Spinal Retractor with Distractor Element for Minimally Invasive Surgery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing minimally invasive spinal surgery retractors often create clutter in the surgical field, limit access angles, and are cumbersome, making procedures like TLIF and ELIF challenging due to space restrictions and the need for additional equipment, which can obstruct visibility and imaging during spinal surgeries.
Innovation Solution
A spinal surgery instrument featuring a rigid frame with retractable blades and a distractor element that can be mounted between spinous processes, allowing for adjustable access trajectories and minimizing clutter, enabling better visualization and manipulation of the surgical site.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If traditional open procedure retractors are used, then access to surgical site is achieved, but trauma to skin and surrounding tissue increases
Solution Approach 1:
The retractor system is divided into multiple components including a retractor assembly with expandable blades, a mounting assembly with distractor element, and a ratchet mechanism. This segmentation allows the device to be inserted through a small incision while expanding to provide large working channel access, minimizing skin trauma while maintaining adequate surgical access
Solution Approach 2:
The retractor blades are designed to nest within each other in a collapsed configuration for insertion through a small incision, then expand outward to create a large working channel. The mounting assembly and distractor element also utilize nested configurations to pass through the working channel and establish secure mounting between spinous processes
2Object-affected harmful factors
If minimally invasive retractors are used, then trauma to tissue is reduced, but access angles are limited and clutter is created
Solution Approach 1:
The retractor blades are designed with articulation joints that allow dynamic adjustment of blade angles and positions. The mounting assembly includes a distractor element that can be adjusted to accommodate various spinous process geometries. This dynamic adaptability enables the device to provide multiple access angles while maintaining minimal tissue trauma through small incisions
Solution Approach 2:
The retractor assembly is designed to perform multiple functions including tissue retraction, working channel creation, and mounting between spinous processes. The distractor element serves dual purposes of securing the device and providing vertebral distraction. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate equipment, minimizing clutter while maintaining versatile access angles
3Adaptability or versatility
If additional equipment is added for mounting and distraction, then procedural capability is improved, but clutter in surgical field increases
Solution Approach 1:
The retractor assembly is merged with the mounting assembly, where the distractor element serves as both the mounting mechanism between spinous processes and the distraction device for vertebral separation. The ratchet mechanism is integrated into the mounting assembly to provide secure fixation. This merging eliminates the need for separate mounting and distraction equipment, reducing clutter while maintaining full procedural capability
Data Source
AI summary
An instrument for spinal surgery for retracting soft tissue and mounting between a superior spinous process and an inferior spinous process includes a relatively rigid frame, a first retractor blade mounted to the frame and a distractor element movably mounted to the frame. The distractor element has a body, a proximal end and a distal end. The distractor element has a thickness and a length. The distractor element is configured for mounting between the superior and inferior spinous processes in a working configuration. The distractor element is generally tapered at the distal end in an insertion configuration. The instrument also includes an insertion shaft attached to the proximal end and a first shaft joint mounted between the frame and the insertion shaft.