25 results about "Retractor blade" patented technology

Minimally-invasive spinal surgery methods, devices, and systems for advancing a spinal implant through an oblique anterolateral retroperitoneal operative corridor to an intervertebral disc space located between the L5 and S1 vertebral bodies of a subject positioned in a lateral decubitus position are described. An example spinal implant system includes a retractor sized and shaped to establish at least a portion of the oblique anterolateral retroperitoneal operative corridor, a spinal implant sized and shaped to pass between the first and second unitary retractor blades of the retractor in connection with the spinal implant being introduced into the intervertebral disc space via the oblique anterolateral retroperitoneal operative corridor, and an introducer instrument configured to pass between the first and second unitary retractor blades of the retractor in connection with the introducer instrument introducing the spinal implant into the intervertebral disc space via the oblique anterolateral retroperitoneal operative corridor.

A retractor may include: one or more racks; and retractor blades coupled to the respective racks via the respective carriages and retractor arms. The carriages may traverse along the respective racks to laterally position the retractor blades. The retractor blade may include a track along which the retractor arm may traverse to position the retractor blade longitudinally relative to the rack.

A retractor blade assembly having a retractor blade having a track extending long on a face of the retractor blade, a screw entry at a bottom of the retractor blade comprising a window through which a bone screw is insertable, and a screw gate which engages the track on the retractor blade. Once the bone screw is placed through the screw entry, the screw gate lowers until the screw gate blocks the window.

A device to connect a surgical retractor blade to a superficial ring retractor.

An apparatus for holding a retractor arm including a connector attachable at a free end of a support arm. The connector including a housing extending with a receptacle, a holder block movably disposed in the housing, and a bumper block movably disposed in the housing. The holder block adjustable between a retracted position where a tip of the holder block is outside of the receptacle and a holding position where the tip is at least partially within the receptacle. The bumper block being biased in an expanded position such that the holder block is held in the retracted position by the bumper block and movement of the bumper block from the expanded position to a compressed position releases the holder block. The connector is adapted to receive a post disposed on a retractor arm, the post being loadable into the receptacle to cause the bumper block to move.

A surgical wire is part of a system that includes a retractor blade defining one or more paths for the surgical wire to follow. The paths can be one or more openings, cannulations, paths, tubes, other structures, or combinations thereof. The surgical wire can be routed through the front, back, and / or middle of the retractor blade and into a vertebral body. The surgical wire can be routed through a shim in communication with the retractor blade and into a vertebral body Systems and methods are used to insert surgical wires into bone. Systems and methods are used for removing surgical wires from bone. Systems include those for gripping and pulling or pushing surgical wires. Systems include those that interact with a retractor (e.g., an arm, body, or blade thereof) to facilitate removal of the surgical wire.

A side-load connector comprises a housing, a port into which an attachment post of a retractor blade is loaded, a sidewall opening, a retaining fork between a housing upper surface and a housing lower surface, and a slider. The port passes through the housing upper surface and the housing lower surface. The sidewall opening passes through a housing sidewall and permits lateral passage of the attachment post through the housing sidewall to the port. The retaining fork includes a front tine and a back tine. The slider is coupled to the retaining fork and configured to slide the retaining fork between a closed position in which the front tine and the back tine engage the loaded attachment post and an opened position in which the front tine does not engage the loaded attachment post.

Trackable retractor systems, apparatuses, devices, and methods involving: retractor blades, each retractor blade having a proximal end and a distal end, the retractor blades having a blade axis defined by a midline therebetween or thereamong; actuation arms, each actuation arm having a proximal end and a distal end, each actuation arm distal end configured to correspondingly couple with each retractor blade proximal end, and each actuation arm configured to correspondingly actuate each retractor blade; a positioning arm configured to position each actuation arm; a movable clamp configured to movably couple with the positioning arm and one actuation arm and to move the one actuation arm relative to another actuation arm; and three distinct tracking features disposed in a tracking plane, two distinct tracking features configured to correspondingly couple with the retractor blade proximal ends, one other distinct tracking feature configured to couple with the movable clamp, and each distinct tracking feature having a distinct tracking token, whereby the blade axis is maintained in a position orthogonal to the tracking plane, and whereby optical alignment is maintained along the blade axis in relation to a desired focal depth.

Disclosed are surgical instruments and methods that aid in positioning a surgical visualization system, such as a camera or other imaging device, relative to an access device in a surgical procedure, including spinal procedures. The disclosed instruments and methods provide for mounting a camera or other imaging device to an access device, such as a spinal retractor blade, at various radial positions about a working channel to facilitate use of the camera or imaging device to aid in a variety of surgical steps or procedures.

