Anchored Surgical Retractor Blades for Stable Spinal Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surgical retractors face challenges in providing efficient access to surgical sites, particularly in spinal surgery, with limitations in attachment and adjustment mechanisms that hinder effective manipulation and stability during procedures.
Innovation Solution
The development of modular surgical retractors with anchored blades that can be easily attached and detached from retractor arms, allowing for secure anchoring to bone implants like pedicle screws, and featuring adjustable configurations to create and maintain a stable surgical corridor, including mechanisms for easy assembly and disassembly of modular screws without additional adjustments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional surgical retractors are used with fixed attachment mechanisms, then structural stability is maintained, but ease of operation and adaptability to different surgical sites deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The retractor blade is divided into modular components including a blade portion, a control assembly, and a jaw mechanism that can be independently adjusted and attached to different retractor arms. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function while improving overall ease of operation and adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The retractor system incorporates dynamic adjustment mechanisms including a control assembly with a connection rod that can transition the jaw mechanism between open and closed configurations. The blade can be dynamically positioned and secured to different retractor arms during the surgical procedure, providing adaptability without requiring complex permanent attachments.
2Adaptability or versatility
If modular retractor blades with anchored jaws are used, then adaptability to different bone implants improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The retractor blade design incorporates a universal engagement mechanism with jaws that can accommodate different bone implant types including pedicle screws and other spinal fixation devices. The control assembly and connection rod provide multi-functional capability to secure various implant configurations, achieving versatility through a standardized modular interface rather than multiple specialized devices.
3Reliability
If retractor blades are securely anchored to bone implants, then stability during surgery improves, but ease of operation for assembly and disassembly deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The jaw mechanism is designed with self-aligning features that automatically position the jaws around the bone implant when the control assembly is actuated. The connection rod mechanism provides self-contained control where rotation of the connection rod automatically transitions the jaws between open and closed configurations, eliminating the need for additional adjustment steps during assembly and disassembly while maintaining secure anchoring.
Data Source
AI summary
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 the proximal end of the elongate blade portion and an anchor mechanism positioned at the distal end of the elongate blade portion. The anchor mechanism includes a first jaw and second jaw configured to engage the bone implant. When closed around or anchored to the bone implant—which may be a shank of a modular screw system—the components of the modular screw are able to be assembled to the shank without adjusting, loosening, or opening the anchor mechanism.