Alphatec has been granted a patent for retractor blade devices, including blade extenders and tissue shims, along with drivers and kits for their use. The devices feature a retractor blade engagement portion with a body that sits partially in a retractor blade channel, and an extension portion. The devices also have retention components that allow them to be inserted into the channel from a perpendicular position. GlobalData’s report on Alphatec gives a 360-degree view of the company including its patenting strategy. Buy the report here.
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According to GlobalData’s company profile on Alphatec, Prosthetic cardiac valves was a key innovation area identified from patents. Alphatec's grant share as of September 2023 was 60%. Grant share is based on the ratio of number of grants to total number of patents.
Retractor blade device with retention components for retractor blade
A recently granted patent (Publication Number: US11771413B2) describes a retractor blade device that is used in surgical procedures. The device includes a retractor blade engagement portion and an extension portion. The retractor blade engagement portion is designed to sit partially in a channel of a retractor blade and has resilient projections that engage the lateral edges of the channel. The extension portion has a hook feature and is wider than the retractor blade engagement portion.
The device allows for easy insertion into the channel of the retractor blade from a perpendicular position. The retractor blade device is constructed in a way that the body portion and the extension portion are coplanar, and the first and second retention components extend in the same plane as the body portion. However, the extension portion may extend laterally relative to the blade engagement portion.
The patent also mentions that the body portion of the retractor blade device defines a first plane, while the extension portion defines a second plane. These planes are parallel to each other but not coplanar. The extension portion may have at least one scalloped edge and can include a channel or track that extends from the proximal end to the distal end. The channel or track is open at its proximal end.
Additionally, the retractor blade device includes a driver locking mechanism in the body portion. This mechanism comprises a resilient portion and a projection that engages a depression in the retractor blade. The resilient portion lies in the same plane as the body portion, while the projection extends from a plane defined by the body portion.
The device also features at least one tab that extends from the body portion in a direction distinct from the direction of the retention components. The tab extends in a direction normal to the direction of the retention components. Furthermore, the extension portion of the retractor blade device includes a curved surface that curves away from the plane defined by the retractor blade engagement portion. The extension portion may also have a second channel that is not coplanar with the channel of the retractor blade.
Overall, this patented retractor blade device offers improved functionality and ease of use in surgical procedures by providing a secure engagement with the retractor blade and additional features such as a hook, scalloped edges, and a driver locking mechanism.
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GlobalData, the leading provider of industry intelligence, provided the underlying data, research, and analysis used to produce this article.
GlobalData Patent Analytics tracks bibliographic data, legal events data, point in time patent ownerships, and backward and forward citations from global patenting offices. Textual analysis and official patent classifications are used to group patents into key thematic areas and link them to specific companies across the world’s largest industries.
