# US 2013/0158611 A1 · Retraction tube for use with capless pedicle screw > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0158611 A1 - Document ID: US20130158611A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/765,905 - Filed: 2013-02-13 - Published: 2013-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2008-06-06 - Assignees: X-spine Systems, Inc. - Inventors: David Louis Kirschman - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130158611A1 ## CPC - A61B 17/7086: {Rod reducers, i.e. devices providing a mechanical advantage to allow a user to force a rod into or onto an anchor head other than by means of a rod-to-bone anchor locking element; rod removers} - A61B 17/7032: {Screws or hooks with U-shaped head or back through which longitudinal rods pass} - A61B 17/7082: {for driving, i.e. rotating, screws or screw parts specially adapted for spinal fixation, e.g. for driving polyaxial or tulip-headed screws} - A61B 17/7085: {for insertion of a longitudinal element down one or more hollow screw or hook extensions, i.e. at least a part of the element within an extension has a component of movement parallel to the extension's axis} - A61B 17/0218: {for minimally invasive surgery (A61B17/0281, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence)} - A61B 17/7037: {wherein pivoting is blocked when the rod is clamped} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract A retractor system and method for locating and placing a polyaxial screw while substantially simultaneously retracting tissue is shown and described. The retractor has a channel that facilitates introducing a rod into the polyaxial screw. Various embodiments are shown, including one which utilized a reducer for moving the rod in the retractor. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A retractor/reducer assembly for use in combination with a reducer comprising: a retractor comprising an elongated member for detachably mounting onto a polyaxial screw receiver having a rod-locking channel for receiving and locking onto a rod; said elongated member comprising a rod-receiving channel for receiving said rod and for guiding said rod into said rod-locking channel; said elongated member having a first end for receiving and detachably mounting onto said polyaxial screw receiver; and a reducer for rotatably mounting on said elongated member, at least a portion of said reducer extending over and at least partially surrounding said polyaxial screw receiver and having a generally helical channel for receiving said rod and for urging said rod to move in said rod-receiving channel of said retractor and into said rod-locking channel in response to rotation of said reducer. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The retractor/reducer assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said elongated member comprises: at least one inner wall for mounting onto an outer surface of said polyaxial screw receiver, said at least one inner wall being adapted to permit said polyaxial screw receiver to be rotated by rotating said elongated member until said rod becomes locked in said polyaxial screw receiver. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The retractor/reducer assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said elongated member comprises: at least one inner wall for mounting onto an outer surface of said polyaxial screw receiver, said at least one inner wall being adapted to permit said polyaxial screw receiver to be rotated to lock said rod in said polyaxial screw receiver while said elongated member is held stationary. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The retractor/reducer assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said elongated member is adapted to permit said elongated member to be removed from said polyaxial screw receiver by moving said elongated member axially away from said polyaxial screw receiver after said polyaxial screw receiver has been rotated. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The retractor/reducer assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein at least a portion of said rod-receiving channel comprises a shape or configuration that is generally the same as a shape or configuration of said rod-locking channel so that when said elongated member is mounted onto said polyaxial screw receiver, said rod-receiving channel and said rod-locking channel can become generally aligned to permit said rod to be received so that said elongated member can be rotated in a first direction to cause said polyaxial screw receiver to lock said rod in said polyaxial screw receiver and then rotated in a second direction generally opposite said first direction without unlocking said rod from said polyaxial screw receiver. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The retractor/reducer assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said elongated member comprises an end having a first recessed wall and a second recessed wall that generally opposes said first recessed wall, said first and second recessed walls defining a first shape that generally complements a second shape of an outer surface of said polyaxial screw receiver. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The retractor/reducer assembly as recited in claim 6 wherein said first and second shapes are arcuate and dimensioned to enable said end of said elongated member to be fit onto said polyaxial screw receiver with a press or interference fit. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The retractor/reducer assembly as recited in claim 6 wherein a frictional engagement between said first and second recessed walls and said outer surface is less than a coupling strength between the polyaxial screw receiver and said rod, thereby permitting said elongated member to rotate after the polyaxial screw receiver is locked onto the rod and without unlocking the said polyaxial screw receiver from the rod. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The retractor/reducer assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said elongated member adapted to permit said elongated member to be removed from said polyaxial screw receiver by moving said elongated member axially away from said polyaxial screw receiver after said rod is locked in said polyaxial screw receiver. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The retractor/reducer assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said rod-receiving channel traverses a majority of a longitudinal length of said elongated member. