US5891018A — Ball joint retractor

Claim 1

Independent Claim 174 words

A retractor, comprising a. a longitudinally-extending blade having a top surface, a bottom surface, a distal end, an opposed proximal end, and an edge circumscribing said blade; b. a receptacle adapted to support a predetermined surgical instrument; c. means for movably connecting said receptacle to said blade, wherein said connecting means allows said receptacle to move relative to said blade to a selected one of a plurality of desired positions; d. a handle having a first end and an opposed second end, said second end fixedly attached to the top surface of said blade adjacent the proximal end thereof, said handle defining a bore extending therethrough, wherein said receptacle is disposed adjacent the bottom surface of said blade, and wherein said connecting means comprises a ball disposed within the bore of said handle adjacent the second end thereof, a portion of said ball fixedly attached to a portion of said receptacle, said ball movably secured within said bore so that said ball and attached receptacle are movable relative to said blade without separating therefrom.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 174 words

A retractor, comprising a. a longitudinally-extending blade having a top surface, a bottom surface, a distal end, an opposed proximal end, and an edge circumscribing said blade; b. a receptacle adapted to support a predetermined surgical instrument; c. means for movably connecting said receptacle to said blade, wherein said connecting means allows said receptacle to move relative to said blade to a selected one of a plurality of desired positions; d. a handle having a first end and an opposed second end, said second end fixedly attached to the top surface of said blade adjacent the proximal end thereof, said handle defining a bore extending therethrough, wherein said receptacle is disposed adjacent the bottom surface of said blade, and wherein said connecting means comprises a ball disposed within the bore of said handle adjacent the second end thereof, a portion of said ball fixedly attached to a portion of said receptacle, said ball movably secured within said bore so that said ball and attached receptacle are movable relative to said blade without separating therefrom.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 18 words

The retractor of claim 1, further comprising means for detachably locking said receptacle at the selected desired position.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 122 words

The retractor of claim 2, wherein said locking means comprises: a. a shaft having an upper end and an opposite lower end, at least a portion of said shaft complementarily received within said bore; b. a socket disposed adjacent the lower end of said shaft, said socket having an interior surface of a size to complementarily and detachably engage a portion of said ball; and c. means for adjustably positioning said shaft and socket within said bore between an engaged position, in which the interior surface of said socket detachably engages said ball to frictionally hold said ball, and a disengaged position, in which the interior surface of said socket and said ball are spaced apart so that said ball is movable.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 46 words

The retractor of claim 3, wherein said positioning means further comprises a portion of said bore complementarily engaging a portion of said shaft so that the interface therebetween controls the relative movement between said shaft and said bore as said shaft is moved within said bore.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 22 words

The retractor of claim 4, wherein the portions of said bore and said shaft that engage each other are complementarily threaded surfaces.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 77 words

The retractor of claim 5, wherein said bore extends between the first and second ends of said handle, said bore having a length, wherein a portion of said shaft extends substantially the length of said bore, and wherein said shaft further comprises a tightener having a periphery fixedly attached to the upper end of said shaft and disposed outside said bore, wherein rotation of said tightener moves said shaft and socket between the engaged and disengaged positions.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 22 words

The retractor of claim 6, wherein said tightener has a plurality of notches on the periphery to assist rotation of said tightener.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 101 words

The retractor of claim 2, wherein said locking means comprises: a. a shaft having an upper end and an opposite lower end, at least a portion of said shaft complementarily received within said bore, said lower end sized to complementarily and detachably engage a portion of said ball; and b. means for adjustably positioning said shaft within said bore between an engaged position, in which the lower end of said shaft detachably engages said ball to frictionally hold said ball, and a disengaged position, in which said lower end and said ball are spaced apart so that said ball is movable.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 48 words

The retractor of claim 1, wherein said ball and said receptacle are attached to each other by means of a connecting member, said connecting member having opposed ends, in which one end is fixedly attached to said ball and the opposed end is fixedly attached to said receptacle.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 139 words

