US 11,944,287 B2
System and method for retracting body tissue
Adam Friedrich, Cinnaminson, NJ (US); Jason Cianfrani, Conshohocken, PA (US); and Matthew Bechtel, Philadelphia, PA (US)
Assigned to Globus Medical, Inc., Audubon, PA (US)
Filed by GLOBUS MEDICAL, INC., Audubon, PA (US)
Filed on Jul. 25, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/814,634.
Application 17/814,634 is a continuation of application No. 16/953,400, filed on Nov. 20, 2020, granted, now 11,426,153.
Application 16/953,400 is a continuation of application No. 16/151,827, filed on Oct. 4, 2018, granted, now 10,863,977, issued on Dec. 15, 2020.
Application 16/151,827 is a continuation of application No. 15/695,431, filed on Sep. 5, 2017, granted, now 10,117,646, issued on Nov. 6, 2018.
Application 15/695,431 is a continuation of application No. 14/476,466, filed on Sep. 3, 2014, granted, now 9,770,237, issued on Sep. 26, 2017.
Application 14/476,466 is a continuation of application No. 13/419,130, filed on Mar. 13, 2012, granted, now 8,852,090, issued on Oct. 7, 2014.
Prior Publication US 2022/0354480 A1, Nov. 10, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A61B 17/02 (2006.01); A61B 90/57 (2016.01)
CPC A61B 17/0293 (2013.01) [A61B 17/02 (2013.01); A61B 2090/571 (2016.02)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for retracting body tissue, comprising:
providing a frame system; and
retracting body tissue with the frame system to create an opening into a patient's body,
wherein the frame system includes:
a frame rail;
a supporting frame arm configured to be coupled to the frame rail;
a device clamp configured to slidably engage said frame rail; and
a blade configured to be attached to the device clamp,
wherein the frame rail includes separable sections that join to form a continuous frame rail of a desired length, wherein the continuous frame rail forms an unobstructed surface along which the supporting frame arm and the device clamp are configured to slide.