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. 22, 2011
Filed:
May. 03, 2006
Thomas W. Davison, Franklin, MA (US);
Timothy E. Taylor, Hoover, AL (US);
Adam Sher, Franklin, MA (US);
Thomas W. Davison, Franklin, MA (US);
Timothy E. Taylor, Hoover, AL (US);
Adam Sher, Franklin, MA (US);
Zimmer Spine, Inc., Minneapolis, MN (US);
Abstract
A cannula () receives surgical instruments () for performing a surgical procedure on a body (). The cannula () comprises a tube structure () defining a passage () through which the surgical instruments () are inserted into the body (). The tube structure () has a proximal end () and a distal end (). The tube structure () includes an expandable portion () for enabling an increase in the cross-sectional area of the passage () at the distal end (). The expandable portion () of the tube structure (), when expanded, has a conical configuration.