A retractor assembly includes a retractor body assembly includes first and second primary retractor blade assemblies and first and second secondary blade assemblies that each have a base portion and a blade portion. The base portions of the blade assemblies may be connected to form a ring, and the ring may be inserted into an incision formed in a patient. The blade portions of the blade assemblies may then be folded towards and secured to a ring assembly, with the blade portions retracting tissue around the incision.

The retractor assembly includes a retractor body assembly. The retractor body assembly includes first and second primary retractor blade assemblies and first and second secondary retractor blade assemblies, each having a base portion and a blade portion. The base portions of the blade assemblies are joined to form a ring that can be inserted into an incision made in a patient. The blade portions of the blade assemblies are then folded and secured toward the ring assembly, causing the blade portions to retract tissue surrounding the incision.

This disclosure relates generally to surgical retractors and surgical retractor systems configured to provide access to a surgical site, such as a portion of a patient's spine. Also disclosed are retractor blades or blade assemblies connectable to surgical retractors. A self-adjusting retractor blade includes a sheath extending from a proximal end to a distal end, with the sheath having an engagement portion at the proximal end configured for releasable engagement with a surgical retractor system, a channel extending to the distal end, and a blade tip at least partially contained within the channel, the blade tip configured to slide within the channel. The blade tip may be biased in a first position relative to the sheath. Methods of assembling and using the surgical retractors and surgical systems are also disclosed.

A retractor member is configured for insertion through a channel of an access member and for moving soft tissue at a treatment site that is accessible through the channel. The retractor includes a body having a proximal end and a distal end and spaced from each other along a longitudinal direction. The distal end defines a retractor blade and the body defines a first surface and a second surface opposite each other along a transverse direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. The retractor includes an attachment device configured to selectively attach the body to a portion of the access member such that the body is extendable through the working channel while the body is attached to the portion of the access member.

Systems, devices, and methods for tissue retraction include one or more instruments operatively couplable for retracting and / or retaining tissues or other materials during a procedure. In one aspect, a first instrument includes an elongate rigid body having a longitudinal axis extending from a proximal end to a distal end. The elongate rigid body has an outer polygonal profile and an interior surface defining a round channel extending along the longitudinal axis. The round channel may receive a tubular instrument therethrough. The elongate rigid body includes one or more sets of flanges protruding from lateral sides of the outer polygonal profile. The flanges positively engage one or more respective tracks of a tissue retraction blade. Additional instruments may be provided that operatively couple to the first instrument and / or to one or more tissue retractor blades, for example while the first instrument is coupled to the tissue retractor blades.

Devices for retracting tissue during a minimally-invasive, posterior spinal fusion procedure include a blade positionable along a passageway device connected to a connecting element implanted in a vertebra of the spine, such that the blade covers at least a portion of a longitudinal opening of the passageway device. The blade may be coupled to the passageway device by receiving the passageway device with a receiving portion. Systems for displacing the vertebrae of the spine include first and second extenders, the distal ends of each of which are configured to engage the connecting elements. Each extender may include a shaft configured to be securely engaged within a cage of the respective connecting element. The devices and systems of the present invention may be used in connection with an interbody fusion technique performed through an opening extending between the passageway devices, and an intermediate retractor blade may provide additional tissue retraction.

In an example, a surgical retractor includes an elongated shaft extending from a first end to a second end, and a retractor blade extending from the second end of the elongated shaft. The elongated shaft defines an internal chamber. The elongated shaft includes a handle portion at the first end of the elongated shaft, a suction conduit in a first lateral portion of the internal chamber, and a light conduit in a second lateral portion of the internal chamber. The suction conduit extends from a suction port at the first end to a suction aperture at the second end. The light conduit extends from a light-input port at the first end to a light aperture at the second end. The suction conduit and the light conduit are substantially coplanar. The surgical retractor also includes an optical waveguide in the light conduit of the elongated shaft.

A tissue retraction system comprising a drive gear coupled to a shaft. The tissue retraction system includes a first plurality of linking members located along a second axis and configured to rotate along the second axis based on contact with the drive gear as the drive gear is rotated. The tissue retraction system includes a linking member selector configured to rotate along the first axis, wherein the linking member selector comprises a cylindrical body integrally formed with a handle. The tissue retraction system includes a right arm assembly configured to move along a first trajectory. The tissue retraction system includes a first retractor blade coupled to the right arm assembly. The tissue retraction system includes a left arm assembly configured to move along a second trajectory. The tissue retraction system includes a second retractor blade coupled to the left arm assembly.

