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:
Apr. 25, 2000
Filed:
Aug. 27, 1998
Albert K Chin, Palo Alto, CA (US);
Timothy J McCoy, San Carlos, CA (US);
Jonathan L Podmore, San Francisco, CA (US);
Joseph J Nemeth, Los Altos, CA (US);
Other;
Abstract
Apparatus and method for expanding a perivascular cavity at a surgical site includes an elongated retractor having a tip at the distal end for convenient insertion into a perivascular cavity, and having a slidable coupler near the proximal end for convenient coupling to an elevator element supported in a retractor frame. The elongated retractor supports an endoscope thereon to facilitate visualization of surrounding tissue during insertion into the perivascular cavity. With the retractor inserted in the cavity, the retractor frame is positioned on the skin in alignment with and straddling the cavity, and the elevator element is selectively coupled to the retractor to elevate the retractor relative to the base of the retractor frame, thereby to expand or distend the cavity to provide ample access to tissues and vessels for surgical manipulations within the cavity.