Patent ID: 8152720
Filing Date: 2012-04-10
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A surgical retractor component system, comprising: a retractor including a frame structure and two opposing blade body mounting structures attached to the frame structure, wherein a first one of said blade body mounting structures is translatably attached to the retractor frame structure in a manner allowing a distance between said blade body mounting structures to be selectively varied; a pedicle screw extender having a first end portion, a second end portion and an elongated extension portion extending between said end portions, wherein the first end portion is configured for transferring rotational torque applied to said elongated extension portion to a screw portion of a pedicle screw assembly while simultaneously maintaining a longitudinal axis of a fixation rod receiving body of the pedicle screw assembly in coincidental alignment with a longitudinal axis of the screw portion; a blade body having a first end portion, a second end portion, an interior surface and an exterior surface, wherein the blade body includes a retractor attachment structure at the first end portion thereof extending from the exterior surface thereof, wherein the retractor attachment structure of the blade body is configured for having one of said blade body mounting structures of the retractor engaged therewith in a manner whereby the blade body is independently pivotable about and translatable along the blade body mounting structure, wherein the blade body includes an alignment member protruding from the interior surface thereof adjacent the first end portion thereof, wherein the blade body and said extension portion of the pedicle screw extender are jointly configured for allowing engagement of the blade body with said extension portion of the pedicle screw extender in a manner allowing translation of the blade body along a length of said extension portion of the pedicle screw extender with a longitudinal centerline axis of the blade body being constrained in a substantially parallel orientation with respect to a longitudinal centerline axis of said extension portion of the pedicle screw extender; and a blade body surround having a first end portion, a second end portion, an interior surface and an exterior surface, wherein the blade surround includes a slot extending through the first end portion thereof, wherein the blade body surround and the blade body are jointly configured to form a generally cylindrical-shaped structure when the blade body is in a seated position within the slot and such that opposing side edges of the blade body each abut a respective mating side edge of the slot when the blade body is in the seated position within the slot, wherein the cylindrical structure defines a central passage thereof extending between said first and second end portions of blade body surround, wherein the blade body surround includes a blade body attachment structure at the first end portion thereof and surround engagement member moveably dispose within a passage extending through the blade body attachment structure, wherein the surround engagement member is aligned with a passage extending within the retractor attachment structure when the blade body is in the seated position within the slot, and wherein the surround engagement member is of sufficient length for allowing simultaneous engagement thereof within the passage of the retractor attachment structure and the passage of the blade body attachment structure when the blade body is in the seated position within the slot thereby limiting displacement of the blade body with respect to the blade body surround.