US 12,108,947 B2
Minimally disruptive retractor and associated methods for spinal surgery
Casey James O'Connell, San Diego, CA (US); James Coleman Lee, San Diego, CA (US); and Ali A. Shorooghi, San Diego, CA (US)
Assigned to Nuvasive, Inc., San Diego, CA (US)
Filed by NuVasive, Inc., San Diego, CA (US)
Filed on Jun. 9, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/836,769.
Application 17/836,769 is a continuation of application No. 16/854,360, filed on Apr. 21, 2020, granted, now 11,399,816.
Application 16/854,360 is a continuation of application No. 15/926,064, filed on Mar. 20, 2018, granted, now 10,660,628, issued on May 6, 2020.
Application 15/926,064 is a continuation of application No. 15/791,070, filed on Oct. 23, 2017, granted, now 9,962,147, issued on Apr. 18, 2018.
Application 15/791,070 is a continuation of application No. 14/756,198, filed on Aug. 14, 2015, granted, now 9,795,370, issued on Oct. 4, 2017.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/201,739, filed on Aug. 6, 2015.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/036,776, filed on Aug. 13, 2014.
Prior Publication US 2022/0296228 A1, Sep. 22, 2022
Int. Cl. A61B 17/02 (2006.01); A61B 17/00 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 17/0206 (2013.01) [A61B 17/02 (2013.01); A61B 17/0218 (2013.01); A61B 17/025 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00473 (2013.01); A61B 2017/0256 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An anchor blade comprising:
a blade portion including a distal end and a proximal end, wherein the distal end includes at least two arms, a first arm that extends to a first foot and a second arm that extends to a second foot,
wherein at least one of the two arms is pivotably attached to the distal end of the blade portion; and
wherein the first foot and the second foot, when configured in a closed position, form a capture element having a center aperture configured to receive a neck of a bone anchor.