Patent ID: 8801608
Filing Date: 2014-08-12
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A method for creating a sequence of access channels to provide access for performing a surgical process within an intervertebral disc space in a lumbar spine; the method comprising: positioning a patient to facilitate surgical access to the lumbar spine; creating a pre-psoas access channel to a psoas muscle; docking a retractor device against a proximal surface of the psoas muscle; and maintaining the pre-psoas access channel with the retractor device docked at the proximal surface of the psoas muscle until completing a surgical process on the intervertebral disc space in the lumbar spine; making a direct visual inspection of the psoas muscle and selecting a portion of the psoas muscle for an incision while avoiding any visible nerves; while continuing to look for and avoid visible nerves, splitting the psoas muscle to create and maintain a psoas access channel that extends from the pre-psoas access channel to the lumbar spine; holding open the psoas access channel with a pair of retractor blades spread apart to a separation distance and then mechanically and reversibly held in spread apart by the separation distance; completing a surgical process on the intervertebral disc space in the lumbar spine; reducing the separation distance between the retractor blades; and removing the pair of retractor blades from the psoas access channel.