Tissue retractor having operative corridor formed by dilator and blades

A system for forming an operative corridor, comprising:

• a dilator, a first blade, and a second blade;
• the dilator comprising:
• a hollow elongate body extending in a longitudinal direction from a proximal end to a distal end, the elongate body having an interior surface and an exterior surface;
• the interior surface defining a closed interior passageway having a central axis extending in the longitudinal direction;
• the exterior surface being defined by a first working surface and a first attachment surface opposite of the first working surface, the entirety of the first working surface being configured to contact patient skin and the first attachment surface being configured to directly couple to the first blade and the second blade;
• the first blade comprising:
• a second working surface configured to contact patient skin and a second attachment surface, opposite the second working surface, configured to directly couple to the first attachment surface of the dilator;
• the second blade comprising:
• a third working surface configured to contact patient skin and a third attachment surface, opposite the third working surface, configured to directly couple to the first attachment surface of the dilator;
• wherein the first working surface of the dilator, the second working surface of the first blade, and the third working surface of the second blade define an outer perimeter of a closed operative corridor, and
• wherein, in a cross-section view, the closed operative corridor spans 360 degrees around the central axis, a first angular extent of the first working surface is about 150-170 degrees around the central axis and a second angular extent of the second working surface of the second blade and the third working surface of the third blade, when combined, is about 190-210 degrees around the central axis.

A retractor system for enabling access to a surgical site via an operative corridor, comprising:

• a retractor, the retractor comprising:
• a first arm and a second arm pivotally coupled together, the first arm being configured to support a first blade and the second arm being configured to support a second blade;
• a first handle coupled to the first arm and a second handle coupled to the second arm;
• a dilator, the dilator comprising:
• a hollow elongate body extending in a longitudinal direction from a proximal end to a distal end, the elongate body having an interior surface and an exterior surface;
• the interior surface defining a closed interior passageway having a central axis extending in the longitudinal direction;
• the exterior surface being defined by a first working surface and a first attachment surface opposite the first working surface, the entirety of the first working surface being configured to contact patient skin and the first attachment surface being configured to directly couple to the first blade and the second blade;
• the first blade comprising:
• a second working surface configured to contact patient skin and a second attachment surface, opposite the second working surface, configured to directly couple to the first attachment surface of the dilator;
• the second blade comprising:
• a third working surface configured to contact patient skin and a third attachment surface, opposite the third working surface, configured to directly couple to the first attachment surface of the dilator;
• and
• wherein the first working surface of the dilator, the second working surface of the first blade, and the third working surface of the second blade define an outer perimeter of a closed operative corridor, and
• wherein, in a cross-section view, the closed operative corridor spans 360 degrees around the central axis, a first angular extent of the first working surface is about 150-170 degrees around the central axis and a second angular extent of the second working surface of the second blade and the third working surface of the third blade, when combined, is about 190-210 degrees around the central axis.