Patent US5785649A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
← Back to Patent Explorer
US5785649A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Surgical retractor stay apparatus

Assignee: CooperSurgical Inc
•
Filing: 1997-03-31
•
Granted: 1998-07-28
•
Expires: 2017-03-31
📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract An improved surgical retractor stay has an integrally formed handle body and elongated elastic member with a tail that can engage a slot of a retractor. The improved construction preferably includes an injection molded one piece handle and elongated member so that void spaces are eliminated. A wire hook member includes multiple folded sections that are encapsulated by the handle (e.g., during injection molding of the handle about the hook member). An exposed portion of the hook member extends beyond the distal tip of the handle body and provides a sharp end portion that is used to engage selected body tissue.

Inventors

  • 👤 James M. Fowler, Jr.

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-08 07:19
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/02; A61B17/0293; A61B2017/0287

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim 180 words
A surgical stay apparatus comprising: a) frame that conforms to a patient's body at a surgical site; b) a one-piece stay that includes a handle body having proximal and distal ends; c) a hook member having proximal and distal end portions, the proximal end portion being encapsulated by the handle body, the handle body being molded about a portion of to the hook proximal end portion; d) the one-piece stay including an elastic member that extends integrally from the handle, the elastic member having an elongated portion that extends from the distal end of the handle body so that there no detatchable connection at the interface of the handle and elastic member, the elastic member including a proximal end that is connectable to the frame; e) the hook member having an exposed curved hook portion extending from the distal end portion of the handle body; and f) wherein the hook is of a configuration and the handle and elastic member of a material that enables the handle and elastic member to hold the hook without pull-out or disconnection during use.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 180 words
A surgical stay apparatus comprising: a) frame that conforms to a patient's body at a surgical site; b) a one-piece stay that includes a handle body having proximal and distal ends; c) a hook member having proximal and distal end portions, the proximal end portion being encapsulated by the handle body, the handle body being molded about a portion of to the hook proximal end portion; d) the one-piece stay including an elastic member that extends integrally from the handle, the elastic member having an elongated portion that extends from the distal end of the handle body so that there no detatchable connection at the interface of the handle and elastic member, the elastic member including a proximal end that is connectable to the frame; e) the hook member having an exposed curved hook portion extending from the distal end portion of the handle body; and f) wherein the hook is of a configuration and the handle and elastic member of a material that enables the handle and elastic member to hold the hook without pull-out or disconnection during use.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 18 words
The surgical retractor stay of claim 1 wherein the hook member proximal end portion includes two offset sections.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 25 words
The surgical retractor stay of claim 1 wherein the hook member proximal end portion includes two offset sections that are generally parallel to one another.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 24 words
The surgical stay apparatus of claim 1 wherein the handle is a molded member that closely conforms to a majority of the hook member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 28 words
The surgical stay apparatus of claim 1 wherein the hook member includes a wire like portion that has at least one bend that is embedded within the handle.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 30 words
The surgical stay apparatus of claim 1 wherein the hook member includes a wire like portion that has at least two spaced apart bends that are embedded within the handle.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 17 words
The surgical stay apparatus of claim 1 wherein the elastic member is of a generally uniform diameter.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 20 words
The surgical stay apparatus of claim 1 wherein the elastic member has a plurality of spaced apart enlarged diameter sections.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 24 words
The surgical stay apparatus of claim 8 wherein the enlarged diameter sections are spaced at regular intervals along the length of the elastic member.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 23 words
The surgical stay apparatus of claim 1 wherein the hook member has an exposed portion that extends through a bend of about 180°.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 29 words
The surgical stay apparatus of claim 1 wherein the hook member has an embedded portion contained in the handle body that is much longer than the exposed hook portion.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 20 words
The surgical stay apparatus of claim 18 wherein the embedded portion contained in the handle body includes multiple folded portions.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 26 words
The surgical stay apparatus of claim 1 wherein the embedded portion contained in the handle body is an elongated member that is folded, including multiple bends.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 24 words
The surgical stay apparatus of claim 1 wherein the handle has opposed concave dimple portions that are receptive of a user's fingers during use.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 22 words
The surgical stay apparatus of claim 1 wherein the handle has opposed surfaces that are shaped to conform to a user's fingers.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 177 words
A surgical stay apparatus comprising: a) a handle body having proximal and distal ends; b) a metallic wire hook member having proximal and distal end portions, a majority of the hook member being encapsulated by the handle body, the handle body being molded about a portion of the hook member so that it closely conforms thereto; c) an elastic member connected integrally to the handle body so that there is no detatchable connection at the interface of the handle and elastic member, the elastic member having an elongated portion that extends from the distal end of the handle body, the elastic member and the handle body forming a one-piece stay; d) the hook member having an exposed curved hook portion extending from the distal end portion of the handle body; and e) wherein the hook is of a configuration and the handle and elastic member of a molded material that enables the handle and its elastic member to hold the hook member without pull-out or disconnection during use when the handle is molded to the hook member.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 177 words
A surgical stay apparatus comprising: a) a handle body having proximal and distal ends; b) a metallic wire hook member having proximal and distal end portions, a majority of the hook member being encapsulated by the handle body, the handle body being molded about a portion of the hook member so that it closely conforms thereto; c) an elastic member connected integrally to the handle body so that there is no detatchable connection at the interface of the handle and elastic member, the elastic member having an elongated portion that extends from the distal end of the handle body, the elastic member and the handle body forming a one-piece stay; d) the hook member having an exposed curved hook portion extending from the distal end portion of the handle body; and e) wherein the hook is of a configuration and the handle and elastic member of a molded material that enables the handle and its elastic member to hold the hook member without pull-out or disconnection during use when the handle is molded to the hook member.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 17 words
The surgical retractor stay of claim 16 wherein the hook member includes a plurality of offset sections.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 21 words
The surgical retractor stay of claim 16 wherein the hook member includes multiple sections that are generally parallel to one another.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 29 words
The surgical stay apparatus of claim 16 wherein the handle is a molded member that closely conforms to and encapsulates a majority of the length of the hook member.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 22 words
The surgical stay apparatus of claim 16 wherein the hook member has at least one bend that is embedded within the handle.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 24 words
The surgical stay apparatus of claim 16 wherein the hook member has at least two spaced apart bends that are embedded within the handle.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 17 words
The surgical stay apparatus of claim 16 wherein the elastic member is of a generally uniform diameter.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim 21 words
The surgical stay apparatus of claim 16 wherein the elastic member ha s a plurality of spaced apart enlarged diameter sections.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim 24 words
The surgical stay apparatus of claim 23 wherein the enlarged diameter sections are spaced at regular intervals along the length of the elastic member.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim 22 words
The surgical stay apparatus of claim 16 wherein the hook has an exposed portion that extends through a bend of about 180°.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim 28 words
The surgical stay apparatus of claim 16 wherein the hook member has an embedded portion of a length that is many times longer than the exposed hook portion.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim 21 words
The surgical stay apparatus of claim 16 wherein the handle has opposed concave portions that receive the user's fingers during use.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim 22 words
The surgical stay apparatus of claim 16 wherein the handle has opposed surfaces that are dished to conform to a user's fingers.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3762401A Cited
USRE32021E Cited
US4430991A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2001-07-27 2002-01-26 2002-07-28 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2005-07-27 2006-01-26 2006-07-28 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2009-07-27 2010-01-26 2010-07-28 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag