Segmented arm assembly for use with a surgical retractor and instruments and methods related thereto

A system for use in a surgical procedure, comprising:

• a retractor having a plurality of retractor arms thereon and a segment interconnecting said retractor arms wherein said retractor arms include an edge surface and are movable with respect to each other;
• a stabilization arm having distal and proximal end portions on distal and proximal shaft segments and said stabilization arm is operatively positionable with respect to said retractor and sized to hold a medical device in a desired position during a medical procedure;
• a connector which is attachable to said retractor and which interacts with said stabilization arm to position said distal end portion of said distal shaft segment of the stabilization arm and said medical device in a desired position relative to the retractor;
• and
• a control assembly associated with said stabilization arm and adjacent to the distal end portion of said proximal shaft segment and said proximal end portion of said distal shaft segment of said stabilization arm wherein said control assembly is movable between first and second positions and wherein the position of the stabilization arm relative to the retractor is adjustable in a first position and is fixed in a second position thereof.

A method of performing a surgical procedure, comprising:

• providing a stabilization arm having a control assembly and distal and proximal end portions thereon and having a plurality of shaft segments and wherein the stabilization arm is operatively positionable with respect to a patient to hold a stabilization device in a desired position during a medical procedure;
• providing the control assembly in an orientation along the stabilization arm such that the control assembly is spaced apart from the distal and proximal end portions of said stabilization arm wherein;
• providing a stabilization device which is operatively connected to said distal end portion of said stabilization arm and including a surface thereon which is sized to stabilize a portion of the tissue of a patient during a medical procedure and wherein said stabilization device is movable with respect to said stabilization arm in response to actuation of the control assembly on said stabilization arm;
• and
• moving the control assembly between first and second positions wherein the stabilization device is movable relative to the distal end portion of the stabilization arm in the first position and is rigidly retained relative to the stabilization arm in the second position thereof.