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:
Jul. 18, 2000
Filed:
Feb. 16, 1999
Orlo H Clark, San Francisco, CA (US);
Arthur M Moran, San Bruno, CA (US);
Regents of the University of California, Oakland, CA (US);
Abstract
A vacuum actuated surgical retractor for retracting body tissue or organs comprises an end-piece adapted for sealing engagement with body tissue, the end-piece having at least one suction port therein, the at least one suction port operably linked to at least one vacuum line. Suction supplied to the at least one suction port may be controlled by a vacuum control unit. Retractors of the invention may be provided in a range of shapes and sizes according to the intended application or tissue to be retracted. A method for making a vacuum actuated retractor of the invention is disclosed, together with a method for atraumatically retracting body tissue.