US Patent Issued to Alphatec Spine on May 13 for "Surgical retractors and methods of using the same" (California, Connecticut Inventors)

ALEXANDRIA, Va., June 12 -- United States Patent no. 12,295,559, issued on May 13, was assigned to Alphatec Spine Inc. (Carlsbad, Calif.).

"Surgical retractors and methods of using the same" was invented by David Considine (Torrington, Conn.), James Lee (Vista, Calif.), Andrew W. Rajek (Escondido, Calif.) and Max C. Zemezonak (San Diego).

According to the abstract* released by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "A retractor assembly that includes a base portion in slidable engagement with two or more retractor arms with at least one of the retractor arms releasably securing a retractor blade configured to be anchored to a bone anchor. The retractor blade includes an elongate blade portion with a retractor engagement portion positioned at...