Nuvasive, Inc.

Casey James O'Connell

James Coleman Lee

David Banks

Joel Kohn

Ali A Shorooghi

This application describes a surgical retractor and related methods for providing access to a surgical target site for the purpose performing minimally invasive spinal fusion across one or more segments of the spinal column.

Minimally disruptive retractor and associated methods for spinal surgery

A surgical retractor assembly is provided having a frame that releasably couples two retractor blades. The retractor blades are coupled to the frame via a pair of mobile carriages that engage a track on the frame. A third retractor blade is configured to be independent of the frame with the first two retractor blades. The independent blade may be fixably positionable in the patient by a direct coupling to a rigid table mount. The retractor assembly may be utilized for creating anterior access to spinal target site while the patient is oriented in the lateral decubitus position.

Surgical procedure with retractor

A surgical retractor assembly is provided that can assume both open and closed positions, and is easily convertible from one position to the other. The retractor assembly involves an arcuate frame member that can be engaged to an arcuate connector, which together form a generally circular or elliptical retractor frame assembly. The frame member has a groove for the insertion of one or more mobile carriages that hold retractor blade posts and allow the posts to move in multiple directions. The carriages may be locked to prevent movement in one or more directions, as well.

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San Diego, CA, United States of America

Casey James O'Connell