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. 06, 2010
Filed:
Aug. 26, 2004
Alan E. Shluzas, West Roxbury, MA (US);
Gene P. Dipoto, Upton, MA (US);
Gary L. Lowery, New York, NY (US);
Karl Dallas Kirk, Iii, New York, NY (US);
Walter Stoeckmann, Hoboken, NJ (US);
Donald Van Royen, New York, NY (US);
Alan E. Shluzas, West Roxbury, MA (US);
Gene P. DiPoto, Upton, MA (US);
Gary L. Lowery, New York, NY (US);
Karl Dallas Kirk, III, New York, NY (US);
Walter Stoeckmann, Hoboken, NJ (US);
Donald Van Royen, New York, NY (US);
Zimmer Spine, Inc., Minneapolis, MN (US);
Abstract
A device for provides access to a surgical location within a patient. The device has an elongate body that has a proximal portion, a distal portion, a first slot segment, and a second slot segment that is angled relative to said first slot segment. The elongate body defines a passage for accessing the surgical location with surgical instruments. The elongate body has a contracted configuration for insertion into the patient and an expanded configuration for providing access to the surgical location. The cross-sectional area of the passage at a first location of the elongate body is greater than the cross-sectional area of said passage at a second location of the elongate body. A movable tab is configured to extend into the second slot segment when the elongate body is in the expanded configuration to retain the elongate body in the expanded configuration.