superior end, an inferior end and a pair of approximately parallel throughbores passing between the superior and inferior ends; lifting means for applying a lifting force to the lifting body; first and second retractor arms, each retractor arm including an intermediate portion rotatably disposed within one of the throughbores, the intermediate portion having a proximal end extending from the superior end of the lifting body and a distal end extending from the inferior end of the lifting body, and a retractor bar extending angularly from the distal end of the intermediate portion for rotation between an insertion position in which the retractor bars are in close generally parallel relationship to permit their simultaneous passage through the opening and between a pair of adjacent ribs in the rib cage, and a lifting position in which the retractor bars are separated by a rotational angle such that each retractor bar is positioned to engage at least one of said ribs upon application of the lifting force; a position stop mounted to the superior end of the lifting body; and a pair of deployment bars, each deployment bar angularly connected to the proximal end of one of the intermediate portions such that rotation of each deployment bar produces rotation of one of the retractor arms, and such that the deployment bars abut the position stop when the retractor bars are in the insertion position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
269 words
Apparatus insertable at least in part through a small opening without performing a sternotomy for creating a work space within a rib cage for cardiac surgery, said apparatus comprising: a lifting body having a superior end, an inferior end and a pair of approximately parallel throughbores passing between the superior and inferior ends; lifting means for applying a lifting force to the lifting body; first and second retractor arms, each retractor arm including an intermediate portion rotatable disposed within one of the throughbores, the intermediate portion having a proximal end extending from the superior end of the lifting body and a distal end extending from the inferior end of the lifting body, and a retractor bar extending angularly from the distal end of the intermediate portion for rotation between an insertion position in which the retractor bars are in close generally parallel relationship to permit their simultaneous passage through the opening and between a pair of adjacent ribs in the rib cage, and a lifting position in which the retractor bars are separated by a rotational angle such that each retractor bar is positioned to engage at least one of said ribs upon application of the lifting force; a pair of deployment bars, each deployment bar angularly connected to the proximal end of one of the intermediate portions such that rotation of each deployment bar produces rotation of one of the retractor arms; the apparatus further comprises a locking groove on the superior end of the lifting body, the locking groove positioned to engage a portion of each deployment bar when the retractor arms are in the lifting position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
269 words
Apparatus insertable at least in part through a small opening without performing a sternotomy for creating a work space within a rib cage for cardiac surgery, said apparatus comprising: a lifting body having a superior end, an inferior end and a pair of approximately parallel throughbores passing between the superior and inferior ends; lifting means for applying a lifting force to the lifting body; first and second retractor arms, each retractor arm including an intermediate portion rotatable disposed within one of the throughbores, the intermediate portion having a proximal end extending from the superior end of the lifting body and a distal end extending from the inferior end of the lifting body, and a retractor bar extending angularly from the distal end of the intermediate portion for rotation between an insertion position in which the retractor bars are in close generally parallel relationship to permit their simultaneous passage through the opening and between a pair of adjacent ribs in the rib cage, and a lifting position in which the retractor bars are separated by a rotational angle such that each retractor bar is positioned to engage at least one of said ribs upon application of the lifting force; a pair of deployment bars, each deployment bar angularly connected to the proximal end of one of the intermediate portions such that rotation of each deployment bar produces rotation of one of the retractor arms; the apparatus further comprises a locking groove on the superior end of the lifting body, the locking groove positioned to engage a portion of each deployment bar when the retractor arms are in the lifting position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
268 words
Apparatus insertable at least in part through a small opening without performing a sternotomy for creating a work space within a rib cage for cardiac surgery, said apparatus comprising: a lifting body having a superior end, an inferior end and a pair of approximately parallel throughbores passing between the superior and inferior ends; lifting means for applying a lifting force to the lifting body; first and second retractor arms, each retractor arm including an intermediate portion rotatable disposed within one of the throughbores, the intermediate portion having a proximal end extending from the superior end of the lifting body and a distal end extending from the inferior end of the lifting body, and a retractor bar extending angularly from the distal end of the intermediate portion for rotation between an insertion position in which the retractor bars are in close generally parallel relationship to permit their simultaneous passage through the opening and between a pair of adjacent ribs in the rib cage, and a lifting position in which the retractor bars are separated by a rotational angle such that each retractor bar is positioned to engage at least one of said ribs upon application of the lifting force; a pair of deployment bars, each deployment bar angularly connected to the proximal end of one of the intermediate portions such that rotation of each deployment bar produces rotation of one of the retractor arms; and the apparatus further comprises locking means on the superior end of the lifting body, the locking means for engaging a portion of each deployment bar when the retractor arms are in the lifting position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
268 words
Apparatus insertable at least in part through a small opening without performing a sternotomy for creating a work space within a rib cage for cardiac surgery, said apparatus comprising: a lifting body having a superior end, an inferior end and a pair of approximately parallel throughbores passing between the superior and inferior ends; lifting means for applying a lifting force to the lifting body; first and second retractor arms, each retractor arm including an intermediate portion rotatable disposed within one of the throughbores, the intermediate portion having a proximal end extending from the superior end of the lifting body and a distal end extending from the inferior end of the lifting body, and a retractor bar extending angularly from the distal end of the intermediate portion for rotation between an insertion position in which the retractor bars are in close generally parallel relationship to permit their simultaneous passage through the opening and between a pair of adjacent ribs in the rib cage, and a lifting position in which the retractor bars are separated by a rotational angle such that each retractor bar is positioned to engage at least one of said ribs upon application of the lifting force; a pair of deployment bars, each deployment bar angularly connected to the proximal end of one of the intermediate portions such that rotation of each deployment bar produces rotation of one of the retractor arms; and the apparatus further comprises locking means on the superior end of the lifting body, the locking means for engaging a portion of each deployment bar when the retractor arms are in the lifting position.
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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) | 2002-08-23 | 2003-02-22 | 2003-08-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-08-23 | 2007-02-22 | 2007-08-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-08-23 | 2011-02-22 | 2011-08-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |