US5964699A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Surgical support apparatus with a Z-shape rake plate
Assignee: Rultract Inc
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Filing: 1999-01-22
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Granted: 1999-10-12
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Expires: 2019-01-22
Abstract
Abstract A first embodiment of a surgical retractor includes a Z-shape rake plate, one or more rakes for applying a retractor force to a portion of a patient's body, and pivoting mounting means for mounting the rakes to the rake plate. Means are provided to adjust the extension of the rakes relative to the rake plate, and various connections are provided for connecting the rakes to the rake plate. The rake plate is Z-shape to facilitate placement relative to a surgical cavity of a patient. A method of holding open a surgical cavity includes the placing of rakes relative to the cavity and adjusting the position of the respective rakes relative to the rake plate to thereby retract the portion of the patient's body and provide access to the surgical cavity.
Inventors
- 👤 Janice Lee Rullo
- 👤 William John Koteles
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 18:56
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/02; A61B2017/0287
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
36 words
A surgical retractor, comprising: a rake plate, at least one rake mounted with respect to the rake plate for applying a retractor force to a patient's body, wherein said rake plate has a generally Z-shape structure.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
36 words
A surgical retractor, comprising: a rake plate, at least one rake mounted with respect to the rake plate for applying a retractor force to a patient's body, wherein said rake plate has a generally Z-shape structure.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
A surgical retractor as in claim 1, further comprising means for adjusting the extension of the at least one rake relative to the Z-shape rake plate.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
A surgical retractor as in claim 1, wherein two rakes are mounted on the Z-shape rake plate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
A surgical retractor as in claim 1, wherein said at least one rake is pivotably mounted on the Z-shape rake plate.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
A surgical retractor as in claim 1, wherein said Z-shape rake plate has a horizontal axis and the at least one rake is vertically adjustable with respect to the Z-shape rake plate.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
A surgical retractor as in claim 5, wherein said at least one rake is pivotably mounted on the Z-shape rake plate for permitting the at least one rake to be adjusted relative to the rake plate.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
A surgical retractor as in claim 6, wherein the legs of the Z-shape rake plate are substantially parallel and offset from one another.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
54 words
A surgical retractor, comprising: a rake plate having a generally Z-shape structure; a rib rake adjustably mounted with respect to the rake plate for applying a retractor force to a patient's rib; and an L-shaped sternal rake adjustably mounted with respect to the rake plate for applying a retractor force to a patient's sternum.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
54 words
A surgical retractor, comprising: a rake plate having a generally Z-shape structure; a rib rake adjustably mounted with respect to the rake plate for applying a retractor force to a patient's rib; and an L-shaped sternal rake adjustably mounted with respect to the rake plate for applying a retractor force to a patient's sternum.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
A surgical retractor as in claim 8, wherein the L-shaped sternal rake includes a horizontally extending portion and an upwardly bent rake tip.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
54 words
A surgical retractor comprising a Z-shape rake plate having a center portion and respective end portions, a mounting device to mount a respective rake in relative proximity to the respective end portions of the rake plate, and a clip for coupling a rake in relative proximity to the center portion of the rake plate.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
54 words
A surgical retractor comprising a Z-shape rake plate having a center portion and respective end portions, a mounting device to mount a respective rake in relative proximity to the respective end portions of the rake plate, and a clip for coupling a rake in relative proximity to the center portion of the rake plate.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
A surgical retractor as set forth in claim 10, further including means for adjusting the extension of the rakes relative to the rake plate.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
84 words
A method of holding open a surgical cavity comprising the steps of: providing a surgical cavity by making a surgical incision in a portion of a patient's body, attaching a first rake to a Z-shape rake plate, placing the first rake in the surgical incision, adjusting the extension of the first rake relative to the rake plate, and retracting the Z-shape rake plate together with the first rake to thereby retract the portion of the patient's body and provide access to the surgical cavity.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
84 words
A method of holding open a surgical cavity comprising the steps of: providing a surgical cavity by making a surgical incision in a portion of a patient's body, attaching a first rake to a Z-shape rake plate, placing the first rake in the surgical incision, adjusting the extension of the first rake relative to the rake plate, and retracting the Z-shape rake plate together with the first rake to thereby retract the portion of the patient's body and provide access to the surgical cavity.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
76 words
A method as set forth in claim 12, further comprising: attaching a second rake to the Z-shape rake plate, placing the second rake in the surgical incision at a position for cooperation with the first rake, adjusting the extension of the second rake relative to the rake plate, retracting the Z-shape rake plate together with the first and second rakes to thereby retract the portion of the patient's body and provide access to the surgical cavity.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as set forth in claim 13, wherein the portion of the patient's body comprises an intercostal region of the patients rib cage.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method as set forth in claim 14, wherein the first rake comprises a rib rake, and the step of placing the first rake includes placing the rib rake around a rib adjacent the surgical incision in the cranial direction.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
58 words
A method as set forth in claim 15, wherein the second rake comprises an L-shaped sternal rake having as one of its legs a horizontally extending body-supporting portion, and the step of placing the second rake includes placing the L-shaped sternal rake laterally in the intercostal region so that the horizontally extending body-supporting portion extends under the sternum.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method as set forth in claim 16, further comprising retracting the rib and sternum together.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
57 words
A method of minimizing the space required in a surgical field for retraction, comprising using a Z-shape rake plate to support one or more rake mechanisms or the like, and adjusting the height position of at least one of the Z-shape rake plate or at least one or more rake mechanisms or the like to affect retraction.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
57 words
A method of minimizing the space required in a surgical field for retraction, comprising using a Z-shape rake plate to support one or more rake mechanisms or the like, and adjusting the height position of at least one of the Z-shape rake plate or at least one or more rake mechanisms or the like to affect retraction.
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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) | 2002-10-11 | 2003-04-12 | 2003-10-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-10-11 | 2007-04-12 | 2007-10-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-10-11 | 2011-04-12 | 2011-10-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |