Lateral Retractor System and Methods of Use

• US 20130190575A1
• Filed: 08/31/2012
• Published: 07/25/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zimmer Biomet Spine, Inc. (Zimvie Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: LANX Incorporated (Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Mast, Randall G., Burkholder, Alan R., Shifle, Andrew, Kanter, Adam
• Granted Patent: US 9,572,560 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/215
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0206 with antagonistic arms as supports for retractor elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/025 Joint distractors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7079 Tools requiring anchors to be already mounted on an implanted longitudinal or transverse element, e.g. where said element guides the anchor motion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00477 Coupling A61B2017/0046 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0256 for the spine

Abstract

Technology disclosed herein relates to retractors and methods of use for surgical procedures, and in particular, spinal surgical procedures. In one embodiment, a surgical refractor includes a pair of pivotable armatures and a translatable armature. A body for supporting the armatures is provided, with a handle connected thereto. The handle includes a first rotary actuator, wherein a rotation of the first rotary actuator moves the pair of pivotable armatures in opposite arcuate directions, and a second rotary actuator, wherein a rotation of the second rotary actuator translates the translatable armature in a linear direction.

Claims

1. A surgical retractor comprising:

a pair of pivotable armatures;

a translatable armature;

a body for supporting the pair of pivotable armatures and the translatable armature; and

a handle connected to the body comprising;

a first rotary actuator, wherein a rotation of the first rotary actuator moves the pair of pivotable armatures in opposite arcuate directions; and

a second rotary actuator, wherein a rotation of the second rotary actuator translates the translatable armature in a linear direction.

2. The surgical retractor of claim 1, wherein the first rotatable actuator and the second rotatable actuator comprise a common rotational axis.

3. The surgical retractor of claim 1 wherein the first rotary actuator comprises a worm gear mechanism.

4. The surgical retractor of claim 1 wherein the first rotary actuator comprises a locking rotary actuator.

5. The surgical retractor of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of blades, wherein each one of the plurality of blades is secured to one of the pivotable armatures or the translatable armature.

6. The surgical retractor of claim 5, wherein the plurality of blades are radio-lucent.

7. The surgical retractor of claim 1, wherein the pivotable armatures and the translatable armature are radiolucent.

8. The surgical retractor of claim 1, wherein the body comprises:

a first drive for moving the pivotable armatures; and

a second drive for moving the translating armature.

9. The surgical refractor of claim 8, wherein each of the first drive and the second drive comprise a lead screw.

10. The surgical retractor of claim 5, wherein each of the blades is pivotably secured to each of the pair of pivotable armatures.

11. The surgical retractor of claim 5, wherein at least one blade defines a slot for receiving an elongate element.

12. The surgical retractor of claim 5, wherein at least one blade defines a groove for receiving a shim.

13. The surgical retractor of claim 12, wherein the groove defines a ratchet profile for receipt of a tab of the shim.

14. The surgical retractor of claim 5 wherein at least one of the plurality of blades comprises a telescoping element wherein the telescoping element is configured to project beyond a distal end of the blade.

15. A method of creating a distraction corridor to a surgical site, the method comprising:

providing a surgical retractor having a handle comprising two rotatable elements, and a plurality of blades moveable relative to the handle;

inserting simultaneously into a body tissue the plurality of blades;

actuating a first of the two rotatable elements so as to separate at least two of the plurality of blades; and

actuating a second of the two rotatable elements so as to translate at least one of the plurality of blades.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

inserting at least one dilator into the body tissue prior to inserting the plurality of blades, and wherein the plurality of blades are oriented such that, when inserted, the plurality of blades substantially surround the at least one dilator.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising releasably securing a telescoping element of at least one blade to a target site located within the body tissue such that the telescoping element is lodged within the target site.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising removing the at least one dilator after the releasably securing of the telescoping element to the target site.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein the telescoping element is a shim that is moveably secured to a distal end of the at least one blade.

20. The method of claim 15 further comprising coupling a paddle to and between two of the plurality of blades.

21. A surgical retractor comprising:

a pair of pivotable armatures;

a translatable armature;

a body for supporting the pair of pivotable armatures and the translatable armature; and

a handle removably connected to the body comprising;

a first rotary actuator, wherein a rotation of the first rotary actuator moves the pair of pivotable armatures in opposite arcuate directions; and

a second rotary actuator, wherein a rotation of the second rotary actuator translates the translatable armature in a linear direction; and

a blade coupled to the translatable armature;

wherein the pivotable armatures and the blade are radio-lucent.