Method and apparatus for performing spinal surgery
Implants, instruments, and methods for performing surgical procedures on the spine, including one or more of creating an operative corridor to the spine, delivering implants to the spine, fusing one or more segments of the spine, and fixing one or more segments of the spine.
1. A retractor for creating an operative corridor to a surgical target, the retractor comprising:
a retractor body which includes a first arm and a second arm, the first arm and the second arm being movable relative to each other in a first direction;
a first retractor blade attachable to the first arm, the first retractor blade including:
a first hoop extending orthogonally from a distal end of the first blade and being configured to releasably couple to a partially spherical bone anchor head, and
a first locking mechanism configured to cause the first hoop to assume an unlocked position which allows passage of the bone anchor head and a locked position which prevents passage of the bone anchor head; and
a second retractor blade attachable to the second arm, the second retractor blade including:
a second hoop extending orthogonally from a distal end of the second blade and being configured to releasably couple to a partially spherical bone anchor head, and
a second locking mechanism configured to cause the second hoop to assume an unlocked position which allows passage of the bone anchor head and a locked position which prevents passage of the bone anchor head,
wherein each of the first and second retractor blades comprises a generally arcuate cross section.
2. The retractor of claim 1 , comprising a third arm movable relative to the first arm and the second arm in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction; and a third retractor blade attachable to the third arm.
3. The retractor of claim 2 , wherein the third retractor blade is pivotable relative to the third arm.
4. The retractor of claim 3 , wherein the third retractor blade is pivotable relative to the third arm in the first direction.
5. The retractor of claim 2 , wherein the third blade comprises a distal anchor element.
6. The retractor of claim 5 , wherein the distal anchor element is selected from the group consisting of: a series of ridges, a series of spike members, and a combination of the foregoing.
7. The retractor of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second retractor blades is capable of multiaxial movement relative to the retractor body.
8. The retractor of claim 7 , wherein at least one of the first and second retractor blades is configured to pivot in both a caudal and cranial direction.
9. The retractor of claim 8 , wherein the first and second retractor blade are configured to pivot in both a caudal and cranial direction.
10. The retractor of claim 1 , wherein the first retractor blade is attached to the first arm, and the second retractor blade is attached to the second arm.
11. The retractor of claim 1 , comprising a first bone anchor connected to the first hoop and a second bone anchor connected to the second hoop.
12. The retractor of claim 1 , wherein said retractor is configured to advance to the surgical target sequentially or simultaneously.
13. The retractor of claim 1 , wherein the retractor body comprises a rack connected to the first and second arms and configured to slide the first arm and the second arm relative to one another in the first direction.
14. The retractor of claim 13 , wherein said rack includes: a first elongated axial rack member having a first plurality of teeth slidably engaged to the retractor body; and a second elongated axial rack member having a second plurality of teeth slidably engaged to the body.
15. The retractor of claim 14 , wherein the first elongated axial rack member is connected to the first arm.
16. The retractor of claim 14 , wherein the second elongated axial rack member is connected to the second arm.
17. The retractor of claim 1 , wherein the retractor body comprises a first toggle to lock and unlock the ability of the first arm and the second arm to move in the first direction relative to one another.
18. The retractor of claim 1 , wherein:
the first hoop in the unlocked position has an unlocked width allowing passage of the bone anchor head;
the first hoop in the locked position has a locked width disallowing passage of the bone anchor head;
the second hoop in the unlocked position has an unlocked width allowing passage of the bone anchor head; and
the second hoop in the locked position has a locked width disallowing passage of the bone anchor head.
19. A retractor comprising:
a retractor body that includes a first arm and a second arm;
a first retractor blade attachable to the first arm at a proximal end of the first retractor blade, the first retractor blade including:
a first outside surface configured to interact with a patient's soft tissue;
a first retainer extending at a first distal end of the first blade and being configured to retain a bone anchor, and
a first locking mechanism configured to cause the first retainer to selectively assume a locked position that resists passage of a bone anchor retained by the first retainer; and
a second retractor blade attachable to the second arm at a proximal end of the second retractor blade, the second retractor blade including:
a second outside surface configured to interact with a patient's soft tissue;
a second retainer extending at a second distal end of the second blade and being configured to retain a bone anchor, and
a second locking mechanism configured to cause the second retainer to selectively assume a locked position that resists passage of a bone anchor retained by the second retainer.
20. A system comprising:
a first bone screw;
a second bone screw;
a retractor body that includes a first arm and a second arm;
a first retractor blade coupled to the first arm at a proximal end of the first retractor blade, the first retractor blade including:
a first inside surface;
a first retainer at a first distal end of the first blade, wherein the first bone screw extends through the first retainer; and
a first locking mechanism in a configuration that places the first retainer in a locked position that resists passage of the first bone screw;
a second retractor blade coupled to the second arm at a proximal end of the second retractor blade, the second retractor blade including:
a second inside surface;
a second retainer at a second distal end of the second blade, wherein the second bone screw extends through the second retainer; and
a second locking mechanism in a configuration that places the second retainer in a locked position that resists passage of the second bone screw; and
a third retractor blade coupled to the retractor body and including a third inside surface,
wherein the first inside surface, the second inside surface, and the third inside surface cooperate to define an operative corridor at least partially bounded by the first inside surface, the second inside surface, and the third inside surface.