Distractor and retractor systems and methods of using the same. A pedicle-based distractor assembly may include a base supporting a distraction rack, a pair of moveable arms coupled to the distraction rack, a connector at the end of each arm, each connector having a through-opening, and a pair of distractor elements each configured to attach to a pedicle screw. Each distractor element may be positioned through the through-opening in the respective connector. The distractor elements are modular such that different types of distractor elements, such as headless posts, pre-assembled posts, or minimally invasive towers, are interchangeable with the connectors. The assembly may also include a retractor assembly with a medial retractor blade for retracting soft tissue. The medial retractor blade may have one or more translating components at a distal for retracting soft tissue.

An embodiment of a retractor system includes a retractor blade with actuating members at the blade tip, which allow the blade to fixedly couple to and decouple from the shank of a pedicle screw with the press of a button. The actuating members each have an arced slot that acts like a cam when the button is depressed. The button-based actuation is based, at least in part, on the shape of the arcs relative to the pivot point. When the blade is in the relaxed state with the button not depressed the slope of the arc aligns with the pivot point. This prevents the actuating members from being opened from forces that may be generated during ordinary screw manipulation. When the blade is in the actuated state with the button depressed the slope of the arc is offset from the pivot point. This allows the blades to move as needed.

A retractor member is configured for insertion through a channel of an access member and to move soft tissue at a treatment site accessible through the channel. The retractor includes a body having a proximal end and a distal end and spaced apart from one another along a longitudinal direction. The distal end defines a retractor blade and the body defines first and second surfaces opposite one another along a transverse direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. The retractor includes an attachment device configured to selectively attach the body to a portion of the access member such that the body is extendable through the working channel when the body is attached to the portion of the access member.

A spinal retractor blade and retractor device are provided. The retractor blade may include an optional straight first leg having an end joined to an end of a shank. The blade further includes a transition extending from the straight first leg by about 90° to 180° and terminating in a free end. A width of the transition is suitable for receiving a spinous process. Retractors in accordance with the invention may optionally include a pair of such blades, and the blades themselves may optionally include a second straight leg between the transition and the free end. The legs of such blades may be non-parallel.

A retractor blade includes a descender portion and a hook portion. The descender portion is configured to engage a rib in response to a retraction force applied to the retractor blade. The hook portion forms a channel with the descender portion. The channel is configured to secure the rib against the descender portion. The descender portion and the hook portion are integrally formed of a compliant material. The first hook portion includes at least one gap separating a plurality of teeth. The at least one gap of the hook portion and the compliant material together are configured to cause substantially an entire length of the retractor blade in the descender portion to conform to the rib in response to the retraction force. The retractor blade may be pivotably attached to an arm of a retractor that is configured to mechanically retract in response to the retraction force.

This disclosure relates generally to surgical retractors and surgical retractor systems configured to provide access to a surgical site, such as a portion of a patient's spine. Also disclosed are retractor blades or blade assemblies connectable to surgical retractors. A self-adjusting retractor blade includes a sheath extending from a proximal end to a distal end, with the sheath having an engagement portion at the proximal end configured for releasable engagement with a surgical retractor system, a channel extending to the distal end, and a blade tip at least partially contained within the channel, the blade tip configured to slide within the channel. The blade tip may be biased in a first position relative to the sheath. Methods of assembling and using the surgical retractors and surgical systems are also disclosed.

A surgical wire is part of a system that includes a retractor blade defining one or more paths for the surgical wire to follow. The paths can be one or more openings, cannulations, paths, tubes, other structures, or combinations thereof. The surgical wire can be routed through the front, back, and / or middle of the retractor blade and into a vertebral body. The surgical wire can be routed through a shim in communication with the retractor blade and into a vertebral body Systems and methods are used to insert surgical wires into bone. Systems and methods are used for removing surgical wires from bone. Systems include those for gripping and pulling or pushing surgical wires. Systems include those that interact with a retractor (e.g., an arm, body, or blade thereof) to facilitate removal of the surgical wire.

A surgical retractor device includes at least two retractor blades slidably attached by a tooth and gear mechanism, the blades having concave surfaces facing away from one another. The first concave retractor blade can be joined to a first end of a first bar that has a serrated edge The second concave retractor blade can be joined to a first end of a bar arm that has the gear mechanism at its opposite end. The gear mechanism includes a handle with a gear which causes the first bar to slidably move along the second bar. Each bar can include a housing with a fastener that can receive stabilizers.