Patents by Inventor Robert Ballantine

Robert Ballantine has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Method for knee-joint surgery
    Patent number: 7458933
    Abstract: A method of performing knee-joint surgery includes positioning the tibia and the femur such that the knee-joint is disposed in a bent position. An incision is made to expose the knee-joint. A retractor support is mounted to a surgical table. The skin and flesh layers proximate the knee-joint are retracted utilizing a retractor that is attached to the retractor support which is mounted to a surgical table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Assignee: Minnesota Scientific, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven M. LeVahn, Robert Ballantine, Todd W. Sharratt
  • Articulated retractor blade holder
    Publication number: 20050113645
    Abstract: An apparatus for holding a surgical retractor comprises a support handle and a surgical retractor holding element pivotally attached to the support handle. A rod engages the retractor holder element at a position spaced from the pivotal attachment to the support handle with the rod being movable thereby pivoting the holding element to move the position of the retractor blade of the surgical retractor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2004
    Publication date: May 26, 2005
    Applicant: Minnesota Scientific, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd Sharratt, Todd Bjork, Robert Ballantine
  • Method for knee-joint surgery
    Publication number: 20050027171
    Abstract: A method of performing knee-joint surgery includes positioning the tibia and the femur such that the knee-joint is disposed in a bent position. An incision is made to expose the knee-joint. A retractor support is mounted to a surgical table. The skin and flesh layers proximate the knee-joint are retracted utilizing a retractor that is attached to the retractor support which is mounted to a surgical table.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2004
    Publication date: February 3, 2005
    Applicant: Minnesota Scientific, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven LeVahn, Robert Ballantine, Todd Sharratt