Variable force surgical retractor assembly
First Claim
1. A surgical retractor assembly for providing a generally constant retracting force at a fixation site on a patient despite possible movements of the fixation site during application of the retracting force, the retractor assembly comprising:
- a tissue retracting member for retracting tissue adjacent an incision in the patient;
a support structure engaging element for providing communication between the surgical retractor assembly and a support structure;
a retractor guide for receiving a first end of the tissue retracting member, the retractor guide being coupled to the support structure engaging element, wherein the retractor guide is displaceable relative to the support structure engaging element; and
a biasing structure that provides the retracting force between the retractor guide and the support structure engaging element.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A surgical retractor assembly for providing a generally constant retracting force at a fixation site on a patient despite possible movements of the fixation site during application of the retracting force. The retractor assembly comprises a support structure engaging element for providing communication between the surgical retractor assembly and a support structure; a retractor guide for receiving a first end of a retracting member, the retractor guide being coupled to the support structure engaging element, wherein the retractor guide is displaceable relative to the support structure engaging element; and a biasing structure that provides the retracting force.
21 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A surgical retractor assembly for providing a generally constant retracting force at a fixation site on a patient despite possible movements of the fixation site during application of the retracting force, the retractor assembly comprising:
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a tissue retracting member for retracting tissue adjacent an incision in the patient; a support structure engaging element for providing communication between the surgical retractor assembly and a support structure; a retractor guide for receiving a first end of the tissue retracting member, the retractor guide being coupled to the support structure engaging element, wherein the retractor guide is displaceable relative to the support structure engaging element; and a biasing structure that provides the retracting force between the retractor guide and the support structure engaging element. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A surgical retractor assembly for providing a generally constant retracting force at a fixation site on a patient despite possible movements of the fixation site during application of the retracting force, the retractor assembly comprising:
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a support structure engaging element for providing communication between the surgical retractor assembly and a support structure; a retractor guide for receiving a first end of a retracting member, the retractor guide being coupled to the support structure engaging element, wherein the retractor guide is displaceable relative to the support structure engaging element, and wherein the retracting member is selected from the group consisting of a Deaver Retractor, a Heaney Retractor, and a Jackson Retractor; and a biasing structure that provides the retracting force between the retractor guide and the support structure engaging element.
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10. A surgical retractor assembly for providing a generally constant retracting force at a fixation site on a patient despite possible movements of the fixation site during application of the retracting force, the retractor assembly comprising:
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means for retracting tissue adjacent an incision in the patient; a body portion; a support structure engaging element telescopically extendable from the body portion, the support structure engaging element for providing communication between the surgical retractor assembly and a support structure; a retractor guide for receiving the means for retracting, the retractor guide being disposed at an end of the body portion; and a biasing structure that provides the retracting force between the support structure engaging element and the body portion. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification