Patent ID: 9474538
Filing Date: 2016-10-25
CPC Classification: A61B

Claim Text:
1. An apparatus, comprising: a retractor including an elongated body extending along a longitudinal axis between a distal end and an opposite proximal end, said retractor defining a passage between said distal and proximal ends, said retractor further including a window through said body opening into said passage adjacent to said distal end, said retractor being configured for positioning in a body of a patient with said distal end adjacent an implantation location in the body of the patient while said proximal end is located outside the body of the patient; a guide member extending laterally from said proximal end of said retractor, said guide member including an elongated body portion extending along an arc, said arc of said body defining a plurality of trajectories relative to said longitudinal axis of said retractor and each of said plurality of trajectories further intersects said window of said retractor; and an instrument removably mounted to said guide member, said instrument being movable along said guide member and securable to said guide member in any selected one of said number of trajectories so that said instrument can be moved along a selected one of said trajectories through said window, said instrument including a elongated shaft extending through a slot of said guide member and a clamping mechanism, said elongated shaft being slidably disposed within a passageway of a sleeve member of said clamping mechanism, said sleeve member being slidably disposed within a passageway of a clamping member of said clamping mechanism, said clamping member and said sleeve member being configured to move relative to one another engage opposite surfaces of said guide member to releasably secure said instrument in said selected trajectory through said window.