Devices and systems for surgical retraction

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9700293-B2
Application number	US-201514828695-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 18, 2015
Priority date	Aug 18, 2015
Publication date	Jul 11, 2017
Grant date	Jul 11, 2017

Abstract

Retractor blade assemblies, retractors, kits, and methods of using the same. The retractor blade assembly may include a retractor blade, a pedicle screw, and a shim that connects the pedicle screw to the retractor blade. The retractor blade may have a proximal end configured to engage a retractor body and a distal end configured to retract soft tissue. The pedicle screw may have a head portion removably connected to the distal end of the retractor blade and a shaft portion configured to engage the pedicle of a vertebra. The shim couples the pedicle screw to the retractor blade. For example, the shim may include an extension portion configured to engage the retractor blade and a connection portion configured to receive and temporarily lock the pedicle screw to the retractor blade.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A retractor assembly comprising:
a refractor body;
at least one retractor blade having a proximal end configured to engage the retractor body and a distal end configured to retract soft tissue;
at least one pedicle screw having a head portion removably connectable to the distal end of the refractor blade and a shaft portion configured to engage bone; and
at least one shim having an extension portion, an outer spherical portion, and an inner spherical portion rotatably received within the outer spherical portion, wherein the extension portion is configured to engage the retractor blade and the inner spherical portion is configured to receive the head portion of the at least one pedicle screw, wherein the inner spherical portion rotates from an unlocked position to a locked position for retaining the head portion of the at least one pedicle screw within the at least one shim.

2. The retractor assembly of claim 1 , wherein the extension portion includes at least one rail configured to slidably engage at least one corresponding rail on the retractor blade.

3. The retractor assembly of claim 1 , wherein the extension portion includes at least one edge configured to surround one or both end of the at least one retractor blade.

4. The retractor assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one retractor blade includes a generally curved inner portion having one or more grooves defined along at least a portion of the at least one retractor blade, the one or more grooves configured to slidably engage one or more corresponding tongues of the extension portion of the at least one shim.

5. The retractor assembly of claim 1 , wherein a top portion of the inner spherical portion extends through an opening in the outer spherical portion, and the top portion is configured to be engaged by a driver in order to rotate the inner spherical portion from the unlocked position to the locked position.

6. The retractor assembly of claim 1 , wherein the outer spherical portion and the inner spherical portion each include an opening that, when aligned, allow the pedicle screw to be side-loaded into the shim.

7. The retractor assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one pedicle screw is configured to polyaxially rotate in the at least one shim.

8. The retractor assembly of claim 1 further comprising a driver, wherein the driver includes at least one track configured to engage at least one rail on the extension portion of the at least one shim.

9. A retractor blade assembly comprising:
a refractor blade having a proximal end configured to engage a retractor body and a distal end configured to retract soft tissue;
a screw having a head portion removably connectable to the distal end of the retractor blade and a shaft portion configured to engage bone; and
a shim having an extension portion and a connection portion, wherein the extension portion is configured to engage the retractor blade and the connection portion is configured to receive at least a portion of the screw, wherein the connection portion is movable from an unlocked position to a locked position for retaining the screw within the shim wherein the connection portion includes an outer spherical portion and an inner spherical portion, a top portion of the inner spherical portion extends through an opening in the outer spherical portion, and the top portion is configured to be engaged by a driver in order to rotate the inner spherical portion from the unlocked position to the locked position.

10. The retractor blade assembly of claim 9 , wherein the extension portion includes at least one rail configured to slidably engage at least one corresponding rail on the retractor blade.

11. The retractor blade assembly of claim 9 , wherein the extension portion includes at least one edge configured to surround one or both end of the retractor blade.

12. The retractor blade assembly of claim 9 , wherein the retractor blade includes a generally curved inner portion having one or more grooves defined along at least a portion of the retractor blade, the one or more grooves configured to slidably engage one or more corresponding tongues of the extension portion of the shim.

13. The retractor blade assembly of claim 9 , wherein the connection portion is configured to rotate relative to the retractor blade.

14. The retractor blade assembly of claim 9 , wherein the shim includes an elongated slot extending longitudinally along a length of the shim.

15. The retractor blade assembly of claim 9 , wherein the connection portion includes at least a partial ring configured to at least partially surround the head portion of the screw.

16. The retractor blade assembly of claim 9 , wherein the screw is side-loaded into the shim.

17. The retractor blade assembly of claim 9 , wherein one or more locks are positioned along one or both outer edges of the refractor blade to prevent the shim from sliding off the retractor blade.

Assignees

• Globus Medical Inc

Inventors

• Cryder Joel
• Karpowicz Edward

Classifications

• A61B17/708 Primary

  with tubular extensions coaxially mounted on the bone anchors · CPC title

• A61B17/8605

  Heads, i.e. proximal ends projecting from bone · CPC title

• A61B2017/0256

  for the spine · CPC title

• A61B17/7082

  for driving, i.e. rotating, screws or screw parts specially adapted for spinal fixation, e.g. for driving polyaxial or tulip-headed screws · CPC title

• A61B17/86

  Pins or screws {or threaded wires; nuts therefor (A61B17/72 take precedence)} · CPC title