Independent rod suspension
AssigneeVB Spine US Opco LLC
InventorsSteven F. Krause, Abram Reitblat
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In one embodiment, an assembly includes a retractor and at least one cylindrical rod attached to the retractor. The rod has a fixed length portion and a spring portion. The spring portion of the rod has a longitudinal dimension that changes as a function of loading on the rod. When the rod is in contact with a solid surface such as a bone, it maintains contact with such surface even while changing shape due to loading on the rod. When the assembly includes multiple rods attached to the retractor, both spring-based rods and other types of rods may be used in combination.
Claims20
A retractor assembly comprising:
- a retractor adjustment apparatus configured for releasable attachment to a base structure, the retractor adjustment apparatus including a first portion with a spring aligned along an axis and a second portion extending from the first portion in a direction transverse to the first portion;
- and
- a retractor frame attached to an end of the second portion of the retractor adjustment apparatus that is spaced apart from the axis, the second portion separating the retractor frame and the first portion of the retractor adjustment apparatus, the retractor frame including a plurality of tissue retraction members attached thereto,
- wherein the retractor assembly is configured such that when a free end of one of the tissue retraction members is pressed against a surface, the retractor frame moves relative to a portion of the retractor adjustment apparatus.
An intermediate support frame for use with a surgical access instrument comprising:
- a resilient member configured to attach to a base structure;
- an interconnecting block attached to the resilient member;
- and
- an adjustable arm operatively connected to the interconnecting block, the adjustable arm configured to hold a surgical access instrument,
- wherein the adjustable arm is configured to be actively manipulated to translate the adjustable arm with respect to the interconnecting block, and
- wherein when the intermediate support frame is attached to the base structure and the surgical access instrument, forces applied onto the surgical access instrument or the base structure are at least partially absorbed by the resilient member as the surgical access instrument and the base structure move with respect to each other.
A method of using a retractor assembly comprising:
- compressing a spring member of a first portion of a retractor adjustment apparatus in response to a force being applied to a base structure holding the retractor adjustment apparatus or to a retractor supported by a second portion of the retractor adjustment apparatus,
- wherein compression of the spring member brings the retractor closer to a plane through the base structure, the plane being perpendicular to a central longitudinal axis through the spring member, and
- wherein the retractor is entirely spaced apart from the central longitudinal axis.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.