US 11,911,078 B2
Method and apparatus for performing spinal surgery
Troy B. Woolley, Erie, CO (US); Nathan Lovell, Oceanside, CA (US); Michael Serra, San Diego, CA (US); and Mark Peterson, Central Point, CA (US)
Assigned to Nuvasive, Inc., San Diego, CA (US)
Filed by NuVasive, Inc., San Diego, CA (US)
Filed on Mar. 5, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/193,927.
Application 15/394,156 is a division of application No. 14/029,724, filed on Sep. 17, 2013, granted, now 9,554,833.
Application 17/193,927 is a continuation of application No. 16/243,060, filed on Jan. 8, 2019, granted, now 10,980,576.
Application 16/243,060 is a continuation of application No. 15/394,156, filed on Dec. 29, 2016, granted, now 10,172,652, issued on Jan. 8, 2019.
Application 14/029,724 is a continuation of application No. 13/204,583, filed on Aug. 5, 2011, granted, now 8,535,320.
Application 13/204,583 is a continuation of application No. 12/927,415, filed on Nov. 10, 2010, granted, now 8,357,184.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/259,825, filed on Nov. 10, 2009.
Prior Publication US 2021/0186576 A1, Jun. 24, 2021
Int. Cl. A61B 17/02 (2006.01); A61B 17/70 (2006.01); A61B 1/32 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 17/7077 (2013.01) [A61B 1/32 (2013.01); A61B 17/0206 (2013.01); A61B 17/7076 (2013.01); A61B 2017/0256 (2013.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system comprising:
a first pedicle screw having a first pedicle screw head;
a first retractor blade defining an aperture, wherein the aperture is configured to selectively transition between an unlocked configuration and a locked configuration and wherein, while the aperture is in the locked configuration, the aperture is sized to prevent passage of the first pedicle screw head through the aperture;
a retractor having a first arm and a second arm;
a second retractor blade, wherein the first retractor blade is configured to be coupled to the first arm and wherein the second retractor blade configured to be coupled to the second arm;
wherein the first retractor blade defines a first retractor blade distal end and a first retractor blade proximal end;
wherein the second retractor blade defines a second retractor blade distal end and a second retractor blade proximal end;
wherein the aperture is disposed proximate the first retractor blade distal end;
wherein the first retractor blade is configured to be coupled to the first arm proximate the first retractor blade proximal end;
wherein the second retractor blade is configured to be coupled to the second arm proximate the second retractor blade proximal end;
wherein a proximal distance is defined between the first retractor blade proximal end and the second retractor blade proximal end; and
wherein the system further comprises:
an expander configured to increase or decrease the proximal distance.