Retractor component system and method comprising same

A blade assembly system for use with a retractor having a plurality of blade body mounting structures, comprising:

• a blade body surround including a blade body attachment structure at a first end portion thereof and a slot extending through the blade body between the first end portion thereof and a second end portion thereof, wherein a surround engagement member passage is provided within the blade body attachment structure and wherein the blade body attachment structure includes spaced apart bosses each having a surround engagement member slideably disposed within the surround engagement member passage;
• and
• a blade body including an attachment structure at a first end portion thereof, wherein the blade body and the blade body surround are jointly configured to form a generally cylindrical-shaped structure when the blade body is in a seated position within the slot, wherein the surround engagement member passage is aligned with a passage within the attachment structure of the blade body when the blade body is in the seated position within the slot, wherein the passage extending within the attachment structure of the blade body extends through opposing side faces thereof, wherein the attachment structure of the blade body is positioned between said bosses when the blade body is in the seated position within the slot, and wherein the surround engagement member of each one of said bosses are aligned with the passage extending through the attachment structure of the blade body when the blade body is in the seated position within the slot thereby allowing the surround engagement member of each one of said bosses to be slideably engaged within the passage of the attachment structure of the blade body for limiting displacement of the blade body with respect to the blade body surround.

A blade assembly system for use with a retractor having a plurality of blade body mounting structures, comprising:

• a blade body surround including a blade body attachment structure at a first end portion thereof and a slot extending through the blade body between the first end portion thereof and a second end portion thereof, wherein a surround engagement member passage is provided within the blade body attachment structure;
• a blade body including an attachment structure at a first end portion thereof, wherein the blade body and the blade body surround are jointly configured to form a generally cylindrical-shaped structure when the blade body is in a seated position within the slot and wherein the surround engagement member passage is aligned with a passage within the attachment structure of the blade body when the blade body is in the seated position within the slot;
• and
• a blade assembly retainer including a retainer body and an extension engagement member connected to the retainer body, wherein the retainer body defines a central passage of the blade assembly retainer for having the extension portion of a pedicle screw extender positioned therein, wherein the extension engagement member includes a translation inhibiting protrusion extending inwardly toward the central passage of the blade assembly retainer, wherein the translation inhibiting protrusion is engagable with a mating structure of the extension portion of the pedicle screw extender for inhibiting translation of the blade assembly retainer with respect to the extension portion of the pedicle screw extender.

A blade assembly system for use with a retractor having a plurality of blade body mounting structures, comprising:

• a blade body surround including a blade body attachment structure at a first end portion thereof and a slot extending through the blade body between the first end portion thereof and a second end portion thereof, wherein an surround engagement member passage is provided within the blade body attachment structure;
• a blade body including an attachment structure at a first end portion thereof and an alignment member protruding from an interior surface thereof adjacent to the first end portion thereof, wherein the alignment member is configured for being engaged within an alignment member receiving channel of an extension portion of a pedicle screw extender, wherein the blade body and the blade body surround are jointly configured to form a generally cylindrical-shaped structure when the blade body is in the seated position within the slot, wherein the surround engagement member passage is aligned with a passage within the attachment structure of the blade body when the blade body is in the seated position within the slot, and wherein an interior surface of the blade body and an interior of the blade body surround that jointly define a central passage of the generally cylindrical-shaped structure have a substantially common radius of curvature;
• and
• a blade assembly retainer including a retainer body and an extension engagement member connected to the retainer body, wherein the retainer body defines a central passage of the blade assembly retainer for having the extension portion of a pedicle screw extender positioned therein, wherein the extension engagement member includes a translation inhibiting protrusion extending inwardly toward the central passage of the blade assembly retainer, wherein the translation inhibiting protrusion is engagable with a mating structure of the extension portion of the pedicle screw extender for inhibiting translation of the blade assembly retainer with respect to the extension portion of the pedicle screw extender.

A blade assembly system for use with a retractor having a plurality of blade body mounting structures, comprising:

• a blade body surround including a blade body attachment structure at a first end portion thereof and a slot extending through the blade body between the first end portion thereof and a second end portion thereof;
• a blade body including an attachment structure at a first end portion thereof and an alignment member protruding from an interior surface thereof adjacent to the first end portion thereof, wherein the alignment member is configured for being engaged within an alignment member receiving channel of an extension portion of a pedicle screw extender, wherein the blade body and the blade body surround are jointly configured to form a generally cylindrical-shaped structure when the blade body is in a seated position within the slot, and wherein the surround engagement member passage is aligned with a passage within the attachment structure of the blade body when the blade body is in the seated position within the slot;
• and
• a blade assembly retainer including a retainer body and an extension engagement member connected to the retainer body, wherein the retainer body defines a central passage of the blade assembly retainer for having the extension portion of the pedicle screw extender positioned therein, wherein retainer body includes a rotation inhibiting protrusion extending inwardly toward the central passage of the blade assembly retainer, wherein the rotation inhibiting protrusion is engagable with the alignment member receiving channel of the pedicle screw extender for limiting unrestricted rotation of the blade assembly retainer about the extension portion when the extension portion is positioned within the central passage of the blade assembly retainer, wherein the extension engagement member includes a translation inhibiting protrusion extending inwardly toward the central passage of the blade assembly retainer, wherein the translation inhibiting protrusion is engagable with a mating structure of the extension portion of the pedicle screw extender for inhibiting translation of the blade assembly retainer with respect to the extension portion of the pedicle screw extender when the extension portion is positioned within the central passage of the blade assembly retainer.