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Surgical Access System and Related Methods

  • US 20100113884A1
  • Filed: 12/30/2009
  • Published: 05/06/2010
  • Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2002
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A system for accessing a spinal disc of a lumbar spine through an operative corridor, comprising:

  • a distraction assembly to create a tissue distraction corridor to a lumbar spine, wherein said distraction assembly comprises an elongate penetration member deliverable to a spinal disc along a lateral, trans-psoas path to the lumbar spine such that a distal tip region of the elongate penetration member penetrates into an annulus of a spinal disc in the lumbar spine, and at least two dilators of sequentially larger diameter deliverable to the spinal disc along the lateral, trans-psoas path to the lumbar spine, the first of the at least two dilators being slidably engageable with an exterior of the elongate penetration member, the at least two dilators each including a stimulation electrode that delivers electrical stimulation for nerve monitoring during advancement of the at least two dilators along the lateral, trans-psoas path to the lumbar spine; and

    a retraction assembly comprising a blade holder apparatus and four retractor blades releasably locked to said blade holder apparatus, wherein the four retractor blades enlarge the tissue distraction corridor to thereby form an operative corridor along the lateral, trans-psoas path to the lumbar spine when the four retractor blades are delivered to the lumbar spine, wherein, when the four retractor blades are delivered to the lumbar spine, a first of the four retractor blades is a posterior-most retractor blade, a second of the four retractor blades is an anterior-most retractor blade, a third of the four retractor blades is a caudal-most retractor blade, and a fourth of the four retractor blades is a cephalad-most retractor blade,wherein when the four retractor blades enlarge the tissue distraction corridor to form the operative corridor along the lateral, trans-psoas path to the lumbar spine, the operative corridor is dimensioned so as to pass an implant through the operative corridor along the lateral, trans-psoas path to the lumbar spine.

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