The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 16, 1997
Filed:
May. 05, 1995
Applicant:
Inventors:
Gus J Slotman, Moorestown, NJ (US);
Sherman Stein, Phila., PA (US);
David T Green, Westport, CT (US);
Salvatore Castro, Seymour, CT (US);
Carlo A Mililli, Huntington, CT (US);
Keith Ratcliff, Sandy Hook, CT (US);
Assignees:
Other;
United States Surgical Corporation, Norwalk, CT (US);
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
A61B / ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
600204 ; 600210 ; 600215 ; 600219 ; 600235 ;
Abstract
The present invention provides endoscopic instrumentation and surgical techniques especially useful for accessing at least a portion of an intervertebral disc. Vertebrae spreading instruments are provided for spreading adjacent vertebrae to facilitate access to the intervertebral disc are. The disclosed surgical method uses an anterior approach to access the intervertebral disc and spreads adjacent vertebrae utilizing an endoscopic vertebrae spreading instrument.