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:
Aug. 03, 2010
Filed:
Aug. 11, 2003
Frederic H. Moll, San Francisco, CA (US);
Charles Gresl, Jr., San Francisco, CA (US);
Albert K. Chin, Palo Alto, CA (US);
Philip K. Hopper, Laverne, CA (US);
Frederic H. Moll, San Francisco, CA (US);
Charles Gresl, Jr., San Francisco, CA (US);
Albert K. Chin, Palo Alto, CA (US);
Philip K. Hopper, Laverne, CA (US);
Covidien AG, Neuhausen AM Rheinfall, CH;
Abstract
A method of providing access to tissue for a surgical instrument through a body wall is provided. The method includes providing an expandable retractor having a flexible sheath, the retractor being in a collapsed state; introducing the retractor into the body and placing the retractor adjacent the tissue; expanding the retractor; deploying the flexible sheath by engaging the flexible sheath with a tool and driving the flexible sheath through the body wall with the tool; and inserting the surgical instrument from outside the body through the flexible sheath to provide access to the tissue by the surgical instrument.