US6458079B1 — Surgical retractor and method of use

Claim 1

Independent Claim 98 words

A surgical device for a coronary bypass procedure comprising; a stabilizer; a retaining element attached to the stabilizer having an aperture defining an operative site over an artery; and a holder on the retaining element, the holder positioned to receive a connector that extends underneath the artery such that the connector is frictionally attached to a slot in the holder and compresses the artery against a surface on the retaining element at a first arterial position on a first side of the operative site and at a second arterial position on a second side of the operative site.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 98 words

A surgical device for a coronary bypass procedure comprising; a stabilizer; a retaining element attached to the stabilizer having an aperture defining an operative site over an artery; and a holder on the retaining element, the holder positioned to receive a connector that extends underneath the artery such that the connector is frictionally attached to a slot in the holder and compresses the artery against a surface on the retaining element at a first arterial position on a first side of the operative site and at a second arterial position on a second side of the operative site.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 33 words

The surgical retractor of claim 1 , wherein the aperture is sized to have a length that ranges from 1 to 3 cm and a width that ranges from 5 to 15 mm.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 24 words

The surgical retractor of claim 1 , having a longitudinal dimension, further comprising raised sidewall elements disposed along the longitudinal dimension of the retractor.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 25 words

The surgical retractor of claim 3 , wherein the raised sidewall elements have a plurality of slots to frictionally grip an end of the connector.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 15 words

The surgical retractor of claim 1 , wherein the connector comprises flexible tape or thread.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 47 words

The surgical retractor of claim 1 , wherein the retaining element comprises a first, a second, a third and a fourth corner, at least one corner has a base having a gradually thinner cross-section to provide a downward slope to allow for fluid drainage during the procedure.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 44 words

The surgical retractor of claim 1 , wherein the retaining element has a bottom surface comprising a plurality of slots to allow for the placement of the connector under or over the retractor to position tissue at the surgical site within the retractor aperture.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 41 words

The surgical retractor of claim 1 , wherein the retaining element has a bottom surface having portions that are curved and extend a distance downwardly parallel to a lengthwise dimension of the aperture to retain the retractor in a desired position.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 17 words

The surgical retractor of claim 1 , wherein the retaining element comprises a plurality of separable sections.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 22 words

The surgical retractor of claim 9 , wherein the separable sections comprise a plurality of tabs which extend between the separable sections.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 14 words

The surgical retractor of claim 1 , wherein the retaining element is optically transmissive.

Claim 13

Independent Claim 113 words

A method of positioning an artery during surgery comprising the steps of: positioning a retaining element at a surgical site, the retaining element extending over an artery and having an aperture that exposes a portion of the artery at the surgical site; positioning a connector under a portion of the artery; and connecting the connector to the retaining element, the connector being frictionally attached to a slot on the retaining element, to occlude the artery at a first arterial position at a first side of the surgical site with the retaining element and occluding the artery at a second arterial position at a second side of the surgical site with the retaining element.

Claim 14

Independent Claim 113 words

A method of positioning an artery during surgery comprising the steps of: positioning a retaining element at a surgical site, the retaining element extending over an artery and having an aperture that exposes a portion of the artery at the surgical site; positioning a connector under a portion of the artery; and connecting the connector to the retaining element, the connector being frictionally attached to a slot on the retaining element, to occlude the artery at a first arterial position at a first side of the surgical site with the retaining element and occluding the artery at a second arterial position at a second side of the surgical site with the retaining element.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 31 words

The method of claim 12 further comprising sizing the aperture to have a length that ranges from 1 to 3 cm and a width that ranges from 5 to 15 mm.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 24 words

The method of claim 12 further comprising providing the retaining element having a longitudinal dimension comprising raised sidewall elements disposed along the longitudinal dimension.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 25 words

The method of claim 14 further comprising providing the raised sidewall elements having a plurality of slots to frictionally grip an end of the connector.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 42 words

The method of claim 12 further comprising providing the retaining element having a first, a second, a third and a fourth corner, at least one corner having a gradually thinner cross-section to provide a downward slope for fluid drainage during a procedure.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 44 words

The method of claim 12 further comprising providing the retaining element having a bottom surface comprising a plurality of slots to allow for the placement of the connector under or over the retractor to position tissue at the surgical site within the retractor aperture.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 39 words

The method of claim 12 providing the retaining implement having a bottom surface having portions that are curved and extend a distance downwardly parallel to a lengthwise dimension of the aperture to retain the retractor in a desired position.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 17 words

The method of claim 12 further comprising providing the retaining element having a plurality of separable sections.

