Method and apparatus for spinal implant insertion
First Claim
1. An apparatus for facilitating fusion of adjacent vertebrae, which comprises:
- a retractor including a retractor sleeve having proximal and distal ends and defining a longitudinal axis, the retractor sleeve defining a longitudinal passageway for reception of surgical instrumentation, the retractor sleeve having first and second retractor arms extending distally therefrom in a general longitudinal direction, each retractor arm having first and second opposed supporting surfaces for engaging respective adjacent opposed vertebrae, each retractor arm defining a dimension between the first and second supporting surfaces sufficient to distract the opposed vertebrae upon insertion thereof; and
a retractor introducer positionable within the longitudinal passageway, the retractor introducer including an elongated member defining proximal and distal ends and having a distal introducer head, the introducer head having a retractor arm insert, the retractor arm insert having a cross-sectional dimension to substantially occupy the inner area defined by the retractor arms of the retractor, the retractor arm insert having sufficient rigidity to advance within the tissue portions thereby facilitating placement of the first and second retractor arms of the retractor between the vertebral portions in distracting engagement therewith.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for facilitating fusion of adjacent vertebrae, In one preferred embodiment, the apparatus for facilitating fusion of adjacent vertebrae includes a retractor and a retractor introducer. The retractor includes a retractor sleeve having proximal and distal ends and defines a longitudinal passageway for reception of surgical instrumentation. The retractor sleeve has first and second retractor arms extending distally therefrom in a general longitudinal direction. Each retractor arm has first and second opposed supporting surfaces for engaging respective adjacent opposed vertebrae. Each retractor arm defines a dimension between the first and second supporting surfaces sufficient to distract the opposed vertebrae upon insertion thereof. The retractor introducer is positionable within the longitudinal passageway of the retractor sleeve. The retractor introducer includes an elongated member defining proximal and distal ends and having a distal introducer head. The introducer head has a retractor arm insert. The retractor arm insert preferably defines a cross-sectional dimension to substantially occupy the inner area defined by the retractor arms of the retractor and possesses sufficient rigidity to advance within the tissue portions thereby facilitating placement of the first and second retractor arms of the retractor between the vertebral portions in distracting engagement therewith. The introducer head of the retractor introducer may also define a proximal portion which has a cross-sectional dimension generally corresponding to the internal dimension of the retractor sleeve to thereby substantially minimize entry of tissue within the retractor sleeve during placement between the opposed vertebrae. Preferably, the cross-sectional dimension of the proximal portion of the introducer head is slightly less than the internal dimension of the retractor sleeve.
118 Citations
17 Claims
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1. An apparatus for facilitating fusion of adjacent vertebrae, which comprises:
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a retractor including a retractor sleeve having proximal and distal ends and defining a longitudinal axis, the retractor sleeve defining a longitudinal passageway for reception of surgical instrumentation, the retractor sleeve having first and second retractor arms extending distally therefrom in a general longitudinal direction, each retractor arm having first and second opposed supporting surfaces for engaging respective adjacent opposed vertebrae, each retractor arm defining a dimension between the first and second supporting surfaces sufficient to distract the opposed vertebrae upon insertion thereof; and
a retractor introducer positionable within the longitudinal passageway, the retractor introducer including an elongated member defining proximal and distal ends and having a distal introducer head, the introducer head having a retractor arm insert, the retractor arm insert having a cross-sectional dimension to substantially occupy the inner area defined by the retractor arms of the retractor, the retractor arm insert having sufficient rigidity to advance within the tissue portions thereby facilitating placement of the first and second retractor arms of the retractor between the vertebral portions in distracting engagement therewith. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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- 2. An apparatus according to claim I wherein the introducer head of the retractor introducer defines a proximal portion, the proximal portion having a cross-sectional dimension generally corresponding to the internal dimension of the retractor sleeve to substantially minimize entry of tissue within the retractor sleeve during placement between the opposed vertebrae.
- 9. An apparatus according to claim I wherein the retractor sleeve includes at least one longitudinal planar surface portion to minimize a cross-sectional dimension of the retractor sleeve.
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12. A method for performing a surgical procedure, comprising the steps of:
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providing a surgical retractor including a sleeve member defining a longitudinal axis, the sleeve member including proximal and distal end portions and defining an axial opening therethrough to receive instrumentation, the distal end portion configured for insertion at least partially into an intervertebral space between adjacent opposed vertebrae and having two spaced apart retractor arms, each retractor arm including first and second supporting surfaces laterally displaced with respect to each other and to the longitudinal axis;
positioning a retractor introducer within the axial opening of the retractor, the retractor introducer including an elongated member having a distal introducer head, the distal introducer head having a retractor arm insert arranged to be disposed between the retractor arms of the retractor sleeve in the mounted condition of the retractor introducer and having sufficient rigidity to facilitate advancement within tissue;
impacting the proximal end of the retractor introducer to drive the retractor arm insert of the retractor introducer and the retractor arms of the retractor within the intervertebral space whereby the first supporting surface of each retractor arm engages one vertebrae and the second supporting surface of each retractor arm engages the other vertebrae such that the adjacent opposed vertebrae are laterally displaced whereby the retractor arm insert facilitates entry of the retractor arms into the intervertebral space;
removing the retractor introducer; and
performing the surgical spinal procedure.
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Specification