Patent · US Expired

Soft tissue compression shield and method of retracting tissue

US6312377A · kind A · utility

40Cited by
51References
26Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 7, 2000
Grant dateNov 6, 2001
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 7, 2020

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61B2090/0801
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A tissue compression shield can help minimize trauma to tissue during surgical retraction. One such shield has a shell having a rigid outer surface adapted to abut a surgical retractor and a concave inner surface defining an elongate tissue-receiving channel. The concave inner surface is adapted to deform under localized pressure to increase surface area in contact with tissue within the channel, thereby more widely distributing pressure across the tissue. If so desired, the shield can include a compressible inner pad that contacts the tissue. In an alternative design, a shield employs a shell including a central body and a pair of opposed legs defining therebetween an elongate tissue-receiving channel. An upper one of the legs has a notch along an outer edge thereof which defines a bone-seating recess which is smaller than the tissue-receiving channel.

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