Lateral Access Surgical Retractor with Angulated Blades
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current spinal fixation and stabilization methods often require anterior or posterior access to intervertebral spaces, which can lead to tissue damage and increased recovery time, as they do not effectively utilize a lateral approach for accessing these spaces.
Innovation Solution
A surgical retractor system with pivotable arms and a rotatable knob that allows for axial displacement and angulation of blades, enabling a lateral approach to intervertebral spaces, reducing tissue trauma and facilitating minimal invasive procedures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If anterior or posterior access is used to reach intervertebral spaces, then spinal fixation and stabilization can be achieved, but tissue damage increases and recovery time extends
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a lateral approach (transpsoas approach) to access intervertebral spaces, changing the traditional anterior or posterior access dimension. This lateral dimension allows surgeons to reach the spinal work location through a different anatomical pathway, avoiding the tissue damage associated with traditional approaches while maintaining effective spinal fixation and stabilization
2Ease of operation
If traditional anterior or posterior surgical approaches are used, then spinal procedures can be performed, but recovery time increases
Solution Approach 1:
By utilizing the lateral anatomical dimension through the transpsoas approach, the patent enables spinal procedures to be performed with reduced tissue trauma. This dimensional change in surgical access translates to faster patient recovery times compared to traditional anterior or posterior approaches, while still providing adequate surgical accessibility
3Object-affected harmful factors
If lateral approach is implemented, then tissue damage is reduced, but device complexity increases due to pivotable arms and rotatable mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The retractor system incorporates dynamic elements including pivotable arms and rotatable knobs that allow the blades to be adjusted to various angles and positions. This dynamic capability enables the device to adapt to different surgical needs and anatomical variations while maintaining the benefits of the lateral approach, reducing tissue trauma through flexible positioning rather than fixed rigid structures
4Adaptability or versatility
If blades are made adjustable with angulation capability, then surgical flexibility is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The blade adjustment mechanism uses dynamic components such as rotatable knobs and pivotable connections that allow surgeons to angulate and position blades as needed during the procedure. This dynamic design provides surgical flexibility and adaptability to different anatomical configurations without requiring overly complex fixed mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The retractor system is divided into separable components including multiple blades, pivotable arms, and adjustment mechanisms that can be independently positioned and configured. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function while contributing to overall surgical flexibility without proportionally increasing total device complexity
Data Source
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AI summary
A surgical retractor (100) includes a body portion (116) and first and second retractor arms (120, 130) operatively coupled thereto. The body portion includes a rotatable knob (114), a first blade holder (116), and a first blade (500). The first blade is configured for axial displacement with the first blade holder and angulation relative to the first blade holder about a first axis. The first and second retractor arms include respective second and third blades (400a, 400b) detachably secured thereto. The first and second retractor arms are transitionable between an approximated configuration and a spaced apart configuration. The second and third blades are configured to angulate about respective second and third axes that are defined by the respective first and second retractor arms.