US Patent 11389151 Modular retractor system

A system and method of positioning a spinal implant into an intervertebral space comprises the steps of: cutting an incision through the skin toward an intervertebral space between a L5 and S1 vertebra; inserting an uncoupled first, second and third retractor blade into the incision to pre-position the retractor blades prior to retraction; coupling the pre-positioned first retractor blade to a connector arm to connect the first retractor blade to a table arm; attaching a blade to blade connector and mini flex arm to couple the second blade to either the first blade or third blade; and wherein the three uncoupled blades, once pre-positioned and then coupled, the blades are retracted to open the incision and expose the vertebral bodies.