Patent ID: 8556808

Claim:
A system for forming a trans-psoas operative corridor to a lumbar spine, comprising: a three-bladed psoas retractor tool to create an operative corridor along a lateral, trans-psoas path through bodily tissue toward a targeted intervertebral disc of a lumbar spine, the three-bladed psoas retractor tool including: first, second, and third retractor blades; a blade holder assembly coupled to the first, second, and third retractor blades, wherein the three-bladed psoas retractor tool is adjustable from a first position in which the first, second, and third retractor blades are positioned to simultaneously advance along the lateral, trans-psoas path to a second position in which the first, second, and third retractor blades are spaced further apart from one another relative to the first position, wherein the blade holder assembly comprises: a rotatable actuator that, when rotated, causes movement of the first retractor blade relative to the second and third retractor blades while the second and third retractor blades are fixed in position relative to one another, and arm portions pivotable relative to one another for adjusting the second and third blades from the first position to the second position, and an articulating arm mountable to the blade holder assembly of the three-bladed psoas retractor tool to rigidly register the three-bladed psoas retractor tool in a fixed position relative to an operating table when the first, second, and third retractor blades are positioned in the lateral, trans-psoas path, wherein when the three-bladed psoas retractor tool is maintained in the fixed position by the articulating arm so that the first, second, and third retractor blades form the operative corridor along the lateral, trans-psoas path through the bodily tissue toward 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.