Patent · US Expired

Access platform for internal mammary dissection

US5944736A · kind A · utility

232Cited by
16References
87Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJul 30, 1997
Grant dateAug 31, 1999
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 30, 2017

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61B2017/349
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

An access platform having a first and a second blade interconnected to a spreader member that laterally drives the blades apart or together and a sternal pad interconnected to a blade. The superior blade is pivotally coupled to the spreader member such that it naturally rises as the blades are separated. Alternatively, a vertical displacement member is operably interconnected to a blade and the spreader member and is used to vertically displace the interconnected superior blade and, thus, increase a surgeon's working space and visual access for the dissection of an internal mammary artery. A tissue retractor is interconnected to the blades to draw the soft tissue around an incision away from the surgeon's working area.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.