Systems and methods for accessing an intervertebral disc space in a body of a patient

摘要

A method for accessing an intervertebral disc space in a patient's body involves making an incision in a region of the patient's body that permits access to the psoas muscle, directing a blade of a first dissecting refractor through the incision and such that a distal end of the first dissecting retractor blade is positioned proximate the intervertebral disc space, and directing, independently of the first dissecting retractor blade, a blade of a second dissecting retractor through the incision and such that a distal end of the second dissecting retractor blade is positioned proximate the intervertebral disc space. During their placement within the patient's body, the first and second dissecting retractor blades are employed in a tissue dissection process. Following the positioning of the distal ends of the first and second dissecting retractor blades proximate the intervertebral disc space, the first and second dissecting refractors are coupled to one another.

主权项

1. A method for accessing an intervertebral disc space in a body of a patient, the method comprising:
making an incision in a region of the patient's body that permits access to a psoas muscle; directing a blade of a first dissecting retractor through the incision and such that a distal end of the first dissecting retractor blade is positioned proximate the intervertebral disc space; directing, independently of the first dissecting retractor blade, a blade of a second dissecting retractor through the incision and such that a distal end of the second dissecting retractor blade is positioned proximate the intervertebral disc space, the first and second dissecting retractor blades employed during their placement within the patient's body in a tissue dissection process to gain access to the intervertebral disc space; and following the positioning of the distal ends of the first and second dissecting retractor blades proximate the intervertebral disc space, coupling the first and second dissecting retractors to one another.