Instruments and methods for minimally invasive tissue retraction and surgery
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A retractor assembly for percutaneous surgery in a patient, comprising:
- a first retractor portion having a proximal end and a distal end positionable in an incision;
a second retractor portion having a proximal end and a distal end positionable in the incision opposite said first retractor portion, said first and second retractor portions defining an axis extending therebetween;
a separation instrument coupled between said proximal ends of said first and second retractor portions and being offset to one side of said axis, said separation instrument being operable to move said first and second retractor portions along said axis from an insertion configuration wherein said first and second retractor portions are adjacent one another to a second configuration wherein said first and second portions are separated from one another; and
an intermediate retractor assembly removably mountable to said separation instrument, said intermediate retractor assembly including a length adjustable arm extending from said separation instrument toward said first and second retractor portions to a retractor blade, said retractor blade being transversely oriented to said adjustable arm and being positionable in the incision between said first and second retractor portions with said adjustable arm mounted to said separation instrument, said adjustable arm being configured to adjust in length between said retractor blade and said separation instrument while maintaining its mounted position to said separation instrument, said length adjustable arm including a ratcheting configuration normally preventing lengthening of said adjustable arm while permitting shortening of said adjustable arm, wherein said intermediate retractor assembly further comprises;
a linking arm including a first end engageable to said adjustable arm and an opposite second end; and
a second retractor blade removably engageable to said second end of said linking arm.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and devices retract tissue for minimally invasive surgery in a patient. A retractor includes a working channel formed by a first portion and a second portion. The first and second portions are movable relative to one another from a first configuration for insertion that minimizes trauma to skin and tissue to an enlarged configuration after insertion to further retract skin and tissue in a minimally invasive manner. An optional intermediate retractor assembly is positionable between the first and second retractor portions to provide further tissue retraction capabilities.
258 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A retractor assembly for percutaneous surgery in a patient, comprising:
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a first retractor portion having a proximal end and a distal end positionable in an incision; a second retractor portion having a proximal end and a distal end positionable in the incision opposite said first retractor portion, said first and second retractor portions defining an axis extending therebetween; a separation instrument coupled between said proximal ends of said first and second retractor portions and being offset to one side of said axis, said separation instrument being operable to move said first and second retractor portions along said axis from an insertion configuration wherein said first and second retractor portions are adjacent one another to a second configuration wherein said first and second portions are separated from one another; and an intermediate retractor assembly removably mountable to said separation instrument, said intermediate retractor assembly including a length adjustable arm extending from said separation instrument toward said first and second retractor portions to a retractor blade, said retractor blade being transversely oriented to said adjustable arm and being positionable in the incision between said first and second retractor portions with said adjustable arm mounted to said separation instrument, said adjustable arm being configured to adjust in length between said retractor blade and said separation instrument while maintaining its mounted position to said separation instrument, said length adjustable arm including a ratcheting configuration normally preventing lengthening of said adjustable arm while permitting shortening of said adjustable arm, wherein said intermediate retractor assembly further comprises; a linking arm including a first end engageable to said adjustable arm and an opposite second end; and a second retractor blade removably engageable to said second end of said linking arm. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A retractor assembly for percutaneous surgery in a patient, comprising:
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a first retractor portion having a proximal end and a distal end positionable in an incision; a second retractor portion having a proximal end and a distal end positionable in the incision opposite said first retractor portion, said first and second retractor portions defining an axis extending therebetween; a separation instrument coupled between said proximal ends of said first and second retractor portions and being offset to one side of said axis, said separation instrument being operable to move said first and second retractor portions along said axis from an insertion configuration wherein said first and second retractor portions are adjacent one another to a second configuration wherein said first and second portions are separated from one another; and an intermediate retractor assembly removably mountable to said separation instrument, said intermediate retractor assembly including a length adjustable arm extending from said separation instrument toward said first and second retractor portions to a retractor blade, said retractor blade being transversely oriented to said adjustable arm and being positionable in the incision between said first and second retractor portions with said adjustable arm mounted to said separation instrument, said adjustable arm being configured to adjust in length between said retractor blade and said separation instrument while maintaining its mounted position to said separation instrument, said length adjustable arm including a ratcheting configuration normally preventing lengthening of said adjustable arm while permitting shortening of said adjustable arm, wherein said adjustable arm includes a link member having a first end removably engageable to said separation instrument and a blade holder extending from an opposite second end of said link member, said blade holder being adjustably engaged to and movable toward and away from said second end of said link member. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A retractor assembly for percutaneous surgery in a patient, comprising:
