US 12,102,353 B2
Expanders for rod retraction
Andrew Edward Ehlers, Monroe, NY (US); Steven F. Krause, Oakland, NJ (US); Charles L. Bush, Jr., Wayne, NJ (US); Sundas Baig, Dumont, NJ (US); Spencer Popejoy, Ringwood, NJ (US); and Matthew G. Baynham, Tequesta, FL (US)
Assigned to Stryker European Operations Holdings LLC, Kalamazoo, MI (US)
Filed by Stryker European Operations Holdings LLC, Kalamazoo, MI (US)
Filed on Oct. 24, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/493,246.
Application 18/493,246 is a continuation of application No. 17/236,356, filed on Apr. 21, 2021, granted, now 11,832,847.
Application 17/236,356 is a continuation of application No. 15/999,176, filed on Aug. 17, 2018, granted, now 11,020,145, issued on Jun. 1, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/546,847, filed on Aug. 17, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2024/0050124 A1, Feb. 15, 2024
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A61B 17/34 (2006.01); A61B 17/02 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 17/3439 (2013.01) [A61B 17/0206 (2013.01); A61B 17/0218 (2013.01); A61B 17/025 (2013.01); A61B 2017/0256 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for creating a portal in a body of a patient comprising:
advancing a retractor including a plurality of rods into the body of the patient;
inserting a first expander into the retractor so that grooves on a first expander surface engage the rods, the rods moving apart from one another increasing a size of a portal defined by an area between the rods,
engaging a second expander with the first expander by placing the second expander over the first expander so that a groove on an outer surface of the second expander engages at least one rod but not all of the rods engaged by the first expander, the insertion of the second expander increasing the size of the portal in a single direction.