Patent · US Active

Surgical access instruments for use with delicate tissues

US8608650B2 · kind B2 · utility

26Cited by
48References
18Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateAug 21, 2009
Grant dateDec 17, 2013
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 18, 2030

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61B2017/3456
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

Surgical instruments providing access to delicate tissue, such as brain tissue or breast tissue, through a transcutaneous incision. A surgical apparatus may have a hollow sleeve retractor extending along a longitudinal axis from a proximal retractor end to a distal retractor end and an introducer having a proximal introducer end and a distal introducer end. The proximal introducer end is configured to install within the hollow sleeve with its distal end extending beyond the distal retractor end. The distal introducer end is tapered and may have a rounded profile in a plane parallel to the longitudinal axis to displace delicate brain tissue transversely to the longitudinal axis without damage to the tissue. The distal retractor end may be blunt and adapted to support adjacent brain tissue while minimizing disruption to the tissue after the retractor is positioned at a surgery site and the introducer is removed from the retractor.

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