US6652553B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Surgical tool for use in expanding a cannula
Assignee: Zimmer Spine Inc
•
Filing: 2001-07-16
•
Granted: 2003-11-25
•
Expires: 2021-07-16
Abstract
Abstract A surgical tool ( 112, 410 ) for use in expanding a cannula ( 10, 150, 250 ) includes a first leg ( 114, 414 ) having a first end ( 118, 418 ) engageable with an inner surface ( 70, 212, 322 ) of the cannula. A second leg ( 114, 414 ) is connected with the first leg ( 114, 414 ). The second leg ( 114, 414 ) has a second end ( 118, 418 ) engageable with the inner surface ( 70, 212, 322 ) of the cannula ( 10, 150, 250 ). The first and second ends ( 118, 418 ) are movable away from each other to apply a radially outwardly directed force to the inner surface ( 70, 212, 322 ) of the cannula ( 10, 150, 250 ) and cause expansion of the cannula.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas W. Davison
- 👤 Adam Sher
- 👤 John D. Unger
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 10:19
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/02; A61B17/0218; A61B17/32; A61B17/320016; A61B17/32002; A61B17/34; A61B17/3417; A61B17/3421; A61B17/3439; A61B17/0293; A61B17/28; A61B17/2812; A61B17/282; A61B17/29; A61B17/00234; A61B2017/00238; A61B2017/00261; A61B2017/0046
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
99 words
A surgical tool for use in expanding a cannula, the cannula having an inner surface defining a passage through the cannula for receiving surgical instruments, said surgical tool comprising: a first leg having a first end engageable with the inner surface of the cannula; and a second leg connected with said first leg, said second leg having a second end engageable with the inner surface of the cannula, said first and second ends being moveable away from each other to apply a radially outwardly directed force to the inner surface of the cannula and cause expansion of the cannula.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
99 words
A surgical tool for use in expanding a cannula, the cannula having an inner surface defining a passage through the cannula for receiving surgical instruments, said surgical tool comprising: a first leg having a first end engageable with the inner surface of the cannula; and a second leg connected with said first leg, said second leg having a second end engageable with the inner surface of the cannula, said first and second ends being moveable away from each other to apply a radially outwardly directed force to the inner surface of the cannula and cause expansion of the cannula.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
A surgical tool as set forth in claim 1 wherein said second leg is pivotally connected to said first leg.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
65 words
A surgical tool as set forth in claim 2 wherein said first leg has a first handle opposite said first end and said second leg has a second handle opposite said second end, said first and second handles being movable toward each other to pivot said first and second legs relative to each other and move said first and second ends away from each other.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
A surgical tool as set forth in claim 1 wherein each of said first and second ends has a tapered outer surface engageable with the inner surface of the cannula.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
A surgical tool as set forth in claim 4 wherein said first and second ends of said first and second legs define a frustoconical end section of said surgical tool.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
A surgical tool as set forth in claim 5 wherein each of said first and second ends of said first and second legs includes a frustoconical half, said frustoconical halves defining said frustoconical end section.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
A surgical tool as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first leg has a stop engageable with said second leg to limit movement of said first and second ends away from each other.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
A surgical tool as set forth in claim 7 wherein said second leg has a stop engageable with said first leg to limit the movement of said first and second ends away from each other.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
A surgical tool as set forth in claim 1 wherein each of said first and second ends has a generally U-shaped cross-section.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
A surgical tool as set forth in claim 9 wherein each of said first and second ends has first and second outer surfaces extending generally parallel to each other.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
113 words
A surgical tool for use in expanding a cannula, the cannula having an inner surface defining a passage through the cannula for receiving surgical instruments, said surgical tool comprising: a first leg having a first end means for engaging the inner surface of the cannula; and a second leg connected with said firs leg, said second leg having a second end means for engaging the inner surface of the cannula, and means for moving said first and second end means away from each other, said first and second end means including means for applying a radially outwardly directed force to the inner surface of the cannula and for causing expansion of the cannula.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
113 words
A surgical tool for use in expanding a cannula, the cannula having an inner surface defining a passage through the cannula for receiving surgical instruments, said surgical tool comprising: a first leg having a first end means for engaging the inner surface of the cannula; and a second leg connected with said firs leg, said second leg having a second end means for engaging the inner surface of the cannula, and means for moving said first and second end means away from each other, said first and second end means including means for applying a radially outwardly directed force to the inner surface of the cannula and for causing expansion of the cannula.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
A surgical tool as set forth in claim 11 wherein said second leg is pivotally connected to said first leg.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
68 words
A surgical tool as set forth in claim 12 wherein said first leg has a first handle opposite said first end means and said second leg has a second handle opposite said second end means, said first and second handles being movable toward each other to pivot said first and second legs relative to each other and move said first and second end means away from each other.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
32 words
A surgical tool as set forth in claim 11 wherein each of said first and second ene means has a tappered outer surface means for engaging the inner surface of the cannula.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
31 words
A surgical tool as set forth in claim 14 wherein said first and second end means of said first and second legs define a frustoconical end section of said surgical tool.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
36 words
A surgical tool as set forth in claim 15 wherein each of said first and second end means of said first and second legs includes a frustoconical half, said frustoconical halves defining said frustoconical end section.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
35 words
A surgical tool as set forth in claim 11 wherein said first leg has a stop means for engaging said second leg to limit movement of said first and second means away from each other.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
37 words
A surgical tool as set forth in claim 17 wherein said second leg has a stop means for engaging said first leg to limit the movement of said first and second end means away from each other.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
23 words
A surgical tool as set forth in claim 11 wherein each of said first and second end means has a generally U-shaped cross-section.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
30 words
A surgical tool as set forth in claim 19 wherein each of said first and second end means has first and second outer surfaces extending generally parallel to each other.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1170324A
Cited
US3503398A
Cited
US5196023A
Cited
US5490819A
Cited
US5370659A
Cited
US5417203A
Cited
US5354302A
Cited
US5443479A
Cited
US5690606A
Cited
US5851214A
Cited
US5529571A
Cited
US6371968B1
Cited
US6126671A
Cited
US5976161A
Cited
US6187000B1
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2006-11-24 | 2007-05-26 | 2007-11-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-11-24 | 2011-05-26 | 2011-11-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-11-24 | 2015-05-26 | 2015-11-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |