US 12,213,659 B2
System and method for retracting body tissue
Adam Friedrich, Cinnaminson, NJ (US); Jason Cianfrani, Conshohocken, PA (US); and Matthew Bechtel, Philadelphia, PA (US)
Assigned to Globus Medical, Inc., Audubon, PA (US)
Filed by GLOBUS MEDICAL, INC., Audubon, PA (US)
Filed on Mar. 15, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/606,064.
Application 18/606,064 is a continuation of application No. 17/814,634, filed on Jul. 25, 2022, granted, now 11,944,287.
Application 17/814,634 is a continuation of application No. 16/953,400, filed on Nov. 20, 2020, granted, now 11,426,153, issued on Aug. 30, 2022.
Application 16/953,400 is a continuation of application No. 16/151,827, filed on Oct. 4, 2018, granted, now 10,863,977, issued on Dec. 15, 2020.
Application 16/151,827 is a continuation of application No. 15/695,431, filed on Sep. 5, 2017, granted, now 10,117,646, issued on Nov. 6, 2018.
Application 15/695,431 is a continuation of application No. 14/476,466, filed on Sep. 3, 2014, granted, now 9,770,237, issued on Sep. 26, 2017.
Application 14/476,466 is a continuation of application No. 13/419,130, filed on Mar. 13, 2012, granted, now 8,852,090, issued on Oct. 7, 2014.
Prior Publication US 2024/0215969 A1, Jul. 4, 2024
Int. Cl. A61B 17/02 (2006.01); A61B 90/57 (2016.01)
CPC A61B 17/0293 (2013.01) [A61B 17/02 (2013.01); A61B 2090/571 (2016.02)] 11 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for retracting body tissue of a patient, comprising:
positioning a frame system, wherein the frame system includes:
a frame rail, wherein the frame rail includes separable sections each including one end forming a projection with a circumferential groove, and an opposite end forming a recess with a rotatable bolt including a channel, the projection of one section positionable within a recess of another section to thereby join the separable sections into a continuous frame rail of a desired length;
a supporting frame arm coupled to the frame rail and affixed relative to the patient;
a frame arm clamp connected to said frame arm;
a device clamp slidably engaged with said frame rail; and
a retractor blade attached to the device clamp;
wherein the frame rail forms an unobstructed surface along which the supporting frame arm and the device clamp can continuously slide and move past each other;
retracting body tissue using the frame system; and
positioning an implant between adjacent vertebral bodies.