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. 15, 2003
Filed:
Sep. 28, 2001
Christopher J. Hess, Lebanon, OH (US);
Michael F. Clem, Maineville, OH (US);
Gary W. Knight, West Chester, OH (US);
Rudolph H. Nobis, Mason, OH (US);
Dale R. Schulze, Lebanon, OH (US);
Kristin L. Jambor, Cincinnati, OH (US);
Ethicon, Inc., Somerville, NJ (US);
Abstract
A surgical instrument for dissecting a vessel in a patient. The surgical instrument includes a spoon retractor having a proximal end and a distal end, said spoon retractor defining a working space in the tissue of a patient, a dissecting element proximate to the spoon retractor for dissecting tissue from a vessel, and a handle for manipulating the spoon retractor near the vessel. Also provided is a method for dissecting a vessel including the steps of providing the surgical instrument for dissecting a vessel in a patient described above. Making an incision in a patient. Inserting the spoon retractor into the incision. Creating a working space in the tissue of the patient near the vessel being dissected, and manipulating the dissecting element to further dissect tissue surrounding the vessel being dissected.