Patent ID: 8343046
Filing Date: 2013-01-01
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A method for accessing a spinal disc of a lumbar spine of a patient, comprising: (a) sequentially inserting a plurality of sequentially larger diameter dilators into said patient along a lateral, trans-psoas path to create a distraction corridor along said lateral, trans-psoas path, wherein at least one of said plurality of sequentially larger diameter dilators comprises a stimulation electrode and is inserted under conditions wherein an electrical stimulation is delivered to said stimulation electrode for nerve monitoring when said stimulation electrode is positioned in said lateral, trans-psoas path, (b) simultaneously advancing a plurality of retractor blades of a retractor assembly along said lateral, trans-psoas path and over an exterior of the outermost dilator positioned in said trans-psoas path from said plurality of sequentially larger diameter dilators inserted in step (a), said retractor assembly comprising a retractor blade holder and said plurality of retractor blades attached to said retractor blade holder, (c) removing said plurality of sequentially larger diameter dilators from said patient while the retractor blades remain in said lateral, trans-psoas path so as to create an operative corridor along said lateral, trans-psoas path, wherein said retractor blade holder is adjustable to thereby move at least one of said retractor blades in a direction away from at least one other of said retractor blades while the retractor blades remain in said lateral, trans-psoas path wherein said operative corridor is dimensioned so as to pass a spinal implant through said operative corridor along said lateral, trans-psoas path to the lumbar spine, and (d) maintaining said operative corridor along said lateral, trans-psoas path using said retractor assembly to deliver said spinal implant to the lumbar spine, wherein, during delivery of said spinal implant, said operative corridor is maintained by at least a caudal-most refractor blade of said retractor assembly and a cephalad-most retractor blade of said retractor assembly.