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:
Jun. 29, 2004
Filed:
Jun. 26, 2001
Leonard S. Schultz, Bloomington, MN (US);
Other;
Abstract
The present invention provides a group or kit of surgical instruments for use in minimally invasive surgical procedures. In one embodiment, the invention is an instrument with a generally central longitudinal axis and a generally toroidal surface generally transverse to the axis, wherein the convex portion of the surface does not extend beyond a line parallel with the longitudinal axis along an outer diameter of the instrument, and the surface has a continuous edge having a first end at a shoulder and a second end at the shoulder and spaced from the first end; in another embodiment, the instrument has a working end with a generally longitudinal axis, the working end defined by a generally curved surface along the longitudinal axis, wherein the curved surface has a concave portion and a convex portion, and wherein the working end has a generally flat tip; in another embodiment, the surgical instrument includes a working end having a generally central longitudinal axis and a surface generally transverse to the axis, wherein the surface is generally spatulate and oval, and wherein the surface is set at a selected angle relative to the axis; and in yet another embodiment, the surgical instrument comprises a straight pin for being placed into bone, the pin having a sharp tip, a number of spaced steps generally adjacent to the tip, marks adjacent to the steps, and an end opposite the tip for hammering.