Granted Patent B2

US 12,226,087 · App. 17/188,207 · Granted Feb 18, 2025

Inventors: David Ortiz (Oceanside, CA); Kyle Elsabee (San Diego, CA); Jason Blain (Encinitas, CA); Tyson Vogel (San Diego, CA)

Assignee: Spinal Elements, Inc.

A61B17/0206A61B1/32A61B2017/0256

Abstract

Claims (31)

1. A method of using a retractor, comprising:

making an incision in a tissue of a body;

inserting a first probe and a second probe into the incision;

inserting a third blade of a retractor over the first probe and the second probe;

removing the second probe;

inserting a shim along the third blade of the retractor, wherein inserting the shim along the third blade of the retractor comprises inserting the shim within a channel of the first probe; and

removing the first probe.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising monitoring nerve activity with a first electrode of the first probe.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising monitoring nerve activity with a second electrode of the second probe.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the first probe and the second probe comprise a tongue and groove configuration.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising engaging the shim with notches of the third blade to position the shim in discrete locations.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising coupling a first blade, a second blade, and the third blade to a body of the retractor.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising attaching the body of the retractor to a single attachment point.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising moving the first blade and the second blade relative to the single attachment point.

9. The method of claim 7 , further comprising moving the third blade relative to the single attachment point.

10. The method of claim 7 , further comprising independently moving the first blade, the second blade, and the third blade relative to the single attachment point.

11. The method of claim 6 , further comprising rotating the first blade of the retractor about a first axis and rotating the second blade of the retractor about a second axis.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising moving the first blade and the second blade apart along a third axis.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising pivoting the first blade about a fourth axis and pivoting the second blade about a fifth axis.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising moving the third blade about a sixth axis.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein inserting the shim along the third blade of the retractor comprises inserting the shim within a slot of the third blade.

16. A method of using a retractor, comprising:

making an incision in a tissue of a body;

inserting a probe system comprising a first probe and a second probe into the incision;

inserting a third blade of a retractor along the probe system comprising the first probe and the second probe;

removing the second probe, wherein the first probe and the third blade of the retractor remain; and

inserting a shim along the third blade of the retractor, wherein inserting the shim along the third blade of the retractor comprises inserting the shim within a channel of the first probe.

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising removing the first probe, wherein the shim and the third blade of the retractor remain.

18. The method of claim 16 , wherein the first probe comprises an electrode.

19. The method of claim 16 , wherein the first probe and the second probe comprise a tongue and groove configuration.

20. The method of claim 16 , wherein the third blade of the retractor comprises one or more notches configured to maintain the position of the shim relative to the third blade.

Assignments (4)

Continuity (3)

References Cited (231)

Cited By (1)

US 12,465,346