US 12,318,081 B2
Systems and methods for performing spine surgery
Niall Casey, Carlsbad, CA (US); James Coleman Lee, San Diego, CA (US); Ali A Shorooghi, San Diego, CA (US); Gurvinder S Deol, Raleigh, NC (US); Bradley Alan Heiges, Savannah, GA (US); Nitin Khanna, Chicago, IL (US); and Troy B Woolley, Erie, CO (US)
Assigned to NuVasive, Inc., San Diego, CA (US)
Filed by NuVasive, Inc., San Diego, CA (US)
Filed on Apr. 12, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/633,646.
Application 18/633,646 is a continuation of application No. 17/184,102, filed on Feb. 24, 2021, granted, now 11,969,162.
Application 17/184,102 is a continuation of application No. 16/160,988, filed on Oct. 15, 2018, granted, now 10,980,527, issued on Apr. 20, 2021.
Application 16/160,988 is a continuation of application No. 15/586,059, filed on May 3, 2017, granted, now 10,098,625, issued on Oct. 16, 2018.
Application 15/586,059 is a continuation of application No. 15/202,464, filed on Jul. 5, 2016, granted, now 9,649,099, issued on May 16, 2017.
Application 15/202,464 is a continuation of application No. 14/794,709, filed on Jul. 8, 2015, granted, now 9,386,971, issued on Jul. 12, 2016.
Application 14/794,709 is a continuation of application No. 13/601,986, filed on Aug. 31, 2012, granted, now 9,113,853, issued on Aug. 25, 2015.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/529,495, filed on Aug. 31, 2011.
Prior Publication US 2024/0260956 A1, Aug. 8, 2024
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A61B 17/02 (2006.01); A61B 17/70 (2006.01); A61B 17/86 (2006.01); A61B 90/30 (2016.01); A61F 2/30 (2006.01); A61F 2/44 (2006.01); A61B 17/00 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 17/025 (2013.01) [A61B 17/02 (2013.01); A61B 17/0206 (2013.01); A61B 17/0218 (2013.01); A61B 17/7032 (2013.01); A61B 17/863 (2013.01); A61B 90/30 (2016.02); A61F 2/30771 (2013.01); A61F 2/442 (2013.01); A61F 2/4455 (2013.01); A61F 2/447 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00473 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00477 (2013.01); A61B 2017/0256 (2013.01); A61B 2090/306 (2016.02); A61F 2002/30593 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30774 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30828 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30904 (2013.01); A61F 2002/448 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A surgical method comprising:
providing a first retractor blade including:
a connector and a blade portion, the connector being configured to couple the retractor blade with a retractor, the blade portion including a distal end, a proximal end, a maximum width, and a longitudinal axis extending through the proximal end and distal end and passing through a midpoint of the maximum width, the distal end having a first outer lobe situated on one side of the longitudinal axis and second outer lobe situated on the opposite side of the longitudinal axis, the first outer lobe and second outer lobe being separated by a first central recess, wherein blade portion is asymmetric about the longitudinal axis;
forming an incision;
inserting the first retractor blade into the incision;
retracting tissue with the first retractor blade.