A retractor, comprising: a. a longitudinally-extending blade having a top surface, a bottom surface, a distal end, an opposed proximal end, and an edge circumscribing said blade; b. a receptacle adapted to support a predetermined surgical instrument and disposed adjacent the bottom surface of said blade; c. a handle having a first end and an opposed second end fixedly attached to the top surface of said blade, said handle defining a bore extending therethrough; and d. a ball disposed within the bore of said handle adjacent the second end thereof, a portion of said ball fixedly attached to a portion of said receptacle, said ball movably secured within the bore of said handle so that said ball and attached receptacle are movable relative to said blade without separating therefrom to a selected one of a plurality of desired positions.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 139 words

A retractor, comprising: a. a longitudinally-extending blade having a top surface, a bottom surface, a distal end, an opposed proximal end, and an edge circumscribing said blade; b. a receptacle adapted to support a predetermined surgical instrument and disposed adjacent the bottom surface of said blade; c. a handle having a first end and an opposed second end fixedly attached to the top surface of said blade, said handle defining a bore extending therethrough; and d. a ball disposed within the bore of said handle adjacent the second end thereof, a portion of said ball fixedly attached to a portion of said receptacle, said ball movably secured within the bore of said handle so that said ball and attached receptacle are movable relative to said blade without separating therefrom to a selected one of a plurality of desired positions.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 98 words

The retractor of claim 10, further comprising: a. a shaft having an upper end and an opposite lower end, at least a portion of said shaft complementarily received within said bore, said lower end sized to complementarily and detachably engage a portion of said ball; and b. means for adjustably positioning said shaft within said bore between an engaged position, in which the lower end of said shaft detachably engages said ball to frictionally hold said ball, and a disengaged position, in which said lower end and said ball are spaced apart so that said ball is movable.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 46 words

The retractor of claim 11, wherein said positioning means further comprises a portion of said bore complementarily engaging a portion of said shaft so that the interface therebetween controls the relative movement between said shaft and said bore as said shaft is moved within said bore.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 22 words

The retractor of claim 12, wherein the portions of said bore and said shaft that engage each other are complementarily threaded surfaces.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 76 words

The retractor of claim 13, wherein said bore extends between the first and second ends of said handle, said bore having a length, wherein a portion of said shaft extends substantially the length of said bore, and wherein said shaft further comprises a tightener fixedly attached to the upper end of said shaft and disposed outside said bore, wherein rotation of said tightener moves the lower end of said shaft between the engaged and disengaged positions.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 33 words

The retractor of claim 10, wherein the receptacle comprises a longitudinally-extending tube defining a passage therethrough, said passage sized to allow a portion of a predetermined surgical instrument to be slidably received therein.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 124 words

A retractor, comprising: a. a longitudinally-extending blade having a top surface, a bottom surface, and a proximal end; b. a receptacle disposed adjacent the bottom surface of said blade and adapted to support a predetermined surgical instrument; c. a handle having a first end and an opposed second end, said second end fixedly attached to the top surface of said blade adjacent the proximal end thereof, said handle defining a bore therein; and d. a ball disposed within the bore of said handle adjacent the second end thereof, a portion of said ball fixedly attached to a portion of said receptacle, said ball movably secured within said bore so that said ball and attached receptacle are movable relative to said blade without separating therefrom.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 124 words

A retractor, comprising: a. a longitudinally-extending blade having a top surface, a bottom surface, and a proximal end; b. a receptacle disposed adjacent the bottom surface of said blade and adapted to support a predetermined surgical instrument; c. a handle having a first end and an opposed second end, said second end fixedly attached to the top surface of said blade adjacent the proximal end thereof, said handle defining a bore therein; and d. a ball disposed within the bore of said handle adjacent the second end thereof, a portion of said ball fixedly attached to a portion of said receptacle, said ball movably secured within said bore so that said ball and attached receptacle are movable relative to said blade without separating therefrom.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2002-04-05	2002-10-05	2003-04-06	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2006-04-05	2006-10-05	2007-04-06	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2010-04-05	2010-10-05	2011-04-06	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Ball joint retractor

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