Claim 22

Independent Claim 21 words

The method of claim, 19 further comprising providing the separable sections having a plurality of tabs which extend between said sections.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 15 words

The method of claim 12 further comprising providing a retaining element that is optically transmissive.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 73 words

A surgical retractor for a coronary bypass procedure comprising; a retaining base having an aperture that exposes an operative site, the base having raised sidewalls; a holder on the retaining base having a slot; and a cord that frictionally attaches to the slot in the holder such that artery tissue can be positioned in the aperture relative to the retaining base with the cord and the holder to occlude flow in the artery.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 73 words

A surgical retractor for a coronary bypass procedure comprising; a retaining base having an aperture that exposes an operative site, the base having raised sidewalls; a holder on the retaining base having a slot; and a cord that frictionally attaches to the slot in the holder such that artery tissue can be positioned in the aperture relative to the retaining base with the cord and the holder to occlude flow in the artery.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 33 words

The surgical retractor of claim 22 , wherein the aperture is sized to have a length that ranges from 1 to 3 cm and a width that ranges from 5 to 15 mm.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 24 words

The surgical retractor of claim 22 , having a longitudinal dimension, further comprising raised sidewall elements disposed along the longitudinal dimension of the retractor.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 25 words

The surgical retractor of claim 24 , wherein the raised sidewall elements have a plurality of slots to frictionally grip an end of the cord.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 15 words

The surgical retractor of claim 22 , wherein the cord comprises flexible tape or thread.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 47 words

The surgical retractor of claim 22 , wherein the retaining base comprises a first, a second, a third and a fourth corner, at least one corner has a base having a gradually thinner cross-section to provide a downward slope to allow for fluid drainage during the procedure.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 41 words

The surgical retractor of claim 22 , wherein the retaining base has a bottom surface comprising slots to allow for the placement of the card under or over the retractor to position tissue at the surgical site within the retractor aperture.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 41 words

The surgical retractor of claim 22 , wherein the retaining base has a bottom surface having portions that are curved and extend a distance downwardly parallel to a lengthwise dimension of the aperture to retain the retractor in a desired position.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 17 words

The surgical retractor of claim 22 , wherein the retaining base comprises a plurality of separable sections.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 22 words

The surgical retractor of claim 30 , wherein the separable sections comprise a plurality of tabs which extend between the separable sections.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 14 words

The surgical retractor of claim 22 , wherein the retaining base is optically transmissive.

Claim 36

Independent Claim 102 words

A method of positioning a coronary artery during bypass surgery comprising the steps of: positioning a retaining base at a surgical site, the retaining base having a first element and a second element which surround an aperture that exposes the coronary artery at the surgical site; connecting the coronary artery at the surgical site to the retaining base with a cord, the cord being frictionally engaged with a slot on the retaining base; grafting a second artery onto the exposed coronary artery positioned in the aperture; and separating the first element and the second element to remove the base from the site.

Claim 37

Independent Claim 102 words

A method of positioning a coronary artery during bypass surgery comprising the steps of: positioning a retaining base at a surgical site, the retaining base having a first element and a second element which surround an aperture that exposes the coronary artery at the surgical site; connecting the coronary artery at the surgical site to the retaining base with a cord, the cord being frictionally engaged with a slot on the retaining base; grafting a second artery onto the exposed coronary artery positioned in the aperture; and separating the first element and the second element to remove the base from the site.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 31 words

The method of claim 33 further comprising sizing the aperture to have a length that ranges from 1 to 3 cm and a width that ranges from 5 to 15 mm.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 24 words

The method of claim 33 further comprising providing the retaining base having a longitudinal dimension comprising raised sidewall elements disposed along the longitudinal dimension.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 25 words

The method of claim 35 further comprising providing the raised sidewall elements having a plurality of slots to frictionally grip an end of the cord.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 42 words

The method of claim 33 further comprising providing the retaining base having a first, a second, a third and a fourth corner, at least one corner having a gradually thinner cross-section to provide a downward slope for fluid drainage during a procedure.

