Patent ID: 8945004
Filing Date: 2015-02-03
Classification: A61B,A61N,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A system for inserting an implant through a trans-psoas operative corridor to a lumbar spine, comprising: means for creating a trans-psoas operative corridor along a trans-psoas path through a psoas muscle toward a targeted intervertebral disc of a lumbar spine by at least simultaneously advancing a plurality of retractor blades slidably along the trans-psoas path, wherein the plurality of retractor blades each have an outwardly facing convex surface region configured to engage the psoas muscle and that each have an inwardly facing concave surface region configured to engage a cylindrical exterior surface region of a trans-psoas dilator, the plurality of retractor blades including at least a caudal-most retractor blade and a cephalad-most retractor blade when the means for creating the trans-psoas operative corridor creates the operative corridor along the trans-psoas path, wherein the means for creating an operative corridor further comprises a first means for pivotably adjusting the cephalad-most retractor blade relative to the caudal-most retractor blade and a second means for pivotably adjusting the caudal-most retractor blade relative to cephalad-most retractor blade, wherein the means for creating the trans-psoas operative corridor is configured to adjust from a first position in which the plurality of retractor blades are positioned to simultaneously advance along the trans-psoas path to a second position in which the caudal-most retractor blade and the cephalad-most retractor blade are spaced apart from one another, the means for creating the trans-psoas operative corridor comprising means for actuating independent linear movement of a position of one retractor blade of the plurality of retractor blades relative to another retractor blade of the plurality of retractor blades in response to rotation of the actuating means; a spinal fusion implant sized and shaped to insert between the plurality of retractor blades along the trans-psoas path and into the targeted intervertebral disc of the lumbar spine while the plurality of retractor blades maintain the operative corridor along the trans-psoas path; and nerve monitoring means for delivering an electrical stimulation signal to a stimulation electrode positioned within the psoas muscle, for monitoring electromyographic activity detected in leg muscle myotomes associated with nerves in the vicinity of the spinal disc, and for displaying: a numeric stimulation threshold that changes in response to the electromyographic activity detected in said leg muscle myotomes, a graphical representation of a patient, and myotomes levels being monitored.