Systems and methods for determining optimal retractor length in minimally invasive procedures
First Claim
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1. A system for determining an optimal length for a retractor for use in a minimally invasive procedure with a patient, comprising:
- a reference instrument extending between a distal end and a proximal end, said reference instrument including a predetermined length between said distal end and an indicator thereon, said distal end being positionable in a portal adjacent to a target location in the patient with said indicator located proximally of an entry location of the portal; and
a measurement instrument extending between a distal end and a proximal end, said measurement instrument including indicia extending therealong, wherein when said reference instrument is in the portal with said distal end thereof adjacent the target location and said measurement instrument is positioned along the reference instrument with said distal end of said measurement instrument adjacent the entry location, a location of said indicator of said reference instrument along said indicia of said measurement instrument provides an indication of the optimal length of the retractor for positioning in the portal.
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Abstract
A measurement instrument is provided with indicia extending therealong. The measurement instrument indicia is correlated with an indicator of a reference instrument. The measurement instrument is positionable adjacent the entry location of a portal into a patient when the reference instrument is in the portal. The indicator of the reference instrument is correlated to a target location in the patient, and a location of the indicator along the indicia provides an indication of the optimal length for a retractor to be positioned in the portal.
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Citations
38 Claims
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1. A system for determining an optimal length for a retractor for use in a minimally invasive procedure with a patient, comprising:
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a reference instrument extending between a distal end and a proximal end, said reference instrument including a predetermined length between said distal end and an indicator thereon, said distal end being positionable in a portal adjacent to a target location in the patient with said indicator located proximally of an entry location of the portal; and a measurement instrument extending between a distal end and a proximal end, said measurement instrument including indicia extending therealong, wherein when said reference instrument is in the portal with said distal end thereof adjacent the target location and said measurement instrument is positioned along the reference instrument with said distal end of said measurement instrument adjacent the entry location, a location of said indicator of said reference instrument along said indicia of said measurement instrument provides an indication of the optimal length of the retractor for positioning in the portal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A system for determining an optimal length for a retractor for use in a minimally invasive procedure with a patient, comprising:
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at least one tissue dilator extending between a distal end and a proximal end, said at least one tissue dilator including a predetermined length between said distal end and an indicator thereon, said distal end being positionable in a portal adjacent a target location in the patient with said indicator located proximally of an entry location of the portal; and a measurement instrument extending between a distal end and a proximal end, said measurement instrument including indicia extending therealong, wherein with said distal end of said reference instrument adjacent the target location and said measurement instrument along said at least one tissue dilator with said distal end of said measurement instrument adjacent the entry location, a location of said indicator along said indicia provides an indication of the optimal length of the retractor for positioning in the portal. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A measurement instrument for determining an optimal retractor length for use with a minimally invasive procedure in a patient, comprising:
a body extending between a distal end and a proximal end, said body including indicia extending therealong between said distal end and said proximal end, said indicia including a scale increasing in value from said proximal end to said distal end, wherein said distal end is positionable adjacent an entry location of the patient with said body along an indicator correlated to a target location in the patient, whereby a location of said indicator along said indicia provides an indication of the optimal retractor length. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A method for determining an optimal retractor length for a minimally invasive access portal in a patient, comprising:
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inserting a reference instrument in the portal, the reference instrument including an indicator located proximally of an entry location of the portal when a distal end of the reference instrument is adjacent a target location in the patient; positioning a distal end of a measurement instrument adjacent the entry location, the measurement instrument including indicia extending therealong proximally of the entry location; and observing a location of the indicator along the indicia to determine the optimal retractor length. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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Specification