ADJUSTABLE HEIGHT ACCESS DEVICE FOR TREATING THE SPINE OF A PATIENT

摘要

A device for providing access to a surgical location within a patient is provided. The device includes an elongate body (11004, 12004, 13004) and a sleeve (11006, 12006, 13006). The elongate body (11004, 12004, 13004) has an outer surface (11008, 12008, 13008), an inner surface (11012, 12012, 13012), and a distal portion (11016, 12016, 13016). The inner surface (11012, 12012, 13012) defines a passage (11020, 12020, 13020) that extends through the elongate body (11004, 12004, 13004) along a longitudinal axis (11024, 12024, 13024) through which surgical instruments can be inserted to the surgical location. The distal portion (11016, 12016, 13016) is capable of having an expanded configuration when inserted within the patient. In the expanded configuration, the cross-sectional area of the passage (11020, 12020, 13020) at a first location (11028, 12028, 13028) is greater than the cross-sectional area of the passage (11020, 12020, 13020) at a second location (11032, 12032, 13032), wherein the first location (11028, 12028, 13028) is distal to the second location (11032, 12032, 13032). The sleeve (11006, 12006, 13006) is configured to be moved relative to the elongate body (11004, 12004, 13004) along the longitudinal axis (11024, 12024, 13024) to increase or to decrease the length of the passage (11020, 12020, 13020) along the longitudinal axis (11024, 12024, 13024).