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:
Sep. 08, 1998
Filed:
Aug. 15, 1997
William L Athas, Durham, NC (US);
William S Eubanks, Jr, Durham, NC (US);
Thomas B Miller, Garner, NC (US);
MIST, Inc., Smithfield, NC (US);
Abstract
A surgical retractor for use in combination with balloon dissection of internal body tissue of a human body part to maintain an operative space created by the dissection of the internal body tissue. The retractor has a frame comprising a base with opposing sides and at least one arcuate body tissue support element extending upwardly from one side to the other side of the base so as to form an arc extending transversely over a human body part wherein internal body tissue is to be balloon dissected. As least one suture anchor element is located along the length of the arcuate support element to allow a tensioning suture extending from separated internal body tissue of the human body part being balloon dissected to be secured thereto to maintain an open operation cavity. The suture tied at one end to the suture anchor element includes a disk or suture button at the other end that is urgingly retained against the top portion of the operation cavity to facilitate maintaining an open cavity for a surgical procedure.