Lateral access system for the lumbar spine

摘要

A minimally invasive dilation device includes a plurality of rigid arms radially arrayed about a center and a dilating member positioned between the arms. A stylus may occupy the center. An outer flexible sleeve may be circumferentially secured to the arms, lying within or without the plurality of arms. An inner mesh may surround the stylus and dilating member. The device may be introduced into tissue toward a targeted area, while in a closed configuration. The dilating member may be a balloon, wherein upon inflation of the balloon, the arms are pushed radially outward, expanding the device and dilating the surrounding tissue. The dilating member may be a tube, wherein upon insertion of the tube, the arms are pushed radially outward. A cannula may be inserted inside the plurality of arms to keep the arms in an open configuration, and the dilating member may be withdrawn, providing an open passageway through the device to the targeted area. The device may be used with a neural monitoring system.

主权项

1. A system for opening a passageway in a mammalian body, wherein the system comprises:
a dilation device comprising a plurality of arms arranged in a pattern, a stationary disk defining a plurality of slots; a drive disk stacked with the stationary disk, wherein the drive disk defines a plurality of slots, wherein the drive disk is configured to at least partially rotate about a longitudinal axis passing through a center of the pattern; a plurality of arm clamps, wherein,
each arm is engaged with one of the arm clamps;each arm clamp defines at least one channel configured to receive at least the stationary disk and the drive disk; andeach arm clamp along with the arm is radially movable relative to the center of the pattern along the slots defined in the stationary disk and the drive disk; and a retention element connectable to the dilation device, wherein the plurality of arms of the dilation device are held in a closed configuration when the retention element is connected to the dilation device, said retention element comprising a plurality of prongs configured to extend through the drive disk and to interact with the plurality of arms to retain the arms in a closed configuration during introduction of the dilation device into the body; wherein the dilation device transforms from a closed configuration to an open configuration in response to movement of the arm clamps away from the center, wherein the arms are in contacting longitudinal alignment and close to the center of the pattern in the closed configuration, wherein the arms are separated and far from the center of the pattern in the open configuration.