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US 6,602,188 B2Granted
Surgical instrument and associated method
OwnerJeffrey William Bolserinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An surgical instrument for use during procedures to harvest saphenous veins simultaneously retracts tissue and exposes sections of the vein. Removable spacer limbs are selectively attached to the instrument to aid in retracting tissue and to make the instrument self-retaining.
Claims18
A spacer support assembly for attachment to a surgical retractor having a handle and blade comprising:
- a) two spacer limbs;
- b) a jacket having a living hinge along its length to facilitate clamping of the jacket to the handle of the surgical retractor, said spacer limbs being coupled to said jacket suck that when said jacket is clamped to the retractor handle, said spacer limbs are generally parallel to the retractor blade.
A surgical instrument comprising:
- a handle having a distal end and a proximal end;
- a retractor blade member including a first fixed limb and a second fixed limb said member for insertion into a surgical wound, said retractor blade attached to said distal end of said handle, said retractor blade member extending in a direction away from said handle, whereby a view area axis is defined between said first and second limbs substantially parallel to the plane defined by said first and second limbs;
- a light source coupled to said retractor blade for illuminating said view area from a location near the most distal tip of the retractor blade;
- at least one conductor for coupling power to said retractor blade;
- first and second moveable spacer limbs coupled to said handle, said limbs extending generally parallel to and spaced from said first and second fixed limbs, and moveable in a direction away from said first and second fixed limbs remaining generally parallel to said first and second fixed limbs.
2 more elements
A method of dissecting saphenous vein comprising the steps of:
- a) providing a surgical instrument having:
- (i) a handle having a distal end and a proximal end;
- (ii) a retractor blade member including a first fixed limb and a second fixed limb said member for insertion into a surgical wound, said retractor blade attached to said distal end of said handle, said retractor blade member extending in a direction away from said handle, whereby a view area axis is defined between said first and second limbs substantially parallel to the plane defined by said first and second limbs;
- (iii) a light source coupled to said retractor blade for illuminating said view area;
- (iv) at least one conductor for coupling power to said retractor blade;
- said light source coupled to said retractor blade;
- (v) first and second moveable spacer limbs coupled to said handle, said limbs extending generally parallel to and spaced from said first and second limbs;
- b) making an incision in a patient's skin;
- c) inserting said blade of said instrument into said incision to retract tissue away from a vein to be dissected and maintaining a tunnel surrounding the vein;
- and
- d) dissecting the vein.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.