Surgical access system and related methods

• US 9,788,822 B2
• Filed: 01/13/2016
• Issued: 10/17/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nuvasive Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Nuvasive Incorporated
• Inventors: Miles, Patrick, Martinelli, Scot, Finley, Eric
• Primary Examiner(s): BOLES, SAMEH RAAFAT
• Application Number:
  US14/994,640
• Publication Number:
  US 20160120530A1
• Time in Patent Office: 643 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/06 with illuminating arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/32 Devices for opening or enlarging the visual field, e.g. of a tube of the body dilators A61M29/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/02 for holding wounds open; Tractors specula A61B1/32 ; drainage appliances for wounds A61M27/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0206 with antagonistic arms as supports for retractor elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0218 for minimally invasive surgery A61B17/0281, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/025 Joint distractors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00039 Electric or electromagnetic phenomena other than conductivity, e.g. capacity, inductivity, Hall effect
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00473 Distal part, e.g. tip or head A61B2017/00464 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0256 for the spine
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0262 with a provision for protecting nerves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2505/05 Surgical care
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/045 with a separable interface unit, e.g. for communication
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/05 Detecting, measuring or recording for diagnosis by means of electric currents or magnetic fields; Measuring using microwaves or radio waves impedance plethysmography A61B5/0295; measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof A61B5/11; detecting, measuring or recording bioelectric or biomagnetic signals of the body or parts thereof A61B5/24
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1104 induced by stimuli or drugs; A61B5/1102 takes precedence; investigating medicinal preparations G01N33/15
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/296 for electromyography [EMG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/389 Electromyography [EMG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4893 Nerves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/37 Surgical systems with images on a monitor during operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0551 Spinal or peripheral nerve electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 606/909 Bone

Abstract

A surgical access system including a tissue distraction assembly and a tissue retraction assembly, both of which may be equipped with one or more electrodes for use in detecting the existence of (and optionally the distance and/or direction to) neural structures before, during, and after the establishment of an operative corridor to a surgical target site.

Claims

1. A retractor blade for use in a system for accessing a surgical target site, the retractor blade comprising:

an elongated retractor blade extending from a proximal end that is dimensioned to couple to a mounting structure to a distal end that is spaced longitudinally from the proximal end, wherein the retractor blade includes a first edge extending between the proximal end and the distal end, a second edge extending between the proximal end and the distal end, an inner surface defined by the retractor blade between the first and second edges and comprising a portion configured to be positioned within an operative corridor established within a patient for accessing the surgical target site and oriented towards a central longitudinal axis of the operative corridor, and an outer face defined by the retractor blade between the first and second edges and comprising a portion configured to be oriented away from the central longitudinal axis, wherein the inner face of the retractor blade defines a receiving portion dimensioned to couple to an engagement portion of a connectable element, and wherein the inner surface of the retractor blade defines a plurality of grooves spaced longitudinally along the portion of the inner surface of the retractor blade and wherein the plurality of grooves are dimensioned to receive a tooth of the connectable element so as to hold the connectable element in place with respect to the retractor blade, wherein the plurality of grooves is on a concave portion of the inner surface of the retractor blade.

2. The retractor blade of claim 1, wherein the grooves defined by the inner surface of the retractor blade comprise a series of ratchet-like grooves configured to longitudinally position the connectable element with respect to the retractor blade.

3. The retractor blade of claim 1, wherein the grooves are positioned in series along a longitudinal center line of the inner surface of the retractor blade.

4. The retractor blade of claim1, wherein the grooves extend in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the retractor blade.

5. The retractor blade of claim 1, wherein the inner surface is substantially concave and the outer surface is substantially convex.

6. The retractor blade of claim 1, wherein the grooves comprise at least four grooves configured to receive the tooth engaged with a corresponding one of the at least four grooves to position the connectable element with respect to the retractor blade.

7. The retractor blade of claim 1, wherein the retractor blade tapers along at least part of the retractor blade between the first and second edges.

8. The retractor blade of claim 1, further comprising a receiving portion configured to engage with a corresponding engagement element of a shim element or a retractor extender.