Surgical retraction apparatus
US5846194A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 23, 1998 |
| Grant date | Dec 8, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 23, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61B17/02
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for pivoting a surgical retractor with respect to a patient it is being used on. The apparatus has a bridge for engaging at least one arm of a surgical retractor. The bridge has a distal end, a proximal end and a longitudinal axis extending therebetween. The bridge further includes a distal coupling attached to the distal end of the bridge for releasably attaching the bridge to the surgical retractor. The apparatus also has a lifting assembly comprising an elevator. The lifting assembly is for applying an upward force to the proximal end of the bridge, so that when the apparatus is attached to a surgical retractor the lifting assembly pivots the retractor upward about the distal coupling. The elevator includes a bridge coupling for attaching the lifting assembly to the proximal end of the bridge. The bridge coupling has a rotatable connection for allowing the bridge to rotate about its longitudinal axis.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.