US5964697A — Surgical retractor stay apparatus

Claim 1

Independent Claim 274 words

A surgical retractor apparatus for use in performing surgery upon a portion of a patient's body at a surgical site, comprising: a) a frame conformed to fit the surface of the patient's body at a surgical site, said frame having a plurality of notches, each said notch having a width; b) a stay that removably attaches to said frame at one of said plurality of notches, wherein said stay includes an elongated elastic member having a length, a width, and proximal and distal ends; c) wherein the width of said elastic member is greater than the width of said notches so that said elastic member can be secured at a position in between said ends to said notch; d) at least a portion of one of said ends said elastic member including a section of hollow elastic tubing having a bore surrounded by a tubing wall; e) said stay having a tissue holding member that comprises: a handle plate forming a first plane, said handle plate having a generally uniform thickness, a length, and greater than the bore diameter; a wide plate section that is thicker than the diameter of said tubing, said wide plate section defining a second plane generally transverse to the first plane and having left and right opposed edge portions; a transitional section that connects said handle plate with said wide plate section, and having a smaller thickness portion having a thickness that approaches the thickness of said handle plate; and a plurality of hooks extending from said wide plate section and including at least a pair of hooks positioned at said opposed edge portions of said wide plate section.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 274 words

A surgical retractor apparatus for use in performing surgery upon a portion of a patient's body at a surgical site, comprising: a) a frame conformed to fit the surface of the patient's body at a surgical site, said frame having a plurality of notches, each said notch having a width; b) a stay that removably attaches to said frame at one of said plurality of notches, wherein said stay includes an elongated elastic member having a length, a width, and proximal and distal ends; c) wherein the width of said elastic member is greater than the width of said notches so that said elastic member can be secured at a position in between said ends to said notch; d) at least a portion of one of said ends said elastic member including a section of hollow elastic tubing having a bore surrounded by a tubing wall; e) said stay having a tissue holding member that comprises: a handle plate forming a first plane, said handle plate having a generally uniform thickness, a length, and greater than the bore diameter; a wide plate section that is thicker than the diameter of said tubing, said wide plate section defining a second plane generally transverse to the first plane and having left and right opposed edge portions; a transitional section that connects said handle plate with said wide plate section, and having a smaller thickness portion having a thickness that approaches the thickness of said handle plate; and a plurality of hooks extending from said wide plate section and including at least a pair of hooks positioned at said opposed edge portions of said wide plate section.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 16 words

The surgical retractor apparatus of claim 1 wherein said frame is annular with a central opening.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 37 words

The surgical retractor apparatus of claim 1 wherein said handle plate has proximal and distal end portions, a lower edge, an upper edge, and said distal end portion extends beyond said distal end of said elastic member.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 47 words

The surgical retractor apparatus of claim 3 wherein the distance between the upper and lower edges gradually increases beginning at said proximal end portion of said handle plate and reaches a maximum distance approximately half way between said proximal and distal end portions of said handle plate.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 33 words

The surgical retractor apparatus of claim 3 wherein said handle plate has a generally uniform thickness between said proximal and distal end portions and the distance between said upper and lower edges varies.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 16 words

The surgical retractor apparatus of claim 3 wherein said handle plate includes a linear lower edge.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 21 words

The surgical retractor apparatus of claim 3 wherein said upper edge of said handle plate has a pair of inclined portions.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 31 words

The surgical retractor apparatus of claim 3 wherein said handle plate has a height between said upper and lower edges that is greater than the external diameter of said elastic member.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 26 words

The surgical retractor apparatus of claim 1 wherein said wide plate section has a thickness that is approximately 3 times the diameter of said elastic member.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 40 words

The surgical retractor apparatus of claim 1 wherein said elastic member hollow bore has a diameter that is larger than the thickness of said handle plate and the height of said handle plate is greater than the hollow bore diameter.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 244 words