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The retractor/reducer assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said rod-locking channel is not entirely straight and said rod-receiving channel is generally straight. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The retractor/reducer assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein neither of said rod-locking channel nor said rod-receiving channel is straight. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The retractor/reducer assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said elongated member comprises a first end having a recessed area adapted to capture said polyaxial screw receiver with a frictional engagement that permits said polyaxial screw receiver to be rotated by said elongated member and permit said elongated member to rotate or move independent of any movement of said polyaxial screw receiver. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The retractor/reducer assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said first end comprises a coupler or aligner for facilitating coupling or aligning, respectively, said elongated member to said polyaxial screw receiver. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The retractor/reducer assembly as recited in claim 14 wherein said coupler comprises at least one projection on at least one of said elongated member or said polyaxial screw receiver and a generally complementary receiving area on the other of said polyaxial screw receiver or said at least one of said elongated member, respectively, for receiving said at least one projection to facilitate coupling said elongated member to said polyaxial screw receiver. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The retractor/reducer assembly as recited in claim 15 wherein said coupler or aligner causes said rod-locking channel and said rod-receiving channel to become generally aligned when said elongated member is mounted onto said polyaxial screw receiver. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The retractor/reducer assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said elongated member is generally tubular and comprises a first arcuate wall and a second arcuate wall generally opposing said first arcuate wall, said first and second arcuate walls having ends that are spaced to define said rod-receiving channel, said elongated member is sized to permit a tool to be used to screw said screw after it is received in said polyaxial screw receiver and said elongated member is mounted onto said polyaxial screw receiver. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The retractor/reducer assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said elongated member comprises a first end for mounting onto said polyaxial screw receiver and a second end opposite said first end, said second end having a stabilizer for holding said elongated member. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The retractor/reducer assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said reducer comprises a reducer channel. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The retractor/reducer assembly as recited in claim 19 wherein said reducer channel is non-linear. ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) The retractor/reducer assembly as recited in claim 19 wherein said reducer channel is helical, said reducer further comprising a tubular wall having a first cut out area and a second cut out area, said first and second cut out areas being spaced approximately 180 degrees and defining said reducer channel. ### Claim 22 (depends on 19) The retractor/reducer assembly as recited in claim 19 wherein said reducer comprises a grip for manually rotating said reducer about said elongated member. ### Claim 23 (depends on 1) The retractor/reducer assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said reducer comprises an internal reducer receiving area adapted and dimensioned to receive said elongated member so that said reducer can be rotatably mounted thereon. ### Claim 24 (depends on 1) The retractor/reducer assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said elongated member is tubular and said reducer is adapted and dimensioned to be rotatably mounted inside said elongated member. ### Claim 25 (depends on 19) The retractor/reducer assembly as recited in claim 19 wherein said rod-receiving channel of said elongated member and said reducer channel are adapted to receive said rod and cooperate to guide and urge rod into said rod-locking channel upon rotation of the reducer. ### Claim 26 (depends on 1) The retractor/reducer assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein an end of said reducer comprises at least one stop to prevent over rotation of said reducer once the rod is captured in a seat of said rod-locking channel or said polyaxial screw receiver. ### Claim 27 A reducer comprising: an elongated tubular member having a generally helical reducer channel, said elongated tubular member being adapted and configured to mount onto a polyaxial screw receiver having a rod-locking channel, said generally helical reducer channel receiving a rod and causing said rod to move in said rod-locking channel said polyaxial screw receiver in response to a rotation of said elongated tubular member; at least a portion of said reducer extending over and at least partially surrounding said polyaxial screw receiver and having a generally helical channel for receiving said rod and for urging said rod to move into said rod-locking channel in response to rotation of said reducer. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The reducer as recited in claim 27 wherein said reducer channel is non-linear. ### Claim 29 (depends on 27) The reducer as recited in claim 27 wherein said reducer channel is helical, said reducer further comprising a tubular wall having a first cut out area and a second cut out area, said first and second cut out areas being spaced approximately 180 degrees and defining said helical reducer channel. ### Claim 30 (depends on 27) The reducer as recited in claim 27 wherein said reducer comprises a grip for manually rotating said reducer about said elongated member. ### Claim 31 (depends on 27) The reducer as recited in claim 27 wherein said reducer comprises at least one stop associated with said reducer channel to prevent over rotation of said reducer once the rod is captured in a seat of said rod-locking channel or said polyaxial screw receiver.