Instrumentation And Methods For The Implantation Of Spinal Implants

A method of creating access to the spine in a body of a patient comprising:

• inserting an adjustable rod structure including three or more rods adjacent to one another into the patient through an incision;
• advancing the adjustable rod structure until a distal end of the adjustable rod structure is proximal to a target site internal to the patient, the advancement of the adjustable rod structure spreading apart tissue in the body between the incision and the target site to create a portal;
• retracting the three or more rods of the adjustable rod structure thereby increasing a size of the portal;
• and
• advancing a retaining structure into the portal, the retaining structure being in contact with at least one of the three or more rods and retaining tissue bearing against a surface of the retaining structure.

A retractor comprising:

• a frame;
• first, second and third arms attached to the frame;
• a first rod attached to the first arm, the first rod having a first surface and a second surface,
• a second rod attached to the second arm, the second rod having a third surface and a fourth surface;
• and
• a third rod attached to the third arm, the third arm having a fifth surface, the third rod having a different cross-sectional shape from cross-sectional shapes of the first and second rods,
• wherein the retractor is movable from a closed position to an open position,
• wherein when the retractor is in the closed position, the first surface of the first rod is flush with the third surface of the second rod, the second surface of the first rod is flush with the fifth surface of the third rod and the fourth surface of the second rod is flush with the fifth surface of the third rod, and
• wherein when the retractor is in the open position, the second surface and the fifth surface are spaced apart from each other.

A retractor comprising:

• a frame;
• and
• an adjustable rod structure including first, second, third, fourth and fifth rods, at least three of the rods attached to the frame and movable with respect to the frame, the first rod having a first cross-sectional shape and the fifth rod having a second cross-sectional shape different from the first cross-sectional shape, and the fifth rod having a tapered distal tip such that the tapered distal tip is centered on a first central longitudinal axis of the fifth rod,
• wherein the adjustable rod structure is movable from a closed position to an open position such that in the open position, at least three of the rods are further apart from each other than in the closed position,
• wherein the third rod includes a first surface and the fifth rod includes a second surface, the first surface being flush with the second surface in the closed position
• two elongate enclosure barriers disposable between the adjustable rod structure, each of the two elongate enclosure barriers interconnectable so that the elongate enclosure barriers are stackable onto one another to define an elongate portal in between the adjustable rod structure, and
• wherein when the adjustable rod structure is in the closed position, the first, second, third, fourth and fifth rods combined define a second central longitudinal axis offset from the first longitudinal axis.

A surgical retractor kit comprising:

• a frame including a first arm, a second arm, a third arm, a fourth arm and a fifth arm;
• an adjustable rod structure including first, second, third, fourth and fifth rods attachable to the respective first, second, third, fourth and fifth arms, the fifth rod having a cross-sectional shape different from a cross-sectional shape of the first rod, and the adjustable rod structure being movable from a closed position to an open position;
• and
• two elongate enclosure barriers disposable in between the rods, the elongate enclosure barriers stackable onto one another to hold the adjustable rod structure in the open position and define a portal in between the rods.