Access instruments to extend a surgical working channel
AssigneeChoicespine, LP
InventorAlicia Adams
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A channel retractor with one or more gate tracks to receive one or more slide gates to hold one or more extended retractors away from the surgical access channel running through the extended retractor. The distal ends of the one or more extended retractors held by the one or more slide gates holding tissue distal to the end of the channel retractor to maintain an extended access channel beyond the distal end of the channel retractor. The channel retractor assembly may be used to hold open an extended access channel through the psoas muscle to allow access to the spine or through other tissue in other surgical access techniques.
Claims7
An assembly for maintaining an extended access channel in tissue, the assembly comprising:
- a channel retractor having:
- a lumen from an opening at a proximal end of the channel retractor to an opening at a distal end of the channel retractor;
- the lumen providing a first portion of an access channel;
- a longitudinal centerline of the lumen;
- a first gate track to receive a slide gate to press an extended retractor radially outward relative to the longitudinal centerline of the lumen;
- a first extended retractor with:
- a proximal portion that extends out of the proximal end of the channel retractor;
- a distal portion that extends out of the distal end of the channel retractor;
- and
- an intermediate portion between the proximal portion and the distal portion;
- and
- a first slide gate adapted to fit within the first gate track to retain the first extended retractor between the first slide gate and the channel retractor and thus maintain the first extended retractor away from the longitudinal centerline of the lumen;
- such that when the first extended retractor has the distal portion extending beyond the distal end of the channel retractor for retaining tissue to provide the extended access channel,
- inserting the first slide gate into the first gate track causes the distal portion of the first extended retractor to remain separated from the longitudinal centerline of the lumen to maintain the extended access channel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.