Posterior Lumbar Retractor System

Abstract

A retractor system includes a frame and first and second retractor blades. The frame includes first and second securement features. At least one of the first and second securement features is movable with respect to the frame when the at least one of the first and second securement features is mounted to the frame. The first and second retractor blades each have a distal portion and a proximal portion. The proximal portions of the first and second retractor blades are configured to be secured proximate to the first and second securement features respectively, such that the first and second retractor blades may be positioned in a first position wherein the first and second retractor blades are laterally opposed. A movement of the at least one securement feature that is movable with respect the frame adjusts the angle of at least one of the retractor blades, wherein the at least one of the retractor blades may be adjusted between a first angle less than 90 degrees to horizontal and second angle greater than 90 degrees to horizontal.

1 . A retractor system comprising:
 a frame including first and second securement features, at least one of the first and second securement features being movable with respect to the frame when the at least one of the first and second securement features is mounted to the frame;   first and second retractor blades each having a distal portion and a proximal portion, the proximal portions of the first and second retractor blades configured to be secured proximate to the first and second securement features, respectively, of the frame such that the first and second retractor blades may be positioned in a first position wherein the first and second retractor blades are laterally opposed; and   wherein a movement of the at least one securement feature that is movable with respect to the frame adjusts the angle of at least one of the retractor blades, wherein the at least one of the retractor blades may be adjusted between a first angle less than 90 degrees to horizontal and a second angle greater than 90 degrees to horizontal.   
     
     
         2 . The retractor system of  claim 1 , wherein the distal portions of the first and second retractor blades are securable to a portion of a patient's anatomy during a surgical procedure, and the at least one securement feature that is movable with respect to the frame is configured to move the proximal portion of at least one of the retractor blades while the distal portions of the retractor blades remain secured proximal to an operative site. 
     
     
         3 . The retractor system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one securement feature that is movable with respect to the frame is configured to adjust the angular position of at least one of the retractor blades when the at least one securement feature is moved in a substantially lateral direction. 
     
     
         4 . The retractor system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one securement feature that is movable with respect to the frame is configured so that the angular and lateral position of the retractor blade secured to the at least one securement feature are independently adjustable. 
     
     
         5 . The retractor system of  claim 1  wherein the first securement feature includes a fixed arm that is fixed relative to the frame, and the second securement feature includes a movable arm that is movable with respect to the frame. 
     
     
         6 . The retractor system of  claim 5  wherein the frame includes a spreader bar extending between the first and second securement features, the spreader bar including teeth that form a rack, and the second securement feature includes a pinion that cooperates with the rack to facilitate lateral movement of the movable arm with respect to the fixed arm. 
     
     
         7 . The retractor system of  claim 1  wherein the first and second securement features include first and second arms, respectively, that are joined by a pivot. 
     
     
         8 . A retractor system comprising:
 a spreader bar;   a first positioning assembly adapted to secure a first retractor blade, the first positioning assembly movably secured to the spreader bar, the first positioning assembly including a first lateral positioning assembly for moving the first positioning assembly laterally along at least a first portion of a length of the spreader bar, the first positioning assembly including a first angular positioning assembly for adjusting an angle of the first retractor blade relative to the spreader bar;   a second positioning assembly adapted to secure a second retractor blade, the second positioning assembly movably secured to the spreader bar, the second positioning assembly including a second lateral positioning assembly for moving the second positioning assembly laterally along at least a second portion of the length of the spreader bar, the second positioning assembly including a second angular positioning assembly for adjusting an angle of the second retractor blade relative to the spreader bar; and   wherein the first and second positioning assemblies are de-coupled wherein the first and second refractor blades may be moved independently of each other.   
     
     
         9 . The retractor system of  claim 8  wherein the first lateral positioning assembly and the first angular positioning assembly are de-coupled wherein the angle and lateral position of the first refractor blade are independently adjustable. 
     
