Distraction and retraction assemblies

Abstract

An assembly ( 40 ) allowing retraction of soft tissue away from a reference plane; the assembly including at least one retracting element ( 51 ) each comprising a distal end having a formation allowing anchorage of the at least one retracting element ( 51 ). The assembly also includes a proximal end ( 50 ) of the at least one retracting element capable of movement through at least one degree of freedom relative to said anchorage.

1 . An assembly capable of retraction of soft tissue during surgical procedures, the assembly comprising:
 an anchorage for engaging bone and which anchors the assembly to enable said tissue retraction;   at least one retracting arm having a first free end and a second end, the second end including a formation which allows the at least one retractor arm to be detachably retained by said anchorage; said retention by the anchorage enabling said at least one retractor arm capable of movement through at least one degree of freedom relative to said anchorage.   
   
   
       2 . An assembly according to  claim 2  wherein the at least one retracting arm is rotatable about an axis through said second end. 
   
   
       3 . An assembly according to  claim 2  wherein said anchorage includes at least one anchorage element. 
   
   
       4 . An assembly according to  claim 3  wherein said anchorage includes two anchorage elements each having formations to anchor the assembly to said bone. 
   
   
       5 . An assembly according to  claim 4  further comprising a frame assembly including at least one retaining member which receives said second end of each said retracting arms. 
   
   
       6 . An assembly according to  claim 5  wherein the retaining member provides an axis of rotation for said retracting arms. 
   
   
       7 . An assembly according to  claim 6  wherein the frame assembly includes at least one opening enabling screw fixation of the assembly to bone. 
   
   
       8 . An assembly according to  claim 7  wherein the frame assembly includes two retention arms which receive respective opposing retraction members. 
   
   
       9 . An assembly according to  claim 8  wherein, the frame assembly further comprises a bridge joining the retention arms. 
   
   
       10 . An assembly according to  claim 9  wherein each retractor arm engages a corresponding formation on the second end of the retractor arms, allowing the retractor arms to rotate about the retention arm and slide therealong. 
   
   
       11 . An assembly according to  claim 10  wherein each said retention arms have a first end attached to said bridge and a second free end. 
   
   
       12 . An assembly according to  claim 11  wherein the frame assembly is generally U shaped such that the first and second arms are parallel and disposed normally to the bridge member. 
   
   
       13 . An assembly according to  claim 12  wherein, the formation on each said retractor arm is a recess which at least partially receives therein at least part of one said arms. 
   
   
       14 . An assembly according to  claim 13  wherein the recess engages the arm allowing the retractor to undergo said rotation and sliding therealong. 
   
   
       15 . An assembly according to  14  claim wherein the frame assembly has a secondary bridge including openings to allow engagement with said free ends of said retention arms. 
   
   
       16 . An assembly according to  claim 15  wherein the first and secondary bridges each include an opening to allow penetration of an anchorage element for fixation of the assembly to bone. 
   
   
       17 . An assembly according to  claim 16  wherein, the retraction arms rotate in a direction normal to a longitudinal axis of said retention members. 
   
   
       18 . An assembly according to  claim 17  wherein, said retraction arms include a gripping region on said retractors which receive a member which facilitates said rotation. 
   
   
       19 . An assembly according to  claim 18  wherein said anchorage elements allow distraction of bone segments when inserted in bone. 
   
   
       20 . An assembly according to  claim 26  wherein the assembly is capable of simultaneous distraction of bone and retraction of soft tissue. 
   
   
       21 . An assembly according to  claim 20  wherein the retraction arms are incrementally rotationally adjustable to increase or decrease soft tissue retraction capacity. 
   
   
       22 . An assembly according to  claim 4  wherein each said retracting arm further comprises a distal end having a formation which engages said pin which engages said bone. 
   
   
       23 . An assembly according to  claim 22  wherein said distal end of each said retracting arms comprises an extension element which provides an axis of rotation for said retraction arms 
   
   
       24 . An assembly according to  claim 23  wherein said anchorage pins are each retained by a sleeve. 
   
   
       25 . An assembly according to  claim 24  wherein fixation of said allows said retractors to rotate about said distal ends 
   
   
       26 . An assembly according to  claim 25  wherein said means to facilitate rotation of each said retractor is a gripping handle. 
   
   
       27 . An assembly according to  claim 26  wherein each bone anchor pin includes a leading end point which engages said bone. 
   
   
       28 . An assembly according to  claim 27  wherein, there are two opposing pins located at a distal end of each retraction arm. 
   
   
       29 . An assembly according to  claim 28  wherein each bone anchor pin is detachably fitted to the retraction arms of said retraction assembly. 
   
   
       30 . An assembly according to  claim 29  wherein, the means to facilitate said rotation is a gripping handle. 
   