An elastic surgical retractor stay apparatus for use in performing surgery at a surgical site with an incision, comprising: a) a stay that includes an elongated elastic member having a length, a width, and proximal and distal ends; b) wherein a proximal end portion of said stay attaches to a frame and holds said proximal end of said stay at a location away from the incision; c) at least a portion of one of said ends of said elastic member including a section of hollow elastic tubing having a tubing diameter and a bore with a bore diameter surrounded by a tubing wall; and d) said stay having a tissue holding member for holding and retracting tissue at the incision, wherein said tissue holding member comprises: a handle plate having a first generally planar surface, said plate having a thickness, a length, and a height that is greater than the bore diameter; a wide section that is thicker than the tubing diameter, said wide section having a second generally planar surface generally transverse to the first generally planar surface and having left and right opposed edge portions; a transitional section that connects said handle plate with said wide section, and having a smaller thickness portion with a thickness that approaches the thickness of said handle plate; and a plurality of hooks extending from said wide section and including at least a pair of hooks positioned at said opposed edge portions of said wide section.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 244 words

An elastic surgical retractor stay apparatus for use in performing surgery at a surgical site with an incision, comprising: a) a stay that includes an elongated elastic member having a length, a width, and proximal and distal ends; b) wherein a proximal end portion of said stay attaches to a frame and holds said proximal end of said stay at a location away from the incision; c) at least a portion of one of said ends of said elastic member including a section of hollow elastic tubing having a tubing diameter and a bore with a bore diameter surrounded by a tubing wall; and d) said stay having a tissue holding member for holding and retracting tissue at the incision, wherein said tissue holding member comprises: a handle plate having a first generally planar surface, said plate having a thickness, a length, and a height that is greater than the bore diameter; a wide section that is thicker than the tubing diameter, said wide section having a second generally planar surface generally transverse to the first generally planar surface and having left and right opposed edge portions; a transitional section that connects said handle plate with said wide section, and having a smaller thickness portion with a thickness that approaches the thickness of said handle plate; and a plurality of hooks extending from said wide section and including at least a pair of hooks positioned at said opposed edge portions of said wide section.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 228 words

A surgical retractor for use in performing surgery upon a portion of a patient's body at a surgical site, comprising: a) a stay that includes an elongated elastic member having a length, a width, and proximal and distal ends; b) an anchor removably connected to said proximal end for anchoring said proximal end of said stay at a location spaced from the surgical site; c) at least a portion of one said end of said elastic member including a section of hollow elastic tubing having a bore surrounded by a tubing wall; and d) said stay having a tissue holding member that comprises: a handle plate having a first generally planar surface, said plate having a thickness, a length, and a height that is greater than the bore diameter; a wide plate section that is thicker than the diameter of said tubing, said wide plate section having a second generally planar surface generally transverse to the first generally planar surface and having left and right opposed edge portions; a transitional section that connects said handle plate with said wide plate section, and having a smaller thickness portion with a thickness that approaches the thickness of said handle plate; and a plurality of hooks extending from said wide plate section and including at least a pair of hooks positioned at said opposed edge portions of said wide plate section.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 228 words

A surgical retractor for use in performing surgery upon a portion of a patient's body at a surgical site, comprising: a) a stay that includes an elongated elastic member having a length, a width, and proximal and distal ends; b) an anchor removably connected to said proximal end for anchoring said proximal end of said stay at a location spaced from the surgical site; c) at least a portion of one said end of said elastic member including a section of hollow elastic tubing having a bore surrounded by a tubing wall; and d) said stay having a tissue holding member that comprises: a handle plate having a first generally planar surface, said plate having a thickness, a length, and a height that is greater than the bore diameter; a wide plate section that is thicker than the diameter of said tubing, said wide plate section having a second generally planar surface generally transverse to the first generally planar surface and having left and right opposed edge portions; a transitional section that connects said handle plate with said wide plate section, and having a smaller thickness portion with a thickness that approaches the thickness of said handle plate; and a plurality of hooks extending from said wide plate section and including at least a pair of hooks positioned at said opposed edge portions of said wide plate section.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2002-10-11	2003-04-12	2003-10-12	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2006-10-11	2007-04-12	2007-10-12	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2010-10-11	2011-04-12	2011-10-12	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Surgical retractor stay apparatus

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