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:
Feb. 20, 2007
Filed:
Aug. 26, 2004
Alan E. Shluzas, West Roxbury, MA (US);
Karl Dallas Kirk, Iii, New York, NY (US);
Walter Stoeckmann, Hoboken, NJ (US);
Gene P. Dipoto, Upton, MA (US);
Alan E. Shluzas, West Roxbury, MA (US);
Karl Dallas Kirk, III, New York, NY (US);
Walter Stoeckmann, Hoboken, NJ (US);
Gene P. DiPoto, Upton, MA (US);
Other;
Abstract
A retractor has an elongate body and an expandable shroud. The elongate body has an outer surface and an inner surface partially defining a passage. The elongate body also has a first longitudinal edge and a second longitudinal edge. The elongate body is capable of having an enlarged configuration when inserted within the patient. In the enlarged configuration the first longitudinal edge is spaced apart from the second longitudinal edge. The expandable shroud is configured to extend from the first longitudinal edge to the second longitudinal edge when the first and second edges are spaced apart. The shroud partially defines the passage. The cross-sectional area of said passage at a first location is greater than the cross-sectional area of the passage at a second location, wherein the first location is distal to the second location.