Spinal access retractor
First Claim
1. A retractor configured to retract tissue, comprising:
- a central member;
a first arm having a proximal portion and a distal portion spaced from the proximal portion, the distal portion of the first arm configured to carry a first retractor member;
a second arm having a proximal portion and a distal portion spaced from the proximal portion of the second arm, the distal portion of the second arm configured to carry a second retractor member, wherein the distal portions of the first and second arms are spaced from one another along a first direction, and each of the first and second arms is pivotably coupled to the central member;
a first retraction mechanism coupled to the central member and to the first and second arms, wherein the first retraction mechanism is configured to pivot the first and second arms in unison relative to the central member so as to increase a distance between the distal portions of the first and second arms in the first direction;
a second retraction mechanism coupled to the first arm, wherein the second retraction mechanism is configured to pivot the first arm relative to the central member independent of the second arm so as to increase the distance between the distal portions of the first and second arms in the first direction; and
a third retraction mechanism coupled to the second arm, wherein the third retraction mechanism is configured to pivot the second arm relative to the central member independent of the first arm so as to increase the distance between the distal portions of the first and second arms in the first direction.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A retractor includes a first arm, a second arm, and a translating member. The first arm comprises a proximal portion configured to retain a first retractor member and a distal portion configured to rotate relative to the proximal portion about a first axis. The second arm is configured to retain a second retractor member, such that rotation of the distal portion about the first axis causes the first retractor member to pivot toward or away from the second retractor member when the first retractor member and the second retractor member are coupled to the first arm and the second arm, respectively. The translating member is coupled between the proximal portion and the distal portion, and is configured to receive a drive force that causes the translating member to bias the distal portion to pivot relative to the proximal portion about the first axis.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A retractor configured to retract tissue, comprising:
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a central member; a first arm having a proximal portion and a distal portion spaced from the proximal portion, the distal portion of the first arm configured to carry a first retractor member; a second arm having a proximal portion and a distal portion spaced from the proximal portion of the second arm, the distal portion of the second arm configured to carry a second retractor member, wherein the distal portions of the first and second arms are spaced from one another along a first direction, and each of the first and second arms is pivotably coupled to the central member; a first retraction mechanism coupled to the central member and to the first and second arms, wherein the first retraction mechanism is configured to pivot the first and second arms in unison relative to the central member so as to increase a distance between the distal portions of the first and second arms in the first direction; a second retraction mechanism coupled to the first arm, wherein the second retraction mechanism is configured to pivot the first arm relative to the central member independent of the second arm so as to increase the distance between the distal portions of the first and second arms in the first direction; and a third retraction mechanism coupled to the second arm, wherein the third retraction mechanism is configured to pivot the second arm relative to the central member independent of the first arm so as to increase the distance between the distal portions of the first and second arms in the first direction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A retractor configured to retract tissue, comprising:
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a first arm having a proximal portion and a distal portion spaced from the proximal portion, the distal portion of the first arm configured to carry a first retractor member; a second arm having a proximal portion and a distal portion spaced from the proximal portion of the second arm, the distal portion of the second arm configured to carry a second retractor member, the distal portions of the first and second arms spaced from one another along a first direction; a central arm having a proximal portion and a distal portion spaced from the proximal portion of the central arm along a second direction that is different than the first direction, the distal portion of the central arm configured to carry a third retractor member, the proximal portion of the first arm rotatably coupled to the central arm about a first axis of rotation that is perpendicular to the first and second directions, the proximal portion of the second arm rotatably coupled to the central arm about a second axis of rotation that is perpendicular to the first and second directions; and a rotating gear member having a first set of gear teeth, wherein at least one of the first and second arms carries a second set of gear teeth configured to engage the first set of gear teeth such that the proximal portion of the at least one of the first and second arms is configured to pivot about the associated one of the first and second axes of rotation responsive to rotation of the rotating gear member so as to cause a distance between the distal portions of the first and second arms to increase along the first direction. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification