Systems and methods for performing spine surgery

1. A surgical tissue retractor, comprising:

a retractor body having:

a first arm configured to couple with a first retractor blade; and

a second arm configured to couple with a second retractor blade,

wherein the retractor body is operable to adjust the spacing between the first retractor blade and second retractor blade;

wherein the first retractor blade includes:

a first connector being configured to couple with the first arm; and

a first blade portion including:

a first distal end;

a first proximal end;

a first maximum width; and

a first longitudinal axis extending through the first proximal end and first distal end and passing through a midpoint of the first maximum width,

wherein the first distal end has a first outer lobe situated on one side of the first longitudinal axis and a second outer lobe situated on the opposite side of the first longitudinal axis;

wherein the first outer lobe and second outer lobe are separated by a first recess therebetween;

wherein the second retractor blade includes:

a second connector being configured to couple with the second arm; and

a second blade portion including:

a second distal end;

a second proximal end;

a second maximum width; and

a second longitudinal axis extending through the second proximal end and second distal end and passing through a midpoint of the second maximum width;

wherein the second distal end has a third outer lobe situated on one side of the second longitudinal axis and a fourth outer lobe situated on the opposite side of the second longitudinal axis;

wherein the third outer lobe and fourth outer lobe are separated by a second recess therebetween;

wherein the first arm includes a first blade receptacle configured to receive the first connector and the second arm includes a second blade receptacle configured to receive the second connector;

wherein the first arm includes a first blade release mechanism associated with the first blade receptacle and the second arm includes a second blade release mechanism associated with the second blade receptacle; and

wherein the first blade receptacle is partially spherical and open on one side.

2. The surgical tissue retractor of claim 1 , wherein the first blade portion is asymmetric about the first longitudinal axis.

3. The surgical tissue retractor of claim 2 , wherein the second blade portion is asymmetric about the second longitudinal axis.

4. The surgical tissue retractor of claim 1 , wherein the first retractor blade can freely rotate within the first blade receptacle so as to self-align against tissue.

5. The surgical tissue retractor of claim 1 , wherein the first connector of the first retractor blade is configured to be in coupled engagement with the first blade receptacle and a separate insertion tool at the same time.

6. The surgical tissue retractor of claim 5 , wherein the first connector includes a connection head that is releasably engageable with an insertion tool and a connection post that is positionable within the first blade receptacle, the connection head having an outer circumference that is larger than the first blade receptacle.

7. The surgical tissue retractor of claim 1 , wherein the first distal end and the second distal end are each toothed.

8. The surgical tissue retractor of claim 1 , wherein the first arm is coupled to a first elongate support arm and the second arm is coupled to a second elongate support arm.

9. The surgical tissue retractor of claim 8 , wherein the first elongate support arm and the second elongate support arm translate linearly relative to each other to adjust the spacing between the first retractor blade and second retractor blade.

10. The surgical retractor of claim 9 , wherein the first elongate support arm and the second elongate support arm are situated parallel to each other.

11. The surgical tissue retractor of claim 10 , wherein the first elongate support arm and the second elongate support arm are connected via an access driver, the access driver including a housing configured to receive the first and second elongate support arms, a pinion positioned between the first and second elongate support arms and simultaneously engaged with toothed sides of each of the first and second elongate support arms, the pinion being operable to cause translation of the first and second elongate support arms, and a pawl operable to prohibit translation of the first and second elongate support arms.

12. A surgical tissue retractor, comprising:

a retractor body having:

a first arm coupled to a first elongate support arm and being configured to couple with a first retractor blade; and

a second arm coupled to a second elongate support arm and being configured to couple with a second retractor blade,

wherein the retractor body is operable to adjust the spacing between the first retractor blade and second retractor blade;

wherein the first retractor blade includes:

a first connector being configured to couple with the first arm; and

a first blade portion including:

a first distal end;

a first proximal end;

a first maximum width; and

a first longitudinal axis extending through the first proximal end and first distal end and passing through a midpoint of the first maximum width,

wherein the first distal end has a first outer lobe situated on one side of the first longitudinal axis and a second outer lobe situated on the opposite side of the first longitudinal axis;

wherein the first outer lobe and second outer lobe are separated by a first recess therebetween;

wherein the second retractor blade includes:

a second connector being configured to couple with the second arm; and

a second blade portion including:

a second distal end;

a second proximal end;

a second maximum width; and

a second longitudinal axis extending through the second proximal end and second distal end and passing through a midpoint of the second maximum width;

wherein the second distal end has a third outer lobe situated on one side of the second longitudinal axis and a fourth outer lobe situated on the opposite side of the second longitudinal axis; and

wherein the third outer lobe and fourth outer lobe are separated by a second recess therebetween.

13. The surgical tissue retractor of claim 12 , wherein the first arm includes a first blade receptacle configured to receive the first connector and the second arm includes a second blade receptacle configured to receive the second blade connector.

14. The surgical tissue retractor of claim 13 , wherein the first arm includes a first blade release mechanism associated with the first blade receptacle and the second arm includes a second blade release mechanism associated with the second blade receptacle.

15. The surgical tissue retractor of claim 14 , wherein the first blade receptacle is open on one side.

16. The surgical tissue retractor of claim 15 , wherein the first blade release mechanism includes an engagement latch and a release button.

17. The surgical tissue retractor of claim 16 , wherein the engagement latch includes a blocking element, an engagement arm that extends away from the blocking element, and a pivot point between the blocking element and the engagement arm, the blocking element being biased to a resting position in which the blocking element extends into the first blade receptacle.

18. The surgical tissue retractor of claim 17 , wherein the release button includes a button end, a release arm extending from the button end and a pivot point between the button end and the release arm, the button end being biased to a resting position in which the button end extends laterally from a recess in the first arm.

19. The surgical tissue retractor of claim 18 , wherein the engagement arm and the release arm are in contact with each other when the blocking element and button end are in the resting position.

20. The surgical tissue retractor of claim 12 , wherein the first elongate support arm and the second elongate support arm translate linearly relative to each other to adjust the spacing between the first retractor blade and second retractor blade.

21. The surgical retractor of claim 20 , wherein the first elongate support arm and the second elongate support arm are situated parallel to each other.

22. The surgical tissue retractor of claim 21 , wherein the first elongate support arm and the second elongate support arm are connected via an access driver, the access driver including a housing configured to receive the first and second elongate support arms, a pinion positioned between the first and second elongate support arms and simultaneously engaged with toothed sides of each of the first and second elongate support arms, the pinion being operable to cause translation of the first and second elongate support arms, and a pawl operable to prohibit translation of the first and second elongate support arms.

23. A surgical tissue retractor, comprising:

a retractor body having:

a first arm configured to couple with a first retractor blade; and

a second arm configured to couple with a second retractor blade,

wherein the retractor body is operable to adjust the spacing between the first retractor blade and second retractor blade;

wherein the first retractor blade includes:

a first connector being configured to couple with a blade receptacle of the first arm and a separate insertion tool at a same time; and

a first blade portion including:

a first distal end;

a first proximal end;

a first maximum width; and

a first longitudinal axis extending through the first proximal end and first distal end and passing through a midpoint of the first maximum width,

wherein the first distal end has a first outer lobe situated on one side of the first longitudinal axis and a second outer lobe situated on the opposite side of the first longitudinal axis;

wherein the first outer lobe and second outer lobe are separated by a first recess therebetween;

wherein the second retractor blade includes:

a second connector being configured to couple with the second arm; and

a second blade portion including:

a second distal end;

a second proximal end;

a second maximum width; and

a second longitudinal axis extending through the second proximal end and second distal end and passing through a midpoint of the second maximum width;

wherein the second distal end has a third outer lobe situated on one side of the second longitudinal axis and a fourth outer lobe situated on the opposite side of the second longitudinal axis;

wherein the third outer lobe and fourth outer lobe are separated by a second recess therebetween.

24. The surgical tissue retractor of claim 23 , wherein the first connector includes a connection head that is releasably engageable with an insertion tool and a connection post that is positionable within the blade receptacle, the connection head having an outer circumference that is larger than the blade receptacle.