US 11,812,940 B2
Minimally open interbody access retraction device and surgical method
Josef Gorek, Ross, CA (US); Linda Krisciunas, Windham, NH (US); Catherine Ross, Arlington, VA (US); Jennifer Haggenmaker, Summit Point, WV (US); and Kevin Strauss, Atlanta, GA (US)
Assigned to K2M, Inc., Leesburg, VA (US)
Filed by K2M, Inc., Leesburg, VA (US)
Filed on Aug. 6, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/395,721.
Application 14/614,682 is a division of application No. 12/104,653, filed on Apr. 17, 2008, granted, now 8,979,749, issued on Mar. 17, 2015.
Application 17/395,721 is a continuation of application No. 16/564,769, filed on Sep. 9, 2019, granted, now 11,083,447, issued on Aug. 10, 2021.
Application 16/564,769 is a continuation of application No. 15/619,862, filed on Jun. 12, 2017, granted, now 10,405,841, issued on Sep. 10, 2019.
Application 15/619,862 is a continuation of application No. 14/614,682, filed on Feb. 5, 2015, granted, now 9,675,337, issued on Jun. 13, 2017.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/925,056, filed on Apr. 17, 2007.
Prior Publication US 2022/0022859 A1, Jan. 27, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A61B 17/02 (2006.01); A61B 17/56 (2006.01); A61B 17/70 (2006.01); A61B 17/16 (2006.01); A61B 17/28 (2006.01); A61B 90/30 (2016.01); A61B 17/00 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 17/025 (2013.01) [A61B 17/0206 (2013.01); A61B 17/56 (2013.01); A61B 17/7077 (2013.01); A61B 17/7082 (2013.01); A61B 17/0293 (2013.01); A61B 17/1655 (2013.01); A61B 17/1671 (2013.01); A61B 17/7037 (2013.01); A61B 90/30 (2016.02); A61B 2017/00407 (2013.01); A61B 2017/0256 (2013.01); A61B 2017/2837 (2013.01)] 11 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A retraction system for separating tissue, comprising:
a first retraction blade including:
a retraction blade portion having a proximal region and a distal region, the retraction blade portion extending along a longitudinal axis between the proximal and distal regions;
a first rod-shaped portion extending away from the distal region of the retraction blade portion on a first side of the longitudinal axis of the retraction blade portion, the first rod-shaped portion having a diameter corresponding to a rod-receiving channel of a pedicle screw as used in spine surgery;
a second rod-shaped portion extending away from the distal region of the retraction blade portion on a second side of the longitudinal axis of the retraction blade portion, the second rod-shaped portion having a diameter corresponding to the rod-receiving channel; and
a ratchet mechanism operatively associated with the second rod-shaped portion, the ratchet mechanism being adapted to allow the second rod-shaped portion to move with respect to the first rod-shaped portion, thereby changing a distance between the first and second rod-shaped portions.