Retractor with modular tap assemblies

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017238918-A1
Application number	US-201715448010-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 2, 2017
Priority date	Dec 20, 2011
Publication date	Aug 24, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

A retractor assembly includes a base, a first side assembly coupled to a first side of the base and configured to translate relative to the base along a first direction, a first tap assembly coupled to the first side assembly and configured to threadingly engage bone, a second side assembly coupled to a second side of the base and configured to translate relative to the base along the first direction independent from the first side assembly, a second tap assembly coupled to the second side assembly and configured to threadingly engage bone, and a center assembly coupled to a center portion of the base. At least a portion of the center assembly is configured to translate relative to the base along a second direction different from the first direction.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A retractor assembly, comprising:
a base; a first side assembly coupled to a first side of the base and configured to translate relative to the base along a first direction; a first tap assembly coupled to the first side assembly and configured to threadingly engage bone; a second side assembly coupled to a second side of the base and configured to translate relative to the base along the first direction independent from the first side assembly; a second tap assembly coupled to the second side assembly and configured to threadingly engage bone; and a center assembly coupled to a center portion of the base, wherein at least a portion of the center assembly is configured to translate relative to the base along a second direction different from the first direction.

2 . The retractor assembly of claim 1 , wherein the center assembly includes a center housing removably coupled to the base and a first arm portion received within the center housing;
wherein the first arm portion translates within the center housing relative to the base.

3 . The retractor assembly of claim 2 , further comprising:
a first side blade assembly configured to be received by the first side assembly from a bottom side of the retractor assembly; a second side blade assembly configured to be received by the second side assembly from the bottom side of the retractor assembly; and a center blade assembly configured to be received from a top of the retractor assembly.

4 . The retractor assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first tap assembly includes a first screw rotatably retained within a first sleeve, and wherein the second tap assembly includes a second screw rotatably received within a second sleeve.

5 . The retractor assembly of claim 4 , wherein the first sleeve includes a first rail configured to be slidably received by a first blade assembly and the second sleeve includes a second rail configured to be slidable received by a second blade assembly.

6 . The retractor assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a secondary blade assembly slidably received by a center blade of the center assembly.

7 . The retractor assembly of claim 1 , wherein each of the first side assembly, the second side assembly, and the center assembly includes a first arm portion rotationally fixed relative to the base, and a second arm portion rotatably coupled to the first arm portion and including a blade assembly configured to retract tissue.

8 . The retractor assembly of claim 1 , wherein each of the first side assembly and the second side assembly includes a ratchet mechanism configured to releasably engage teeth provided on the base to secure the first and second side assemblies in position relative to the base.

9 . A retractor assembly, comprising:
a base; a first side arm assembly coupled to a first side of the base and configured to translate relative to the base along a first direction; a second side arm assembly coupled to a second side of the base and configured to translate relative to the base along the first direction; and a central arm assembly coupled to a center portion of the base and configured to translate relative to the base along a second direction different from the first direction; a modular tap assembly coupled to at least one of the first side arm assembly and the second side arm assembly.

10 . The retractor assembly of claim 9 , wherein the first side arm assembly is removably coupled to a first blade assembly including a first blade, and wherein the modular tap assembly is slidably received by the first blade.

11 . The retractor assembly of claim 10 , wherein the modular tap assembly is slidably received in an elongated channel provided in the first blade.

12 . The retractor assembly of claim 11 , wherein the modular tap assembly includes a screw received in a sleeve, wherein the sleeve includes a rail received by the elongated channel in the first blade.

13 . The retractor assembly of claim 10 , wherein the modular tap assembly is configured to be coupled to the first side assembly and threaded into bone material prior to the first side assembly being removably coupled to the base.

14 . The retractor assembly of claim 9 , wherein the base is an elongated member defining a longitudinal axis, wherein the first and second side assemblies translate along the longitudinal axis.

15 . The retractor assembly of claim 9 , wherein each of the first side assembly and the second side assembly includes a ratchet mechanism configured to releasably engage teeth provided on the base to secure the first and second side assemblies in position relative to the base.

16 . The retractor assembly of claim 9 , wherein the center arm assembly includes a primary blade and secondary blade removably coupled to the primary blade.

17 . A method of operating a retractor, comprising:
securing a first screw of a first blade assembly to a first portion of bone, the first blade assembly including a first blade; securing a second screw of a second blade assembly to a second portion of bone, the second blade assembly including a second blade; coupling the first blade assembly to a second arm portion of a first side assembly from a first direction while the first screw is secured to the first portion of bone; coupling the second blade assembly to a second arm portion of a second side assembly from the first direction while the second screw is secured to the second portion of bone; and coupling a center assembly to a frame.

18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein securing the first screw to the first bone portion includes using an elongated driver assembly.

19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the first screw is received in a first sleeve, wherein the first sleeve includes a rail slidably received by a channel of a first blade of the first blade assembly.

20 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the center assembly is coupled to the frame from a second direction opposite the first direction.

Assignees

• Life Spine Inc

Inventors

• Predick Daniel
• Butler Michael S
• Zakelj Paul Christopher

Classifications

• A61B2017/0256

  for the spine · CPC title

• A61B17/0206 Primary

  with antagonistic arms as supports for retractor elements · CPC title

• A61B2017/0046

  with a releasable handle; with handle and operating part separable · CPC title

• A61B17/1655

  for tapping · CPC title

• A61B17/862

  at the periphery of the screw head · CPC title