Patent ID: 8679005
Filing Date: 2014-03-25
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A posterior retractor comprising a handle section; and a one-piece, rigid retraction section comprising a single, rigid anchoring element with a single, bone-penetrating tip; wherein, the rigid retraction section and the rigid anchoring element each have a central axis and are positioned relative to a horizontal plane; the handle section comprises a proximal region, a mid-region, and a distal region, wherein the mid-region is on the horizontal plane, and the central axis of the mid-region is at an angle ranging from about 35° to about 50° to the central axis of the rigid retraction section which is not on the horizontal plane; the handle section has a length ranging from about 7 inches to about 9 inches, a width that is equal along the length of the handle section ranging from about 0.75 inches to about 2.0 inches, and a thickness that is 0.05 inches to about 0.25 inches; and the proximal region of the handle section is ergonomically curved away from the horizontal plane and in the direction of the rigid anchoring element; the one-piece, rigid retraction section has a proximal region and a distal region, wherein the proximal region of the rigid retraction section joins the distal region of the handle, and the distal region of the rigid retraction section has a pelvic surface that contacts a subject's pelvis during use of the posterior retractor; the rigid retraction section comprising a one-piece, rigid, semi-cylindrical shape having (i) a diameter of curvature that ranges from about 20 mm to about 90 mm and is at least substantially complementary to an acetabulum, and (ii) an arc ranging from about 45° to about 180°; the rigid retraction section having a concave surface facing away from the handle section and a convex surface facing toward the handle section; and, wherein the distance from the distal region of the handle section to the pelvic surface of the rigid retraction section ranges from about 1 inch to about 2 inches, and the thickness of the rigid retraction section ranges from about 0.05 inches to about 0.25 inches; wherein, the distal region of the handle section has an impact surface for receiving a pressure that forces the rigid anchoring element to penetrate an ischial bone; the single, rigid anchoring element with the single, bone-penetrating tip extends at least substantially normal to the pelvic surface of the rigid retraction section, is fashioned for penetration of the ischial bone, ranges from about 0.25 inches to about 0.75 inches in length from the pelvic surface of the rigid retraction section to the single, bone-penetrating tip of the single, rigid anchoring element, and functions to anchor the rigid retraction section of the posterior retractor to the subject's pelvis during use of the posterior retractor in the hip arthroplasty procedure; the retractor is fashioned as a single-piece instrument from a surgical grade iron alloy comprising from about 12% to about 20% chromium, from about 0.2% to about 3% molybdenum, from about 8% to about 12% nickel and from about 0.08% to about 0.25% carbon; the central axes of the handle section, the rigid retraction section, and the single, rigid anchoring element with the single, bone-penetrating tip all lie at least substantially on the vertical plane, wherein the vertical plane is at least substantially normal to the horizontal plane; and, the retractor has a shape that useful in the arthroplastic procedures of both the right hip and the left hip of the subject.