Patent ID: 8303498
Filing Date: 2012-11-06
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A system for accessing a lateral aspect of a lumbar spine, comprising: an elongate member deliverable to a spinal disc along a lateral, trans-psoas path to the lumbar spine such that a distal tip portion of the elongate member penetrates into an annulus of the spinal disc; a dilator system to advance along the lateral, trans-psoas path to the lumbar spine to create a distraction corridor, the dilator system comprising at least one dilator tool that is configured to slidably engage with an exterior of the elongate member during advancement to the spinal disc along the lateral, trans-psoas path to the lumbar spine, wherein at least one of the elongate member and the dilator tool includes a stimulation electrode that outputs electrical stimulation for nerve monitoring when at least one of the elongate member and the dilator tool is positioned in the lateral, trans-psoas path; a three-bladed retractor assembly to slidably engage with an exterior of the dilator system while the three-bladed refractor assembly is advanced toward the spinal disc along the lateral, trans-psoas path, the three-bladed retractor assembly including a posterior-most retractor blade, a caudal-most refractor blade, and a cephalad-most retractor blade that extend generally perpendicularly relative to arm members of a handle assembly, wherein the caudal-most retractor blade and the cephalad-most retractor blade are movable relative to the posterior-most retractor blade in response to two of the arm members pivoting about a pivot axis, wherein handle assembly comprises a locking shaft extending between said two of the arm members and having exterior threads, the locking shaft being positioned further away from said retractor blades than said pivot axis, wherein the three-bladed retractor assembly is slidably advanceable over the exterior of the dilator system when in a first position in which the retractor blades are generally adjacent to one another, and wherein the handle assembly is configured to adjust the three-bladed retractor assembly to a second position in which the caudal-most retractor blade and the cephalad-most retractor blade are moved away from the posterior-most retractor blade to enlarge the distraction corridor and form an operative corridor along the lateral, trans-psoas path to the lumbar spine.