Anchored Surgical Retractor for Minimally Invasive Spinal Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional surgical retractors require a bed-mounted arm for stabilization, which can be cumbersome and ineffective in maintaining the retractor in place during surgery, hindering the surgeon and operating room staff.
Innovation Solution
Surgical retractors anchored to the patient's anatomy using bone anchors and anchor extensions, eliminating the need for a bed-mounted arm, with a frame and retractor blades that provide a self-retaining access channel for minimally invasive procedures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a bed-mounted arm is used to maintain the retractor in place, then the retractor can be stabilized during surgery, but the arm becomes cumbersome and obstructs the surgeon and operating room staff
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the bed-mounted arm from the retractor system entirely. Instead, the retractor is anchored directly to the patient's anatomy through bone anchors and anchor extensions, eliminating the external support structure that caused obstruction while maintaining retractor stability during surgery
Solution Approach 2:
The retractor system becomes self-retaining by anchoring directly to the patient's bone structure through bone anchors. The retractor blades are connected to anchor extensions that are themselves connected to bone anchors, creating a self-supported system that does not require external bed-mounted arms for stabilization
2Stability of the object's composition
If a bed-mounted arm is used to support the retractor, then the retractor can be held in position, but the arm is ineffective at maintaining the retractor in place
Solution Approach 1:
The retractor system anchors itself to the patient's anatomy through bone anchors and anchor extensions, creating a reliable self-retaining mechanism that directly attaches to the skeletal structure, providing superior positioning stability compared to external bed-mounted arms
Solution Approach 2:
The retractor system is merged with the bone anchor system. The retractor blades connect to anchor extensions that are connected to bone anchors implanted in the patient's vertebrae, creating an integrated system where the retractor becomes part of the spinal stabilization construct, ensuring reliable retention throughout the procedure
3Area of stationary object
If conventional retractors with bed-mounted arms are used, then the incision can be expanded for access, but the arms obstruct the surgical team's movement
Solution Approach 1:
The bed-mounted arm is completely removed from the system. The retractor is instead supported by anchor extensions connected to bone anchors in the patient's vertebrae, eliminating the obstructive external arm while preserving the ability to expand the incision and create an access channel for minimally invasive surgery
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical retractor for use with a spinal stabilization system including a plurality of bone anchors and a plurality of anchor extensions. The surgical retractor includes a frame positionable between a first anchor extension connected to a first bone anchor implanted in a first vertebra and a second anchor extension connected to a second bone anchor implanted in a second vertebra and a first retractor blade connectable to the frame for retracting tissue between the first anchor extension and the second anchor extension.