Minimally invasive surgical spinal exposure system
AssigneeEbi, LLC
InventorRobert T. Myles
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A minimally invasive retractor system is shown which has a support frame having two opposing pairs of horizontally oriented sides. The sides of the frame can be adjusted to vary an interior space of the frame. Four retractor blades are mounted on the frame for engaging tissue within a surgical site. Each retractor blade has an elongate body portion with a length which is oriented perpendicularly to the frame in use. One of the retractor blades can be equipped with a light source and a suction source which are integral to the blade. The blade also has an integral power source for powering the light source. The blade can also house a tissue retractor such as a dural retractor for retracting the dural sack of a patient during spinal surgery.
Claims15
A minimally invasive surgical exposure system, comprising:
- a support frame having opposing horizontally oriented sides, the sides being arranged to lie in a common plane generally perpendicular to one another in use, at least selected ones of the sides of the support frame being provided with holding fixtures for engaging a retractor blade;
- at least one retractor blade having a fastening element which is engageable with a selected holding fixture of the support frame, the at least one retractor blade having a substantially elongate, planar body portion having a length which extends in a plane generally perpendicular to the plane of the support frame when in use;
- the planar body portion of the retractor blade defining within the blade at least one visualization channel including an upper extent and a lower extent, the visualization channel enclosed within the blade from the upper extent to the lower extent, the lower extent being located proximate a site within a surgical portal when in use;
- a light source being incorporated integrally with the blade, the light source being located in communication with the visualization channel for illuminating the site;
- and wherein a power source is also incorporated integrally with the blade for powering the light source.
A minimally invasive surgical exposure system, comprising:
- a support frame having two opposing pairs of horizontally oriented sides, the pairs of sides being arranged to lie in a common plane generally perpendicular to one another in use, each of the sides of the support frame being provide with a holding fixture for engaging a retractor blade;
- a set of four retractor blades, each retractor blade having a fastening element which is engageable with one of the holding fixtures of the support frame, each of the retractor blades having a substantially elongate, planar body portion having a length which extends in a plane generally perpendicular to the plane of the support frame when in use;
- the planar body portion of at least a selected one of the retractor blades having incorporated therein at least one visualization channel including an upper extent and a lower extent, the visualization channel enclosed within the blade from the upper extent to the lower extent, the lower extent being located proximate a site within a surgical portal;
- wherein a light source is located in communication with the visualization channel for illuminating the site;
- and wherein a power source is also incorporated integrally with the selected blade for powering the light source.
A minimally invasive surgical exposure system, comprising:
- a support frame having opposing horizontally oriented sides, the sides being arranged to lie in a common plane generally perpendicular to one another in use, at least selected ones of the sides of the support frame being provided with holding fixtures for engaging a retractor blade;
- at least one retractor blade having a fastening element which is engageable with a selected holding fixture of the support frame, the at least one retractor blade having a substantially elongate, planar body portion having a length which extends in a plane generally perpendicular to the plane of the support frame when in use;
- the planar body portion of the retractor blade defining within the blade at least one visualization channel including an upper extent and a lower extent, the visualization channel enclosed within the blade from the upper extent to the lower extent, the lower extent being located proximate a site within a surgical portal when in use;
- and
- a light source being incorporated integrally with the blade, the light source being located in communication with the visualization channel for illuminating the site.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.