Patent ID: 11911078
Assignee: NUVASIVE, INC.
Field: Medical technology (Instruments)
Classification: CPC A | IPC A

Claim 10:
11. A method comprising:
creating a first blade-anchor assembly comprising:
a first retractor blade having:
a retainer in a locked configuration that defines an aperture;

a first pedicle screw having:
a first pedicle screw head abutting the retainer; and
a first pedicle screw neck extending through the aperture;

creating an incision and defining an initial operative corridor;
advancing a distal portion of the first blade-anchor assembly into the initial operative corridor;
driving the first pedicle screw into a first pedicle;
creating a second blade-anchor assembly comprising a second retractor blade and a second pedicle screw;
advancing a distal portion of the second blade-anchor assembly into the initial operative corridor;
driving the second pedicle screw into a second pedicle;
after driving the first and second pedicle screws into the first and second pedicles, coupling the first retractor blade and the second retractor blade to a retractor;
operating an expander of retractor to increase a distance between the retractor blades at skin level,
wherein operating the includes:
an elongated rack having a plurality of rack teeth,
a gear having gear teeth engaged with the rack teeth, and
an actuator mated with the gear,

operating a first distractor of the retractor to move the first retractor blade in a way that increases a distal distance more than the movement increases a proximal distance;
operating a second distractor of the retractor to move the second retractor blade in a way that increases the distal distance more than the movement increases the proximal distance,
wherein the proximal distance is defined between a first retractor blade proximal end and a second retractor blade proximal en& and
wherein a distal distance is defined between a first retractor blade distal end and a second retractor blade distal end.