Minimally disruptive retractor and associated methods for spinal surgery
AssigneeNuVasive, Inc.
InventorsCasey James O'Connell, James Coleman Lee, Ali A. Shorooghi
Life of this patent
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Abstract
This application describes a surgical retractor and related methods for providing access to a surgical target site for the purpose performing minimally invasive spinal fusion across one or more segments of the spinal column.
Claims20
An anchor blade comprising:
- a blade portion including a distal end and a proximal end, wherein the distal end includes at least two arms, a first arm that extends to a first foot and a second arm that extends to a second foot,
- wherein at least one of the two arms is pivotably attached to the distal end of the blade portion;
- and
- wherein the first foot and the second foot, when configured in a closed position, form a capture element having a center aperture configured to receive a neck of a bone anchor.
An anchor blade forming part of a surgical retractor for accessing a spinal target site during spinal surgery, the anchor blade comprising:
- a blade portion including a distal end comprising a first arm and with a first foot extending transversely from the first arm and a second arm with a second foot extending transversely from the second arm, the first arm coupled to the second arm and movable between a closed position and an open position, wherein the first foot and the second foot cooperate to form a capture element having a center aperture configured to receive a neck of a bone anchor in the closed position.
A spinal retractor for a maintaining an access corridor to a site along a spinal column on which a surgical procedure is performed, the surgical procedure including use of a bone anchor anchorable into a pedicle of a vertebra, the spinal retractor comprising:
- a retractor body including at least one retractor arm, the retractor body being operable to move the retractor arm;
- an anchor blade coupleable to the at least one retractor arm and configured to capture a portion of the bone anchor to anchor the retractor to the pedicle of the vertebra, wherein the anchor blade includes:
- a blade portion including a distal end and a proximal end, wherein the distal end includes at least two arms, a first arm that extends to a first foot and a second arm that extends to a second foot,
- wherein at least one of the two arms is pivotably attached to the distal end of the blade portion;
- and
- wherein the first foot and the second foot, when configured in a closed position, form a capture element having a center aperture configured to receive a neck of a bone anchor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.