     
         10 . The refractor system of  claim 8  wherein the spreader bar includes teeth that form a rack, and the first and second lateral positioning assemblies each include a pinion that cooperates with the rack to facilitate lateral movement of the first and second positioning assemblies with respect to each other. 
     
     
         11 . The retractor system of  claim 10  wherein the first and second lateral positioning assemblies each include a locking lever that cooperates with the teeth to secure in place the positioning assembly with which the locking lever is associated. 
     
     
         12 . The retractor system of  claim 8  wherein the first and second angular positioning assemblies include a threaded post and an arm including features that threadedly accept the threaded post, wherein rotation of the threaded post changes the angle of the arm. 
     
     
         13 . The refractor system of  claim 8  wherein the first and second positioning assemblies each include a body and an arm, wherein the body accepts the arm, and wherein the arm is configured to accept a portion of the refractor blade associated with the positioning assembly. 
     
     
         14 . The refractor system of  claim 8  wherein the first and second angular positioning assemblies are configured to adjust a distal end of the retractor blade associated with the angular positioning assembly to be spaced farther from the other of the retractor blades than a proximal end of the retractor blade associated with the angular positioning assembly. 
     
     
         15 . The retractor system of  claim 14  wherein the first and second angular positioning assemblies are configured to adjust the proximal end of the retractor blade associated with the angular positioning assembly to be spaced farther from the other of the retractor blades than the distal end of the retractor blade associated with the angular positioning assembly. 
     
     
         16 . The retractor system of  claim 8  further including an auxiliary retractor system that is secured to the spreader bar. 
     
     
         17 . The retractor system of  claim 8  wherein the first lateral positioning assembly, first angular positioning assembly, second lateral positioning assembly, and second angular positioning assembly are configured to be independently adjustable by a substantially similarly sized tool. 
     
     
         18 . A retractor system comprising:
 a spreader bar;   a first positioning assembly adapted to secure a first retractor blade, the first positioning assembly including a first body and a first arm, wherein the first body accepts the first arm, the first positioning assembly movably secured to the spreader bar, the first positioning assembly including a first lateral positioning assembly for moving the first positioning assembly laterally along at least a first portion of a length of the spreader bar, the first positioning assembly including a first angular positioning assembly for adjusting an angle of the first retractor blade relative to the spreader bar, the first angular positioning assembly including a threaded post that is accepted by a feature on the first arm, and wherein the first lateral positioning assembly and the first angular positioning assembly are de-coupled wherein the angle and lateral position of the first retractor blade are independently adjustable;   a second positioning assembly adapted to secure a second retractor blade, the second positioning assembly including a second body and a second arm, wherein the second body accepts the second arm, the second positioning assembly movably secured to the spreader bar, the second positioning assembly including a second lateral positioning assembly for moving the second positioning assembly laterally along at least a second portion of the length of the spreader bar, the second positioning assembly including a second angular positioning assembly for adjusting an angle of the second retractor blade relative to the spreader bar, the second angular positioning assembly including a threaded post that is accepted by a feature on the second arm, and wherein the second lateral positioning assembly and the second angular positioning assembly are de-coupled wherein the angle and lateral position of the second retractor blade are independently adjustable; and   wherein the first and second positioning assemblies are de-coupled wherein the first and second retractor blades may be moved independently of each other.   
     
     
         19 . The retractor system of  claim 18  wherein the first lateral positioning assembly, first angular positioning assembly, second lateral positioning assembly, and second angular positioning assembly are configured to be independently adjustable by a substantially similarly sized tool. 
     
     
         20 . The retractor system of  claim 18  wherein the first and second angular positioning assemblies are configured to allow the retractor blade associated with the angular positioning assemblies to be adjusted between a first and second position, wherein in the first position a distal end of the retractor blade associated with the angular positioning assembly is spaced farther from the other of the retractor blades than a proximal end of the retractor blade associated with the angular positioning assembly, and in the second position the proximal end of the retractor blade associated with the angular positioning assembly is spaced farther from the other of the retractor blades than the distal end of the retractor blade associated with the angular positioning assembly.