Granted Patent B2

US 12,721,613 · App. 18/339,600 · Granted Sep 1, 2026

Inventors: Stephen Vidmar (Carlsbad, CA); Evan Ackema (Oceanside, CA); Darren Reimers (Carlsbad, CA); David Ortiz (Carlsbad, CA); Kellen Van Ausdal (Franklin, TN); Ricardo Simmons (San Diego, CA); Abhishek Kumar (New York, NY); Douglas Crowther (Colorado Springs, CO); Sandeep Kunwar (Woodside, CA)

Assignee: Spinal Elements, Inc.

A61B17/0206

Abstract

Claims (27)

1 . A retractor comprising:

a first blade assembly comprising a first blade and a first rack comprising a first toothed bar;

a first actuator configured to translate the first blade along a first translation direction;

a first lock handle configured to limit translation along a direction opposite the first translation direction; and

a second blade assembly comprising a second blade and a second rack comprising a second toothed bar, wherein the first rack and the second rack are aligned to translate along a common axis.

2 . The retractor of claim 1 , further comprising a second actuator configured to translate the second blade along a second translation direction.

3 . The retractor of claim 2 , wherein the first actuator and the second actuator are configured to be rotated in the same direction to open the retractor.

4 . The retractor of claim 2 , wherein the first actuator and the second actuator are configured to be rotated independently.

5 . The retractor of claim 2 , further comprising a second lock handle configured to limit translation along a direction opposite the second translation direction.

6 . The retractor of claim 1 , wherein the first actuator comprises a pinion.

7 . The retractor of claim 1 , further comprising a probe assembly comprising a first probe and a second probe.

8 . The retractor of claim 1 , further comprising a shim comprising an alignment feature, wherein at least one blade comprises a corresponding alignment feature.

9 . The retractor of claim 1 , wherein the first lock handle is biased to engage a pawl with the first actuator.

10 . The retractor of claim 1 , wherein the first lock handle pivots relative to the first actuator.

11 . The retractor of claim 1 , wherein the first lock handle comprises a pawl configured to directly engage the first actuator.

12 . The retractor of claim 1 , wherein the first lock handle is configured to limit the first blade from closing, while allowing the first blade to open along the first translation direction.

13 . The retractor of claim 1 , wherein the first blade and the second blade are configured to move in opposite directions to open the retractor.

14 . The retractor of claim 1 , wherein the first blade and the second blade are configured to nest when the retractor is in a closed position.

15 . A method of using a retractor, comprising:

providing a retractor comprising a first blade assembly comprising a first blade and a first rack comprising a first toothed bar, a first actuator, a first lock handle, and second blade assembly comprising a second blade and a second rack comprising a second toothed bar, wherein the first rack and the second rack are aligned to translate along a common axis; and

translating the first blade along a first translation direction with the first actuator,

wherein the first lock handle limits translation along a direction opposite the first translation direction.

16 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising translating the second blade along a second translation direction with a second actuator.

17 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising inserting a first probe and a second probe toward an anatomical location.

18 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising inserting the second blade of the retractor over the first probe and the second probe.

19 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising removing the second probe and inserting a shim.

20 . The method of claim 19 , further comprising removing the first probe.

Assignments (2)

Continuity (2)

References Cited (237)