US 11,832,847 B2
Expanders for rod retraction
Andrew Edward Ehlers, Monroe, NY (US); Steven F. Krause, Oakland, NJ (US); and Charles L. Bush, Jr., Wayne, NJ (US)
Assigned to Stryker European Operations Holdings LLC, Kalamazoo, MI (US)
Filed by Stryker European Operations Holdings LLC, Kalamazoo, MI (US)
Filed on Apr. 21, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/236,356.
Application 17/236,356 is a continuation of application No. 15/999,176, filed on Aug. 17, 2018, granted, now 11,020,145.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/546,847, filed on Aug. 17, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2021/0275218 A1, Sep. 9, 2021
Int. Cl. A61B 17/34 (2006.01); A61B 17/02 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 17/3439 (2013.01) [A61B 17/025 (2013.01); A61B 17/0206 (2013.01); A61B 17/0218 (2013.01); A61B 2017/0256 (2013.01)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An expander for use in forming a surgical portal comprising:
a first member including a first groove on an outer surface configured to engage a retractor and defining a slot; and
a second member slidably attached to the first member including a second groove on an outer surface configured to engage the retractor and a protrusion configured to fit within the slot, wherein
the second member is slidable with respect to the first member to change a cross-section of a portion of the expander and the retractor,
the second member defines a portion of an outer surface of the expander, and
the expander has a maximum cross-section that includes both the first member and the second member.