US6030340A — Surgical retractor

Claim 1

Independent Claim 86 words

A surgical retractor assembly comprising: a frame lying in a first plane, the frame supporting at least one hook member configured to retract at least one of tissue and bone; at least one elevation control assembly supporting the frame, the elevation control assembly configured to selectively retain at least a portion of the frame out of the first plane; and a ring member removably mounted on the frame, the ring member configured to engage at least one surgical instrument for use in performing a surgical procedure.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 86 words

A surgical retractor assembly comprising: a frame lying in a first plane, the frame supporting at least one hook member configured to retract at least one of tissue and bone; at least one elevation control assembly supporting the frame, the elevation control assembly configured to selectively retain at least a portion of the frame out of the first plane; and a ring member removably mounted on the frame, the ring member configured to engage at least one surgical instrument for use in performing a surgical procedure.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 19 words

The surgical retractor assembly of claim 1 wherein the at least one hook member is integral with the frame.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 20 words

The surgical retractor assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one hook member is removably mounted on the frame.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 21 words

The surgical retractor assembly of claim 1 wherein the at least one hook member is movable with respect to the frame.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 25 words

The surgical retractor assembly of claim 4, further comprising an adjustment knob for moving the at least one hook member with respect to the frame.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 24 words

The surgical retractor assembly of claim 5, wherein the at least one hook member has a plurality of teeth engageable by the adjustment knob.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 24 words

The surgical retractor assembly of claim 1 wherein the at least one hook member includes a body portion and at least one hook portion.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 21 words

The surgical retractor assembly of claim 7 wherein the at least one hook portion is removably mounted on the body portion.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 20 words

The surgical retractor assembly of claim 7 wherein the at least one hook portion is integral with the body portion.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 19 words

The surgical retractor assembly of claim 1, wherein the frame and the ring member are substantially oval in configuration.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 25 words

The surgical retractor assembly of claim 1, wherein the frame and the ring member define an opening for allowing access to a patient's body therethrough.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 40 words

The surgical retractor assembly of claim 1, further comprising a second hook member removably mounted on the frame and movable to retract at least one of tissue and bone in a direction away from the at least one hook member.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 31 words

The surgical retractor assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one elevation control assembly comprises an elongated shaft having a locking mechanism to retain the frame in a selected position.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 43 words

The surgical retractor assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one elevation control assembly includes a pair of elongated shafts removably mounted to the frame, each of the elongated shafts including a locking assembly to retain the frame in a selected position.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 33 words

The surgical retractor assembly of claim 14, wherein each locking assembly includes a collet and a compressible member mounted on the shaft, the collet configured to compress the compressible member onto the shaft.

Claim 17

Independent Claim 134 words

A method for accessing the thoracic cavity of a patient in a minimally invasive surgical procedure comprising the steps of: making an incision in the patient's chest to expose the ribs; placing a frame of a surgical retractor assembly on the patient's chest such that an opening defined by the frame surrounds the intended opening to the thoracic cavity; placing a first hook member supported on the frame between two adjacent ribs; placing a second hook member supported on the frame between the two adjacent ribs; moving the second hook member in a direction away from the first hook member to retract the ribs; attaching a ring member to the frame; and attaching at least one surgical instrument to the ring member to facilitate a surgical procedure within the opening to the thoracic cavity.

Claim 18

Independent Claim 134 words

A method for accessing the thoracic cavity of a patient in a minimally invasive surgical procedure comprising the steps of: making an incision in the patient's chest to expose the ribs; placing a frame of a surgical retractor assembly on the patient's chest such that an opening defined by the frame surrounds the intended opening to the thoracic cavity; placing a first hook member supported on the frame between two adjacent ribs; placing a second hook member supported on the frame between the two adjacent ribs; moving the second hook member in a direction away from the first hook member to retract the ribs; attaching a ring member to the frame; and attaching at least one surgical instrument to the ring member to facilitate a surgical procedure within the opening to the thoracic cavity.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 40 words

The method of claim 16, further comprising the steps of: elevating a first portion of the frame away from the patient's chest to a selected raised position; and retaining the first portion of the frame in the selected raised position.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 32 words

The method of claim 17, wherein the step of elevating the first portion of the frame comprises the step of manually sliding the first portion along first and second spaced apart shafts.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 26 words

The method of claim 17, wherein the step of retaining the first portion comprises the step of compressing a compressible member against each of the shafts.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 19 words

The method of claim 16, wherein the step of moving the second hook member comprises rotating an adjustment knob.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 167 words

A surgical retractor assembly comprising: a frame lying in a plane; a first hook assembly movably supported on the frame and configured to retract a first portion of at least one of tissue and bone from a second portion of at least one of tissue and bone; a second hook assembly repositionably mounted in a fixed position on the frame at a location opposite to the first hook assembly and configured to maintain the second portion of at least one of tissue and bone in a fixed position relative to the first portion of at least one of tissue and bone to facilitate retraction of the first portion from the second portion; at least one elevation control assembly supporting the frame, the elevation control assembly configured to selectively retain at least a portion of the frame out of the plane; and a ring member removably mounted on the frame, the ring member configured to engage at least one surgical instrument for use in performing a surgical procedure.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 167 words

A surgical retractor assembly comprising: a frame lying in a plane; a first hook assembly movably supported on the frame and configured to retract a first portion of at least one of tissue and bone from a second portion of at least one of tissue and bone; a second hook assembly repositionably mounted in a fixed position on the frame at a location opposite to the first hook assembly and configured to maintain the second portion of at least one of tissue and bone in a fixed position relative to the first portion of at least one of tissue and bone to facilitate retraction of the first portion from the second portion; at least one elevation control assembly supporting the frame, the elevation control assembly configured to selectively retain at least a portion of the frame out of the plane; and a ring member removably mounted on the frame, the ring member configured to engage at least one surgical instrument for use in performing a surgical procedure.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 31 words

The surgical retractor assembly of claim 21 wherein the first hook assembly has at least two holes formed in an end portion thereof to removably receive at least two hook members.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 28 words

The surgical retractor assembly of claim 22, wherein the at least two holes are elongate to facilitate adjustability of a space between the at least two hook members.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 39 words

The surgical retractor assembly of claim 21 wherein the second hook assembly has a plurality of holes formed in a longitudinal axis thereof for repositionably mounting the second hook member in a corresponding plurality of positions on the frame.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 31 words

The surgical retractor assembly of claim 21 wherein the second hook assembly has at least two holes formed in an end portion thereof to removably receive at least two hook members.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 28 words

The surgical retractor assembly of claim 25, wherein the at least two holes are elongate to facilitate adjustability of a space between the at least two hook members.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2003-02-28	2003-08-30	2004-02-29	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2007-02-28	2007-08-30	2008-02-29	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2011-02-28	2011-08-30	2012-02-29	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Surgical retractor

Abstract

Inventors

Bibliographic Details

Claims Analysis

References Cited (Backward Citations)

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Assigned Categories & Tags

Assign Category Tag