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Illuminating soft tissue retractor

  • US 6,142,935 A
  • Filed: 03/24/1998
  • Issued: 11/07/2000
  • Est. Priority Date: 03/04/1996
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. An illuminating retractor for providing surgical access to a body cavity of a patient through a passage in tissue, the retractor comprising:

  • a flexible internal anchor having an opening, the internal anchor being insertable through the passage and into the body cavity;

    a tissue retracting structure extending proximally from the internal anchor for holding the passage open sufficiently to provide direct visualization of the internal body cavity from outside the patient;

    an external anchor on the tissue restraining structure spaced proximally from the internal anchor; and

    an illuminating device disposed at the opening in the internal anchor to facilitate visualization through the open passage.

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