Patent ID: 8602982

Claim:
A system for forming an operating corridor to a lumbar spine, comprising: plurality of sequential dilators of increasing diameters to create a tissue distraction corridor along a lateral, trans-psoas path through bodily tissue to a targeted intervertebral disc of a lumbar spine, and an elongate member sized to be slidably received within one of the plurality of dilators and being deliverable to the targeted intervertebral disc along the lateral, trans-psoas path, at least one of the elongate member and sequential dilators comprising a stimulation electrode along a distal region to deliver electrical stimulation for nerve monitoring when the stimulation electrode is positioned in the lateral, trans-psoas path, said at least one of the elongate member and sequential dilators comprising a proximal connector region for releasable electrical connection with a nerve monitoring system; a bladed retractor assembly comprising a plurality of 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 thereby form an operative corridor along the lateral, trans-psoas path to the targeted intervertebral disc of the lumbar spine, wherein the bladed retractor assembly is adjustable from a first position in which the plurality of retractor blades are positioned to slide over the outermost dilator of the plurality of sequential dilators to a second position in which the plurality of retractor blades are moved apart from one another, wherein when the bladed retractor assembly forms the operative corridor along the lateral, trans-psoas path to the targeted intervertebral disc of the lumbar spine, the operative corridor is dimensioned so as to pass an implant through the operative corridor along the lateral, trans-psoas path toward the targeted intervertebral disc of the lumbar spine.