Claim 42

Dependent Claim 44 words

The method of claim 33 further comprising providing the retaining base having a bottom surface comprising a plurality of slots to allow for the placement of the cord under or over the retractor to position tissue at the surgical site within the retractor aperture.

Claim 43

Dependent Claim 39 words

The method of claim 33 providing the retaining base having a bottom surface having portions that are curved and extend a distance downwardly parallel to a lengthwise dimension of the aperture to retain the retractor in a desired position.

Claim 44

Dependent Claim 17 words

The method of claim 33 further comprising providing the retaining base having a plurality of separable sections.

Claim 45

Dependent Claim 21 words

The method of claim 40 further comprising providing the separable sections having a plurality of tabs which extend between said sections.

Claim 46

Dependent Claim 15 words

The method of claim 33 further comprising providing a retaining base that is optically transmissive.

Claim 47

Dependent Claim 116 words

A disposable surgical retractor for a coronary bypass procedure comprising; a plastic retaining base having an aperture that exposes an operative site, the aperture extending along a longitudinal axis of the base, the base having a first section separable from a second section; a plurality of holders extending above the retaining base such that a first holder is positioned on a first side of the aperture and a second holder is positioned on a second side of the aperture, each holder having a slot; and an arm attached to the base and extending above the base such that a user can position the base at the operative site with a coronary artery exposed through the aperture.

Claim 48

Dependent Claim 116 words

A disposable surgical retractor for a coronary bypass procedure comprising; a plastic retaining base having an aperture that exposes an operative site, the aperture extending along a longitudinal axis of the base, the base having a first section separable from a second section; a plurality of holders extending above the retaining base such that a first holder is positioned on a first side of the aperture and a second holder is positioned on a second side of the aperture, each holder having a slot; and an arm attached to the base and extending above the base such that a user can position the base at the operative site with a coronary artery exposed through the aperture.

Claim 49

Dependent Claim 33 words

The surgical retractor of claim 43 , wherein the aperture is sized to have a length that ranges from 1 to 3 cm and a width that ranges from 5 to 15 mm.

Claim 50

Dependent Claim 24 words

The surgical retractor of claim 43 , having a longitudinal dimension, further comprising raised sidewall elements disposed along the longitudinal dimension of the retractor.

Claim 51

Dependent Claim 25 words

The surgical retractor of claim 45 , wherein the raised sidewall elements have a plurality of slots to frictionally grip an end of the cord.

Claim 52

Dependent Claim 15 words

The surgical retractor of claim 46 , wherein the connector comprises flexible tape or thread.

Claim 53

Dependent Claim 47 words

The surgical retractor of claim 43 , wherein the retaining base comprises a first, a second, a third and a fourth corner, at lease one corner has a base having a gradually thinner cross-section to provide a downward slope to allow for fluid drainage during the procedure.

Claim 54

Dependent Claim 33 words

The surgical retractor of claim 48 , further comprising end walls extending widthwise, the end walls in combination with the raised sidewall elements define the first, the second, the third and forth corners.

Claim 55

Dependent Claim 44 words

The surgical retractor of claim 43 , wherein the retaining base has a bottom surface comprising a plurality of slots to allow for the placement of the connector under or over the retractor to position tissue at the surgical site within the retractor aperture.

Claim 56

Dependent Claim 41 words

The surgical retractor of claim 43 , wherein the retaining base has a bottom surface having portions that are curved and extend a distance downwardly parallel to a lengthwise dimension of the aperture to retain the retractor in a desired position.

Claim 57

Dependent Claim 33 words

The surgical retractor of claim 43 , wherein the retaining base comprises a plurality of separable sections each section having a slot that frictionally engages a cord that can extend under the artery.

Claim 58

Dependent Claim 22 words

The surgical retractor of claim 52 , wherein the separable sections comprise a plurality of tabs which extend between the separable sections.

Claim 59

Dependent Claim 14 words

The surgical retractor of claim 43 , wherein the retaining base is optically transmissive.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2005-09-30	2006-04-01	2006-10-01	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2009-09-30	2010-04-01	2010-10-01	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2013-09-30	2014-04-01	2014-10-01	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Surgical retractor and method of use

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