Patent ID: 8562521
Filing Date: 2013-10-22
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A system for forming a trans-psoas operating corridor to a lumbar spine, comprising: an initial dilator configured to advance to a targeted spinal disc along a lateral, trans-psoas path to the lumbar spine, a distal tip region of the initial dilator including a stimulation electrode configured to deliver electrical stimulation away from the distal tip region for nerve monitoring when the initial dilator is positioned in the lateral, trans-psoas path; an elongate guidewire instrument advanceable through an inner lumen of the initial dilator, the elongate guidewire instrument having a distal tip configured to penetrate into a lateral aspect of a targeted spinal disc along the lateral, trans-psoas path to the lumbar spine, the elongate guidewire instrument having a longitudinal length that is greater than a longitudinal length of the initial dilator; plurality of sequential dilators of increasing diameters to create a tissue distraction corridor along the lateral, trans-psoas path to the lumbar spine, a first sequential dilator of the plurality of sequential dilators having a lumen to slidably receive the initial dilator and having a longitudinal length that is less than the longitudinal length of the initial dilator, and a second sequential dilator of the plurality of sequential dilators having a lumen to slidably receive the first sequential dilator and having a longitudinal length that is less than the longitudinal length of the first sequential dilator; a three-bladed retractor assembly comprising three retractor blades that are simultaneously slidable over an outermost dilator of the plurality of sequential dilators along the lateral, trans-psoas path to enlarge the tissue distraction corridor and to form a trans-psoas operative corridor along the lateral, trans-psoas path to the lumbar spine, wherein the three-bladed retractor assembly is adjustable from a first position in which the three retractor blades are positioned to slide over the outermost dilator of the plurality of sequential dilators to a second position in which the three retractor blades are moved apart from one another, wherein when the three-bladed refractor assembly forms the trans-psoas operative corridor along the lateral, trans-psoas path to the lumbar spine, the trans-psoas operative corridor is dimensioned so as to pass an implant through the trans-psoas operative corridor along the lateral, trans-psoas path toward the lumbar spine.