Cannula for receiving surgical instruments
First Claim
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1. A surgical spinal access system for receiving spinal instruments, comprising:
- a retractor having;
a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end having an access opening and the distal end sized for insertion into an incision in a patient, the proximal end and distal end having inner surfaces defining an access path, the retractor configured such that the access opening is positioned outside the patient during use,the retractor being configured for an unexpanded configuration completely surrounding the access path during insertion into the incision, and an expanded configuration when located a surgical site in the patient,the retractor when in the expanded configuration configured to expand to provide maximum exposure to a surgical site at the distal end; and
an expander having a first portion pivotally connected to a second portion, the first and second portions structured to be inserted through the access path and engage the inner surface of the distal end of the retractor, wherein pivoting the first and second portions away from each other moves the retractor from the unexpanded to the expanded configuration, wherein the retractor is structured to remain in the expanded configuration when the expander is withdrawn from the access path.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A cannula (10) receives surgical instruments (120) for performing a surgical procedure on a body (130). The cannula (10) comprises a tube structure (12) defining a passage (16) through which the surgical instruments (120) are inserted into the body (130). The tube structure (12) has a proximal end (20) and a distal end (62). The tube structure (12) includes an expandable portion (40) for enabling an increase in the cross-sectional area of the passage (16) at the distal end (62). The expandable portion (40) of the tube structure (12), when expanded, has a conical configuration.
260 Citations
11 Claims
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1. A surgical spinal access system for receiving spinal instruments, comprising:
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a retractor having; a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end having an access opening and the distal end sized for insertion into an incision in a patient, the proximal end and distal end having inner surfaces defining an access path, the retractor configured such that the access opening is positioned outside the patient during use, the retractor being configured for an unexpanded configuration completely surrounding the access path during insertion into the incision, and an expanded configuration when located a surgical site in the patient, the retractor when in the expanded configuration configured to expand to provide maximum exposure to a surgical site at the distal end; and an expander having a first portion pivotally connected to a second portion, the first and second portions structured to be inserted through the access path and engage the inner surface of the distal end of the retractor, wherein pivoting the first and second portions away from each other moves the retractor from the unexpanded to the expanded configuration, wherein the retractor is structured to remain in the expanded configuration when the expander is withdrawn from the access path. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A surgical spinal access system for receiving spinal instruments comprising:
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a retractor having a proximal portion and a distal portion and an access path extending therethrough, the retractor structured such that the proximal portion is positioned outside a patient when the distal portion is adjacent a spinal surgical site, the retractor structured to expand from an unexpanded to an expanded configuration, wherein when in the expanded configuration, the maximum exposure to the surgical site is at a distal end of the retractor; and an expander having first and second legs structured to be inserted into the access path and engage an inner surface of the distal portion of the retractor, wherein movement of the first and second legs away from each other moves the retractor from the unexpanded to the expanded configuration, wherein the retractor is structured to remain in the expanded configuration when the expander is withdrawn from the access path. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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Specification