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Patent US5904650A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
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US5904650A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Ball joint retractor

Assignee: CareFusion 2200 Inc
•
Filing: 1998-10-09
•
Granted: 1999-05-18
•
Expires: 2018-10-09
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Abstract

Abstract A retractor comprising a longitudinally-extending blade having a top surface, a bottom surface, a distal end, and an opposed proximal end, a receptacle adapted to support a predetermined surgical instrument and disposed adjacent the bottom surface of the blade, a handle fixedly attached to the blade and defining a bore extending therethrough, and a ball disposed within the bore of the handle. A portion of the ball is fixedly attached to a portion of the receptacle and secured within the bore of the handle so that the ball and attached receptacle are movable relative to the blade without separating therefrom to a selected one of a plurality of desired positions. The retractor also comprises a shaft complementarily received within the bore, the lower end of the shaft is sized to complementarily and detachably engage a portion of the ball. The shaft is adjustably positionable within the bore between an engaged position, in which the shaft detachably engages the ball to frictionally hold the ball, and a disengaged position, in which the shaft and the ball are spaced apart so that the ball is movable within the bore.

Inventors

  • 👤 B. Keith Wells

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-02 22:49
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/02; A61B1/00; A61B1/32; A61B90/00; A61B90/50

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim 84 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 c. means for movably connecting said receptacle to said blade, wherein said connecting means allows said receptacle to move rotatable and pivotally relative to said blade to a selected one of a plurality of desired positions, wherein said receptacle is spaced apart from said connecting means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 84 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 c. means for movably connecting said receptacle to said blade, wherein said connecting means allows said receptacle to move rotatable and pivotally relative to said blade to a selected one of a plurality of desired positions, wherein said receptacle is spaced apart from said connecting means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 42 words
The retractor of claim 1, further comprising 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.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 59 words
The retractor of claim 1, wherein the receptacle comprises a longitudinally-extending tube defining a passage therethrough and having an insertion end disposed adjacent the proximal end of said blade, an opposed operating end, a top outer surface, and a bottom outer surface, said passage sized to allow a portion of a predetermined surgical instrument to be slidably received therein.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 39 words
The retractor of claim 3, wherein the operating end of said tube forms an angle relative to a normal to the bottom surface of said blade so that said top outer surface is longer than said bottom outer surface.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 23 words
The retractor of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the edge of said blade adjacent the distal end thereof is arcuate.

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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2002-05-17 2002-11-16 2003-05-18 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2006-05-17 2006-11-16 2007-05-18 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2010-05-17 2010-11-16 2011-05-18 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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