Systems and methods for a spinal shield for protecting the spinal cord and dura during surgical procedures

Abstract

Various embodiments of a spinal shield having a shield body including a plurality of lateral extensions configured to be positioned over an exposed spinal canal for establishing a protective barrier around the contents of the exposed spinal canal are disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A spinal shield comprising:
 a shield body forming a top side, a bottom side that collectively define a front side, a rear side, a first lateral side, and a second lateral side opposite the first lateral side, wherein the shield body defines a curved configuration;   a plurality of laterally extending legs that extend outwardly at an angle from the first and second lateral sides, respectively; and   a handle portion that extends outwardly in perpendicular relation to the shield body.   
     
     
         2 . The spinal shield of  claim 1 , wherein the shield body having a curved configuration defines an open channel between the first and second lateral sides. 
     
     
         3 . The spinal shield of  claim 1 , wherein the handle portion defines a bulbous-shaped portion, a rectangular-shaped portion, a square-shaped portion, a flexible tether portion, an asymmetrically-shaped portion, and a symmetrically-shaped portion. 
     
     
         4 . The spinal shield of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a support pad affixed to an underside of each plurality of laterally extending legs.   
     
     
         5 . The spinal shield of  claim 4 , wherein each support pad defines a textured surface. 
     
     
         6 . The spinal shield of  claim 1 , wherein the spinal body is made from a substantially translucent or transparent material. 
     
     
         7 . The spinal shield of  claim 1 , wherein an underside of each laterally extending leg defines a textured surface. 
     
     
         8 . The spinal shield of  claim 1 , wherein the first lateral side and second lateral side meet to form an apex that extends along a longitudinal axis of the shield body. 
     
     
         9 . The spinal shield of  claim 1 , wherein the shield body includes a coating along the top surface and bottom sides of the shield body. 
     
     
         10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . The spinal shield of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of laterally extending legs includes a hinge that permits rotation of the plurality of laterally extending legs in only a downward direction and not an upward direction. 
     
     
         12 . A spinal shield comprising:
 a shield body forming a top side, a bottom side that collectively define a front side, a rear side, a first lateral side, and a second lateral side opposite the first lateral side, wherein the shield body defines a substantially planar configuration;   a plurality of lateral extensions that extend outwardly from the shield body; and   a handle portion that extends outwardly in perpendicular relation to the shield body.   
     
     
         13 . The spinal shield of  claim 12 , wherein the handle portion defines a bulbous-shaped portion, a rectangular-shaped portion, a square-shaped portion, a flexible tether portion, an asymmetrically-shaped portion, and a symmetrically-shaped portion. 
     
     
         14 . The spinal shield of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a support pad affixed to an underside of each plurality of lateral extensions.   
     
     
         15 . The spinal shield of  claim 14 , wherein each support pad defines a textured surface. 
     
     
         16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . The spinal shield of  claim 12 , wherein an underside of each laterally extension defines a textured surface. 
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . The spinal shield of  claim 12 , wherein each of the plurality of lateral extensions includes a hinge that permits rotation of the plurality of laterally extending legs in only a downward direction and not an upward direction. 
     
     
         20 . A method of establishing a protective barrier around an exposed surgical site comprising:
 providing a first spinal shield comprising:
 a shield body forming a top side, a bottom side that collectively define a front side, a rear side, a first lateral side, and a second lateral side opposite the first lateral side, wherein the shield body defines a curved configuration forming an apex at the juncture of the first and second lateral sides; 
 a plurality of laterally extending legs that extend outwardly at an angle from the first and second lateral sides, respectively, of the shield body; and 
 a handle portion that extends outwardly from the shield body in perpendicular relation to the shield body. 
   grasping the handle portion of the first spinal shield; and   placing the first spinal shield in a position over the exposed surgical site.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising:
 placing a second spinal shield in a position adjacent to the first spinal shield.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein each of the plurality of lateral extensions defines one or more perforations such that each of the plurality of lateral extensions is broken off along the one or more perforations when removing the spinal shield from the exposed surgical site. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the shield body is made of a material that allows each of the lateral extensions to be broken off when removing the spinal shield from the exposed surgical site. 
     
     
         24 - 28 . (canceled)