   
       31 . An assembly according to  claim 30  wherein a first retractor arm co operates with a second retractor arm in a scissor action. 
   
   
       32 . An assembly according to  claim 31  wherein the gripping handle has openings which receive a finger of a user. 
   
   
       33 . An assembly according to  claim 32  wherein the scissor action urges said opposing pins into engagement with bone. 
   
   
       34 . An assembly according to  claim 33  wherein when said pins are anchored in bone the retraction element rotates about an axis through said opposing pins. 
   
   
       35 . A retraction arm for use in an assembly capable of retracting soft tissue during surgical procedures, the assembly comprising:
 an anchorage for engaging bone and which anchors the assembly to enable said tissue retraction by the retraction arm;   the retracting arm having a first free end and a second end, the second end including a formation which allows the retraction arm to be detachably retained by said anchorage; said retention by the anchorage enabling the free end of the retraction arm to move through at least one degree of freedom relative to said anchorage.   
   
   
       36 . A retraction arm according to  claim 35  wherein the arm is capable of rotation about an axis through said second end. 
   
   
       37 . A frame assembly for use in a soft tissue retraction and bone distraction assembly, the frame assembly comprising: two retention arms,
 a first bridge joining the retention arms, wherein each said retention arms have a first end attached to said bridge and a second free end;   the retention arms each receiving and retaining thereon at least one retracting arm having a first free end and a second end, the second end including a formation which allows the retractor arm to be detachably retained by said retention arms enabling said retractor arms to rotate about said retention arms and slide therealong.   
   
   
       38 . A frame assembly according to  claim 37  further comprising first and secondary bridges each having an opening which receives an anchorage for engaging bone and which anchors the frame assembly. 
   
   
       39 . A frame assembly according to  claim 38  wherein, the frame assembly includes at least one opening enabling screw fixation of the assembly to bone. 
   
   
       40 . A frame assembly according to  claim 39  wherein the frame assembly includes two retention arms which receive respective opposing retraction arms. 
   
   
       41 . A frame assembly according to  claim 40  wherein, the frame assembly further comprises a bridge joining the retention arms. 
   
   
       42 . A frame assembly according to  claim 41  wherein each retractor arm engages a corresponding formation on the second end of the retractor arms, allowing the retractor arms to rotate about the retention arm and slide therealong. 
   
   
       43 . A frame assembly according to  claim 42  wherein each said retention arms have a first end attached to said bridge and a second free end. 
   
   
       44 . A frame assembly according to  claim 43  wherein the frame assembly is generally U shaped such that the first and second retention arms are parallel and disposed normally to the bridge member. 
   
   
       45 . An assembly for combined retraction of wound margins of soft tissue and distraction of vertebrae during spinal surgery; the assembly including;
 a pair of pins anchored in said vertebrae;   sleeves concentrically engaging said pins;   means to apply a distraction force to said pins via said sleeves;   a first retention arm having a first end including a recess capable of engaging one said pins and a second end including connection means which releasably receives a first retractor arm via a co operating mating profile;   a second retention arm having a first end including a recess capable of engaging the other of said pins and a second end including connection means which releasably receives a second retractor arm via a mating profile; wherein said respective connection means each allow rotatable adjustment of each said retractor arms to retract said soft tissue margins during surgery.   
   
   
       46 . An assembly according to  claim 45  wherein sleeves concentrically engage said pins; the assembly further comprising means to apply a distraction force to said pins via said sleeves. 
   
   
       47 . An assembly according to  claim 46  wherein, the retention arms include spline formations providing a mating engagement which allows longitudinal and rotational adjustment of said retraction arms. 
   
   
       48 . A retraction arm for use in a retraction assembly including an anchorage assembly and a pair of retraction arms, each said retraction arms comprising a first free end and a second end including a formation which engages said anchorage assembly; the anchorage assembly comprising;
 a frame assembly including a pair of retaining members which releasably receive respective said second ends of each said retracting arms; wherein the retaining members provide an axis of rotation for respective retracting arms; the frame assembly includes openings receiving fasteners enabling fixation of the frame assembly to bone; wherein the frame assembly is adjustable to accommodate bone location.   
   
   
       49 . A retraction arm according to claim  88  wherein the retraction arms engage respective retention arms which provide an axis of rotation. 
   
   
       50 . A retraction arm according to  claim 49  wherein the retention arms include at least one spline which mates with a corresponding spline formation on the arms. 
   
   
       51 . A retraction arm according to  claim 50  wherein the at least one spline locks said retractor arms in a selected rotational orientation. 
   
   
       52 . A retraction arm according to  claim 51  wherein there is an array of spline formations on said retention arms engaging an array of corresponding formations on said blade.