IP Library Granted Patent US 12697110
Granted Patent B2
US 12697110 · App. 18/603,612 · Granted Aug 4, 2026

Systems and methods for tissue retraction

Inventor: Jeffrey J. Borut (Woodbury, MN)
Assignee: B Side Endeavors LLC
A61B17/0293A61B17/0206A61B90/35
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12697110
App. No.
18/603,612
Granted
Aug 4, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Some systems, devices and methods detailed herein provide adjustable tissue retraction, for example, to maintain an access opening during a surgical procedure.

Claims (38)

1 . A surgical retractor device comprising:

a four-bar linkage frame that includes four curved arms that are adjustable with respect to each other;

at least four fixed blades that extend from the four curved arms and in a direction below the four-bar linkage frame; and

a lock actuator movably attached to one of the four curved arms at an upwardly facing position above the four-bar linkage frame to adjust a clamp that retains the four-bar linkage frame in a user-selected position, the lock actuator is moveable relative to said one of the four curved arms between a locked position and an unlocked position,

wherein the four-bar linkage frame further includes four hinge connection joints located between adjacent arms of the four curved arms such that movement of any of the four curved arms urges movement of the other curved arms, wherein the four fixed blades are rigidly and fixedly mounted to two of the four curved arms at positions spaced apart from the four hinge connection joints of the four-bar linkage frame.

2 . The surgical retractor device of claim 1 , further comprising one or more flexible paddles that are removably attachable to the four-bar linkage frame.

3 . The surgical retractor device of claim 2 , wherein the one or more flexible paddles are longer than the fixed blades.

4 . The surgical retractor device of claim 2 , wherein the one or more flexible paddles include a light source.

5 . The surgical retractor device of claim 1 , wherein the four curved arms comprises a first set of arms and a second set of arms, the second set of arms being longer than the first set of arms.

6 . The surgical retractor device of claim 1 , wherein the fixed blades comprise at least one light source.

7 . A surgical retractor device comprising:

a four-bar linkage frame that includes four curved arms that are adjustable with respect to each other;

at least four fixed blades that extend from the four curved arms and in a direction below the four-bar linkage frame; and

a lock actuator movably attached to one of the four curved arms at an upwardly facing position above the four-bar linkage frame to adjust a clamp that retains the four-bar linkage frame in a user-selected position, the lock actuator is moveable relative to said one of the four curved arms between a locked position and an unlocked position,

wherein the four curved arms comprises a first set of arms and a second set of arms, the second set of arms being longer than the first set of arms, and

wherein the fixed blades extend from the second set of arms.

8 . A surgical retractor device comprising:

a frame that includes a plurality of arms that are adjustable with respect to each other;

a plurality of fixed blades that extend from an inner profile of the plurality of arms at permanently fixed positions spaced apart from connections between the plurality of arms;

one or more flexible paddles releasably mounted to the frame between the fixed blades;

a light port that receives a light source connection, wherein light emitting elements within one or more of the fixed blades and the flexible paddles illuminate in response to light energy delivery from the light port; and

a lock actuator that controls adjustability of the arms, the lock actuator is moveable between a locked position and an unlocked position, wherein:

responsive to the lock actuator being moved into the unlocked position, the frame is adjustable between a collapsed position and an expanded position; and

responsive to the lock actuator being moved into the locked position, the frame is locked in a position the plurality of arms are in when the lock actuator is moved into the locked position.

9 . The surgical retractor device of claim 8 , wherein the surgical retractor device is adjustable between a collapsed position and an expanded position by adjusting the plurality of arms with respect to each other, and the frame is lockable at a plurality of positions from the collapsed position to the expanded position.

10 . The surgical retractor device of claim 8 , wherein movement of any of the plurality of arms urges movement of the other arms.

11 . The surgical retractor device of claim 8 , wherein the one or more flexible paddles are longer than the fixed blades.

12 . A surgical retractor device comprising:

a frame that includes a plurality of arms interconnected by hinge connection joints such that the plurality of arms are adjustable with respect to each other;

a plurality of fixed blades non-releasably mounted to the plurality of arms at fixed locations spaced apart from said connection joints between the plurality of arms, the plurality of blades having a first length; and

one or more flexible paddles releasably mounted to the frame between the fixed blades, the flexible paddles having a second length that is longer than the first length;

wherein the first length is configured for retracting at least one of skin, muscle, and fascia, and the second length is configured for retracting tissues at a greater depth than the first length.

13 . The surgical retractor device of claim 12 , wherein the surgical retractor device is adjustable between a collapsed position and an expanded position by adjusting the plurality of arms with respect to each other, and the frame is lockable at a plurality of positions from the collapsed position to the expanded position.

14 . The surgical retractor device of claim 12 , further comprising a lock actuator that controls adjustability of the arms, the lock actuator is moveable between a locked position and an unlocked position.

15 . The surgical retractor device of claim 14 , wherein:

responsive to the lock actuator being moved into the unlocked position, the frame is adjustable between a collapsed position and an expanded position; and

responsive to the lock actuator being moved into the locked position, the frame is locked in a position the plurality of arms are in when the lock actuator is moved into the locked position.

16 . The surgical retractor device of claim 12 , wherein movement of any of the plurality of arms urges movement of the other arms.