Patent ID: 11925341
Assignee: GLOBUS MEDICAL INC.
Field: Medical technology (Instruments)
Classification: CPC A | IPC A

Claim 17:
18. A method for retracting tissue in a surgical procedure comprising:
inserting a flexible retractor into an incision in a body of a patient to provide a surgical corridor to a surgical site;
inserting a first blade of a retractor system into the incision in the body of the patient through the flexible retractor, wherein the retractor system includes a first articulating arm and a second articulating arm, the first articulating arm coupled to a retractor assembly, the retractor assembly having a handle portion extending from a distal end to a proximal end and the first blade, the first blade being connected to the proximal end of the handle portion, wherein the first articulating arm connects on a side portion of the handle portion near the proximal end of the handle portion, and the second articulating arm coupled to a bracket securing a second blade;
retracting tissue using the first blade;
inserting the second blade into the incision in the body of the patient;
retracting tissue using the second blade;
performing sequential dilation using a plurality of dilators;
inserting a second retractor system into the incision over a largest of the dilators, wherein the second retractor system comprises a frame having a plurality of blades and a plurality of movable arms with each of the blades coupled to the frame through one of the movable arms;
angulating each of the blades of the second retractor system; and
retracting each of the blades of the second retractor system,
wherein the bracket includes a first hook and a second hook creating a first slot and a second slot for receiving the second blade,
wherein the second blade is moveable within the first and second slot of the bracket,
wherein the first articulating arm includes a first knob and a second knob, each knob configured to rotate from a locked position to an unlocked position, and
wherein when the first knob is in an unlocked position, the retractor assembly may be articulated, and when the second knob is in an unlocked position, the first articulated arm may be articulated, thereby allowing the retractor assembly to be articulated independent from the first articulating arm.