US 12,295,624 B2
TLIF distraction and retraction
Jared Gelber, Philadelphia, PA (US); and Damien Kahmer, Warrington, PA (US)
Assigned to Globus Medical, Inc., Audubon, PA (US)
Filed by GLOBUS MEDICAL, INC., Audubon, PA (US)
Filed on Dec. 22, 2022, as Appl. No. 18/145,104.
Application 18/145,104 is a continuation in part of application No. 17/752,346, filed on May 24, 2022, granted, now 12,207,811.
Prior Publication US 2023/0380871 A1, Nov. 30, 2023
Int. Cl. A61B 17/70 (2006.01); A61B 17/02 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 17/7079 (2013.01) [A61B 17/0206 (2013.01); A61B 17/708 (2013.01); A61B 2017/0256 (2013.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A pedicle-based distractor and retractor system comprising:
a distraction rack supporting a pair of side arms and a central arm located between the pair of side arms, the pair of side arms and the central arm each comprising a distal end and a proximal end moveable along the distraction rack, each proximal end including a knob which facilitates independent movement of the respective arm along the distraction rack,
a connector at the distal end of each side arm and the central arm, and a pair of interchangeable distractor elements each adjustably engaged with a respective one of the connectors and configured to attach to a pedicle screw to provide pedicle-based distraction; and
a medial retraction blade coupled to the connector at the distal end of the central arm, the medial retraction blade including a blade body, a blade connector, a first translating blade insert, and a second translating blade insert,
wherein the blade connector is coupled to a proximal end of the blade body and configured to engage the central arm,
wherein the first and second translating blade inserts are configured to increase an overall length and/or width of the medial retraction blade,
wherein the first translating blade insert is disposed adjacent to and side by side with the second translating blade insert,
wherein the first and second translating blade inserts are each configured to engage soft tissue and each are configured to independently translate from a first retracted position to a second extended position, and wherein the first and second translating blade inserts each include elongated dovetail slots which slidably engage with complimentary dovetail features formed along the blade body so that during translation, each of the first and second translating blade inserts maintain a linear path of travel.