# US 2014/0194697 A1 · Distraction and retraction assembly > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0194697 A1 - Document ID: US20140194697A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/154,610 - Filed: 2014-01-14 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2009-02-26 - Inventors: Kevin Seex - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140194697A1 ## CPC - A61B 17/025: {Joint distractors} - A61B 17/02: for holding wounds open, e.g. retractors; Tractors - A61B 17/0206: {with antagonistic arms as supports for retractor elements} - A61B 17/2812: {with a single pivotal connection (A61B17/29 takes precedence)} - A61B 17/282: {Jaws} - A61B 2017/00261: {Discectomy} - A61B 2017/00473: {Distal part, e.g. tip or head (A61B2017/00464 takes precedence)} - A61B 2017/2808: {Clamp, e.g. towel clamp} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract An assembly allowing retraction of soft tissue away from a reference plane; the assembly including at least one retracting element each having a distal end with a formation allowing anchorage of the at least one retracting element. The assembly also includes a proximal end of the at least one retracting element capable of movement through at least one degree of freedom relative to the anchorage. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An assembly capable of retraction of soft tissue and distraction of bone during surgical procedures, the assembly comprising: an anchorage which anchors the assembly to said bone; at least one retracting arm having a first free end and a second end, the second end including a formation which allows the at least one retracting arm to be detachably retained by said anchorage, the formation allowing said at least one retracting arm to be capable of movement through at least one degree of freedom relative to said anchorage; wherein each said at least one retracting arm is rotatable about an axis through said second end of said at least one retracting arm; the anchorage including two anchorage elements each having formations to anchor the assembly to said bone and a frame assembly including at least one retaining member which receives said second end of each said retracting arms. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) An assembly according to claim 1 wherein the frame assembly includes at least one opening each of which receive one said anchorage element enabling fixation of the frame assembly to bone. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) An assembly according to claim 2 wherein the frame assembly includes two retaining members which receive respective opposing retracting arms. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) An assembly according to claim 3 wherein, the frame assembly further comprises a bridge joining the retaining members. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) An assembly according to claim 4 wherein, each retractor arm engages a corresponding formation on the second end of the retaining members, allowing the retractor arms to rotate about the retaining members and slide therealong. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) An assembly according to claim 5 wherein, each said retaining members have a first end attached to said bridge and a second free end. ### Claim 7 (depends on 10) An assembly according to claim 10 wherein, the frame assembly is generally U shaped such that the first and second retaining arms are parallel and disposed normally to the bridge member. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) An assembly according to claim 7 wherein, the formation on each said retractor arm is a recess which at least partially receives therein at least part of one said retaining members, allowing the retractor to undergo said rotation and sliding therealong. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) An assembly according to claim 8 wherein the frame assembly has a secondary bridge including openings to allow engagement with said free ends of said retention members. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) An assembly according to claim 9 wherein the first and secondary bridges each include an opening to allow penetration of an anchorage pin for screw fixation of the assembly to bone. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) An assembly according to claim 10 wherein, the retraction arms rotate in a plane normal to a longitudinal axis of said retention members. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) An assembly according to claim 11 wherein, said retention members include a gripping region which cooperates with the recess in said retractor arms and which facilitates selective rotation of the retractors. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) An assembly according to claim 12 wherein the retraction arms are incrementally rotationally adjustable about said retention members to increase or decrease soft tissue retraction capacity. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) An assembly according to claim 13 wherein said anchorage elements allow distraction of bone segments when inserted. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) An assembly according to claim 14 wherein the assembly is capable of simultaneous distraction of bone by relative movement of the first and secondary bridges and retraction of soft tissue. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) An assembly according to claim 15 wherein, said anchorage pins are each retained by a sleeve which cooperate to assist distraction. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) An assembly according to claim 16 wherein, fixation of said pins allows said retractor arms to rotate about respective retention arms. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) An assembly according to claim 17 wherein, each bone anchor pin includes a leading end screw thread which fixes the pin to said bone. ### Claim 19 A retraction and distraction assembly for use in soft tissue retraction and bone distraction, the assembly comprising: a frame assembly including two retention members and first and secondary bridge members each having an opening which receives an anchorage for engaging bone to anchors the retraction and distraction assembly; the first bridge member joining the retention members, wherein each said retention members has a first end attached to said first bridge and a second free end; the retention members each receiving and retaining thereon at least one retracting arm having a first free end and a second end, the second end including a formation which allows the retractor arm to be detachably retained by said retention arms enabling said retractor arms to rotate about said retention arms and slide therealong. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) A frame assembly according to claim 19 wherein, the second bridge member includes openings which engage and cooperate with said retention members. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) A frame assembly according to claim 20 wherein, the frame assembly includes two retention arms which receive respective opposing retraction arms. ### Claim 22 (depends on 22) A frame assembly according to claim 22 wherein, each retention member engages a co-operating formation on the second end of the retractor arms, allowing the retractor arms to rotate about respective retention members and slide therealong. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) A frame assembly according to claim 22 wherein, each said retention members have a first end attached to said bridge and a second free end. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) A frame assembly according to claim 23 wherein, the frame assembly is shaped such that the first and second retention members are parallel and disposed normally to the bridge members. ### Claim 25 An assembly for combined retraction of wound margins of soft tissue and distraction of vertebrae during spinal surgery; the assembly including; a pair of pins anchored in said vertebrae; sleeves concentrically engaging said pins; means to apply a distraction force to said pins via said sleeves; a first retention member having a first end including a recess capable of engaging one said pins and a second end including connection means which releasably receives a first retractor arm via a cooperating mating profile; a second retention member having a first end including a recess capable of engaging the other of said pins and a second end including connection means which releasably receives a second retractor arm via a mating profile; wherein said first and second retractor arms are capable of selective rotation about said retention members to retract soft tissue margins during surgery. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) An assembly according to claim 25 wherein sleeves concentrically engage said pins; the assembly further comprising means to apply a distraction force to said pins via said sleeves. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) An assembly according to claim 26 wherein, the retention members include spline formations providing a mating engagement which allows longitudinal and rotational adjustment of said retraction arms about and along said retention members.