US 12,226,353 B2
Tissue retention systems and methods
David D. Blurton, Whiteville, TN (US); and Mark Buchanan, Atoka, TN (US)
Assigned to Stetrix, Inc., Bartlett, TN (US)
Filed by Stetrix, Inc., Bartlett, TN (US)
Filed on Oct. 3, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/480,222.
Application 15/977,776 is a division of application No. 15/645,578, filed on Jul. 10, 2017, granted, now 9,993,382, issued on Jun. 12, 2018.
Application 18/480,222 is a continuation of application No. 17/551,956, filed on Dec. 15, 2021, granted, now 11,813,205.
Application 17/551,956 is a continuation of application No. 17/179,213, filed on Feb. 18, 2021, granted, now 11,202,732, issued on Dec. 21, 2021.
Application 17/179,213 is a continuation of application No. 15/977,776, filed on May 11, 2018, granted, now 10,925,792, issued on Feb. 23, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2024/0033152 A1, Feb. 1, 2024
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A61F 5/37 (2006.01); A61B 17/00 (2006.01); A61B 17/02 (2006.01); A61G 13/12 (2006.01)
CPC A61G 13/122 (2013.01) [A61B 17/02 (2013.01); A61F 5/37 (2013.01); A61F 5/3776 (2013.01); A61F 5/3784 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00951 (2013.01)] 26 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A tissue retention apparatus for maintaining tissue in a position that permits access to a body portion of a patient for a medical procedure, comprising:
an elongate flexible body having a primary anchor zone at a distal region, a secondary anchor zone at a proximal region, and a tension zone between said primary anchor zone and said secondary anchor zone, said primary anchor zone having a first width and comprising at a lower surface thereof a first attachment surface having a first attachment feature, said secondary anchor zone having a second width and comprising at a lower surface thereof a second attachment surface having a second attachment feature, and said tension zone comprising a third width and at a lower surface thereof an adhesion free zone extending between said primary anchor zone and said secondary anchor zone configured so as to not adhere to skin of said patient, at least one of said first width or said second width being relatively wider than said third width, said tension zone being configured to extend in a direction of loading to be applied to tissue of said patient and to be pulled by a user to lift or displace tissue in a desired direction.