Patent ID: 11937796
Assignee: BOSTON SCIENTIFIC MEDICAL DEVICE LIMITED
Field: Medical technology (Instruments)
Classification: CPC A | IPC A

Claim 19:
20. An apparatus, comprising:
a tissue-spreader assembly configured to be selectively inserted into a patient having a first biological tissue and a second biological tissue being positioned proximate to the first biological tissue, and to be maneuvered proximate to the second biological tissue; and
the tissue-spreader assembly further configured to selectively engage, at least in part, an area of the second biological tissue without engaging the first biological tissue after the tissue-spreader assembly, in use, is maneuvered proximate to the second biological tissue; and
the tissue-spreader assembly also configured to selectively spread, at least in part, the area of the second biological tissue, and maintain the area of the second biological tissue in a spread-apart condition after the tissue-spreader assembly, in use, selectively engages, at least in part, the area of the second biological tissue without engaging the first biological tissue; wherein:
the tissue-spreader assembly includes:
a first tube; and
a second tube configured to be received within, and along, a longitudinal length of the first tube; and
the first tube and the second tube being coaxially aligned with each other after the second tube is received within, and along, the longitudinal length of the first tube; and
biased bowed portions, the prongs extending from the biased bowed portions; and
the biased bowed portions being configured to be positioned between the first tube and the second tube after the tissue-spreader assembly is placed in the undeployed condition; and
the biased bowed portions also being configured to be compressed after the tissue-spreader assembly is placed in the undeployed condition; wherein:
positioned on an outer surface of the second tube are spaced-apart support grooves; and
the spaced-apart support grooves respectively correspond to bowed portions; and
the spaced-apart support grooves are configured to, respectively, selectively receive, and support, the biased bowed portions after the support bowed portions are positioned in the undeployed condition.