Cannula for receiving surgical instruments
First Claim
1. A method for retracting tissue adjacent a spinal location, comprising:
- making an incision in a patient over a spinal surgical location;
inserting a retractor into the incision in the patient;
advancing the retractor to a position adjacent the spinal location, the retractor having a proximal end and a distal end and defining an access path therethrough, the distal end being positioned adjacent the spinal location and the proximal end extending through the incision and outside of the patient;
expanding at least a portion of the retractor adjacent the spinal location by moving a plurality of discrete segments of the retractor away from each other to retract tissue adjacent the spinal location, wherein the discrete segments at least partially surround said access path in the expanded configuration; and
performing a surgical procedure on the spine, wherein the surgical procedure is performed through the retractor.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A cannula (10) for receiving surgical instruments for performing a surgical procedure on a body includes a tubular structure (12) defining a passage (16) through which the surgical instruments are inserted into the body. The tubular structure (12) includes an expandable portion (40) for enabling an increase in the cross-sectional area of the passage (16). The expandable portion (40) of the tubular structure (12) has a slot (100) and a guide member (114) disposed in the slot. The guide member (114) is movable from a first end (102) of the slot (100) toward a second end (104) of the slot to enable the cross-sectional area of the passage (16) to increase. The expandable portion (40) has a stop (106) between the first and second ends (102 and 104) of the slot (100) engageable with the guide member (114) to retain the guide member in a position relative to the slot and resist movement of the guide member from the position relative to the slot.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. A method for retracting tissue adjacent a spinal location, comprising:
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making an incision in a patient over a spinal surgical location; inserting a retractor into the incision in the patient; advancing the retractor to a position adjacent the spinal location, the retractor having a proximal end and a distal end and defining an access path therethrough, the distal end being positioned adjacent the spinal location and the proximal end extending through the incision and outside of the patient; expanding at least a portion of the retractor adjacent the spinal location by moving a plurality of discrete segments of the retractor away from each other to retract tissue adjacent the spinal location, wherein the discrete segments at least partially surround said access path in the expanded configuration; and performing a surgical procedure on the spine, wherein the surgical procedure is performed through the retractor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for retracting tissue adjacent a spinal location, comprising:
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making an incision in a patient over a spinal location; inserting a retractor into the incision; positioning the retractor in the patient adjacent the spinal location, the retractor having a proximal portion and a distal portion; pivoting the distal portion relative to the proximal portion; and expanding at least a portion of the distal portion adjacent the spinal location by moving a plurality of discrete segments of the retractor away from each other to retract tissue adjacent the spinal location;
wherein overlap exists between discrete segments in an unexpanded and an expanded configuration, and wherein expanding at least a portion of the retractor comprises reducing overlap between adjacent discrete segments. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for retracting tissue adjacent a spinal location, comprising:
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making an incision in a patient over a spinal surgical location; inserting a retractor into the incision in the patient; advancing the retractor to a position adjacent the spinal location, the retractor having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end having a plurality of discrete segments and being positioned adjacent the spinal location and the proximal end being positioned outside of the patient, the retractor having a guiding mechanism including a slot with notches extending transverse to a direction in which the slot extends; and expanding at least a portion of the retractor adjacent the spinal location by moving a plurality of discrete segments of the retractor away from each other to retract tissue adjacent the spinal location, wherein the discrete segments are moved away from each other by being guided incrementally along successive notches of the guiding mechanism. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification