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:
Mar. 23, 2010
Filed:
Sep. 19, 2003
James J. Pagliuca, Millis, MA (US);
John D. Unger, Wrentham, MA (US);
James E. Robbins, North Attleboro, MA (US);
Thomas W. Davison, Naples, FL (US);
Adam Sher, Franklin, MA (US);
James J. Pagliuca, Millis, MA (US);
John D. Unger, Wrentham, MA (US);
James E. Robbins, North Attleboro, MA (US);
Thomas W. Davison, Naples, FL (US);
Adam Sher, Franklin, MA (US);
Zimmer Spine, Inc., Minneapolis, MN (US);
Abstract
A surgical tool for use in expanding a tubular structure having an inner surface defining a passage through the tubular structure for receiving surgical instruments includes a first leg having a first end engageable with the inner surface of the tubular structure. A second leg has a second end engageable with the inner surface of the tubular structure. The first and second ends are movable away from each other to apply a radially outwardly directed force to the inner surface of the tubular structure and cause expansion of the tubular structure to increase a cross-sectional area of the passage along a portion of the passage.