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. 28, 2009
Filed:
May. 03, 2005
Charles L. Branch, Advance, NC (US);
Kevin T. Foley, Germantown, TN (US);
Thomas E. Roehm, Iii, Braden, TN (US);
Anthony J. Melkent, Germantown, TN (US);
Charles L. Branch, Advance, NC (US);
Kevin T. Foley, Germantown, TN (US);
Thomas E. Roehm, III, Braden, TN (US);
Anthony J. Melkent, Germantown, TN (US);
Abstract
Methods and devices retract tissue for minimally invasive surgery in a patient. A retractor includes a working channel formed by a first portion and a second portion. The first and second portions are movable relative to one another from a first configuration for insertion that minimizes trauma to skin and tissue to an enlarged configuration after insertion to further retract skin and tissue in a minimally invasive manner. Instruments are engageable to the first and second portions and operable to move the first and second portions relative to one another.