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US 7,458,933 B2Granted
Method for knee-joint surgery
AssigneeMinnesota Scientific, Inc.
InventorsSteven M. LeVahn, Robert Ballantine, Todd W. Sharratt
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of performing knee-joint surgery includes positioning the tibia and the femur such that the knee-joint is disposed in a bent position. An incision is made to expose the knee-joint. A retractor support is mounted to a surgical table. The skin and flesh layers proximate the knee-joint are retracted utilizing a retractor that is attached to the retractor support which is mounted to a surgical table.
Claims8
A method of performing a knee-joint surgery involving a tibia and femur on a surgical table, the method comprising:
- mounting a retractor support to the surgical table wherein the retractor support comprises first and second support arms the first and second support arms defining an opening;
- positioning the tibia and the femur such that the knee-joint is disposed in a bent position through the opening;
- wherein the step of positioning includes placing the first and second support arms over the surgical table, on opposite sides of a portion of the upper leg or thigh, below the knee joint, and about a portion of the lower leg or shin;
- incising skin and flesh layers proximate the knee-joint;
- retracting the skin and flesh layers proximate the knee-joint with a retractor;
- and
- attaching the retractor to either the first support arm or the second support arm.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.