Patent ID: 9307971
Filing Date: 2016-04-12
CPC Classification: A61B

Claim Text:
1. A retractor system for percutaneous surgery in a patient, comprising: a first connection assembly comprising a first lever assembly and a first retractor portion including a proximal end and a distal end positionable in an incision, said first retractor portion including a concave inner surface and a convex outer surface opposite said inner surface; a second connection assembly comprising a second lever assembly and a second retractor portion including a proximal end and a distal end positionable in the incision opposite the first retractor portion, said second retractor portion including a concave inner surface facing said inner surface of said first retractor portion and a convex outer surface opposite said inner surface of said second retractor portion, said first and second retractor portions defining a first axis extending therebetween, said first and second lever assemblies being operable to rotate said first and second retractor portions about their proximal ends to move their distal ends away from each other; a controller in communication with said first and second retractor portions, wherein said first and/or second retractor portions is responsive to said controller to cause movement of said first and said second retractor portions between a first position in which the retractor portions are parallel and a second position in which the retractor portions are transverse independent of the lever assemblies; at least one pressure sensor configured to sense pressure applied to tissue that engages said first and second retractor portions and being configured to generate a sensor signal representative of said pressure; a timing circuit in communication with said at least one pressure sensor; and a separation instrument defining a separation axis and engaging first and second connection members that extend from said first and second connection assemblies, said separation instrument being operable to move said retractor portions toward one another and away from one another along the first axis without said separation instrument rotating about said separation axis.