Surgical retractor
OwnerBret Michael Berryinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method is disclosed. The method includes providing a plurality of blades, movably connecting the plurality of blades to an outer member via a plurality of arm members, disposing the plurality of blades in a human or animal body, and moving the plurality of blades from a first position outward to a second position when the plurality of blades are disposed in the human or animal body. The plurality of blades are disposed further from each other in the second position than the first position. Moving the plurality of blades outward from the first position to the second position includes moving the plurality of arm members. Moving the plurality of blades includes maintaining equidistance between the plurality of blades as the plurality of blades move from the first position to the second position.
Claims18
A method, comprising:
- providing a plurality of blades;
- movably connecting the plurality of blades to an outer member via a plurality of arm members;
- disposing the plurality of blades in a human or animal body;
- and
- moving the plurality of blades from a first position outward to a second position when the plurality of blades are disposed in the human or animal body;
- wherein the plurality of blades are disposed further from each other in the second position than the first position;
- wherein moving the plurality of blades from the first position outward to the second position includes rotating a gear disposed on a gear blade of the plurality of blades that draws a rack rotatably attached to a rack blade of the plurality of blades through a rack guide disposed in the gear blade;
- wherein moving the plurality of blades outward from the first position to the second position includes moving the plurality of arm members;
- and
- wherein moving the plurality of blades includes maintaining equidistance between the plurality of blades as the plurality of blades move from the first position to the second position.
A retractor, comprising:
- an annular member including a hollow interior;
- a first blade, a gear blade, and a rack blade disposed in the hollow interior;
- a first plurality of arm members rotatably connecting the first blade to the annular member;
- a second plurality of arm members rotatably connecting the gear blade to the annular member;
- and
- a third plurality of arm members rotatably connecting the rack blade to the annular member;
- wherein at least one of the first plurality of arm members is either attached to the first blade via a first slot pin that is configured to rotate and translate in a first pin slot of the first blade, or attached to the annular member via a first ring pin that is configured to rotate and translate in a first annular member pin slot of the annular member.
A method, comprising:
- providing at least three blades;
- movably connecting the at least three blades to an outer member via a plurality of arm members;
- disposing the at least three blades in a human or animal body;
- and
- moving the at least three blades from a first position outward to a second position when the at least three blades are disposed in the human or animal body;
- wherein the at least three blades are disposed further from each other in the second position than the first position;
- wherein moving the at least three blades outward from the first position to the second position includes moving the plurality of arm members;
- wherein moving the at least three blades includes maintaining equidistance between the at least three blades as the at least three blades move from the first position to the second position;
- and
- wherein maintaining equidistance between the at least three blades as the at least three blades move from the first position to the second position includes rotating at least some of first end portions of the plurality of arm members relative to the at least three blades about a plurality of blade pins, rotating at least some of center portions of the plurality of arm members relative to each other about a first plurality of arm pins, and rotating at least some of second end portions of the plurality of arm members relative to the outer member about a second plurality of arm pins.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.