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a first retractor portion having a proximal end and a distal end positionable in an incision; a second retractor portion having a proximal end and a distal end positionable in the incision opposite said first retractor portion, said first and second retractor portions defining a first axis extending therebetween; a separation instrument coupled between said proximal ends of said first and second retractor portions offset to one side of said first axis, said separation instrument being operable to move said first and second retractor portions away from one another along said first axis; a length adjustable arm removably coupled to and extending from said separation instrument to a location between said first and second retractor portions, said length adjustable arm being configured to adjust in length between said location and said separation instrument while maintaining a position on said separation instrument; an intermediate separation instrument removably coupled to said adjustable arm at a first end of said intermediate separation instrument, said intermediate separation instrument including a housing receiving a coupling arm and an adjustment mechanism operable to move said coupling arm in said housing to adjust a spacing between said first end and an opposite second end of said intermediate separation instrument, said coupling arm being lockable at any one of a plurality of positions relative to said housing to maintain said spacing; and a retractor blade engageable at said second end of said intermediate separation instrument, wherein said adjustable arm includes a link member having a first end removably engageable to said separation instrument and a blade holder extending from an opposite second of said link member, said blade holder being adjustably engaged to and movable toward and away from said second end of said link member to reposition a retractor blade coupled to said blade holder. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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17. A retractor assembly for percutaneous surgery in a patient, comprising:
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a first retractor portion having a proximal end and a distal end positionable in an incision; a second retractor portion having a proximal end and a distal end positionable in the incision opposite said first retractor portion, said first and second retractor portions defining an axis extending therebetween; a separation instrument coupled between said proximal ends of said first and second retractor portions and being offset to one side of said axis, said separation instrument being operable to move said first and second retractor portions along said axis from an insertion configuration wherein said first and second retractor portions are adjacent one another to a second configuration wherein said first and second portions are separated from one another; and an intermediate retractor assembly removably mountable to said separation instrument, said intermediate retractor assembly including a length adjustable arm extending from said separation instrument toward said first and second retractor portions to a retractor blade, said retractor blade being transversely oriented to said adjustable arm and being positionable in the incision between said first and second retractor portions with said adjustable arm mounted to said separation instrument, said adjustable arm being configured to adjust in length between said retractor blade and said separation instrument while maintaining its mounted position to said separation instrument, said length adjustable arm including a ratcheting configuration normally preventing lengthening of said adjustable arm while permitting shortening of said adjustable arm, wherein said adjustable arm includes a link member having a first end removably mounted to said separation instrument and a blade holder extending from an opposite second end of said link member, said blade holder extending from said link member to a blade engaging end opposite of said first end of said link member, wherein said retractor blade is mounted to said blade engaging end and said blade holder is movably adjustable relative to said link member while said first end of said link member maintains its mounted position to said separation instrument to adjust a length of said adjustable arm between said first end of said link member and said blade engaging end. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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21. A retractor assembly for percutaneous surgery in a patient, comprising:
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a first retractor portion having a proximal end and a distal end positionable in an incision; a second retractor portion having a proximal end and a distal end positionable in the incision opposite said first retractor portion, said first and second retractor portions defining a first axis extending therebetween; a separation instrument coupled between said proximal ends of said first and second retractor portions offset to one side of said first axis, said separation instrument being operable to move said first and second retractor portions away from one another along said first axis; a length adjustable arm removably coupled to and extending from said separation instrument to a location between said first and second retractor portions, said length adjustable arm being configured to adjust in length between said location and said separation instrument while maintaining a position on said separation instrument; an intermediate separation instrument removably coupled to said adjustable arm at a first end of said separation instrument, said intermediate separation instrument including a housing receiving a coupling arm and an adjustment mechanism operable to move said coupling arm in said housing to adjust a spacing between said first end and an opposite second end of said intermediate separation instrument, said coupling arm being lockable at any one of a plurality of positions relative to said housing to maintain said spacing; and a retractor blade engageable at said second end of said intermediate separation instrument, wherein said length adjustable arm includes a link member having a first end removably mounted to said separation instrument and a blade holder extending from an opposite second end of said link member, said blade holder extending from said link member to a blade engaging end opposite of said first end of said link member, wherein a second retractor blade is mounted to said blade engaging end and said blade holder is movably adjustable relative to said link member while said first end of said link member maintains its mounted position to said separation instrument to adjust a length of said adjustable arm between said first end of said link member and said blade engaging end. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
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Specification