referring now to fig1 - 21 , a retraction tube system is shown comprising a retractor , retraction device or apparatus 10 . a first illustrative embodiment is shown relative to fig1 - 8 wherein a retractor , retraction device or apparatus 10 is shown . as illustrated in fig1 , the retractor , retraction device or apparatus 10 comprises a generally tubular or cylindrical body 12 having an inner wall 12 a that defines an aperture 14 . the retractor , retraction device or apparatus 10 in the illustration being shown is tubular and cylindrical in cross section . a pair of cut - outs 16 and 18 is provided in the body 12 . the cut - outs 16 and 18 define a first elongated portion , leg or wall 20 and a second elongated portion , leg or wall 22 as shown . the cut - outs 16 and 18 also cooperate to define a rod - receiving channel 26 for receiving a rod 28 . note that an end 20 a ( fig1 ) of the first elongated portion 20 has an inner wall 20 c ( fig2 ) having a recessed wall 20 a 1 , and an end 22 a of the second elongated portion 22 has an inner wall 22 c ( fig2 ) having a recessed wall 22 a 1 . the recessed walls 20 a 1 and 20 a 2 cooperate to define an area 24 for receiving a polyaxial screw 29 ( fig8 and 9 ). in the illustration being described , the polyaxial screw 29 comprises a capless receiver or polyaxial screw receiver 30 and a screw 29 a ( fig8 ) that is received in the capless receiver 30 . the polyaxial screw 29 may be of the type as shown and illustrated in u . s . pub . patent application nos . us20070043357a1 ; us20070123867a1 ; us20060155278a1 ; us20070123862a1 ; us20080097457a1 ; us20080071277a1 ; us20080249576a1 ; us20070093827a1 , all of which are assigned to the same assignee as the present application and which are incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof . the polyaxial screw 29 may comprise at least one inner member ( not shown ), such as a compression member ( not shown ), of the type disclosed in one or more of the cited applications . note that the receiver 30 comprises a generally l - shaped rod - locking channel or slot 30 a ( fig6 - 8 ) conventionally known . the rod - locking channel 30 a has an opening 30 a 1 , a seat 30 a 2 , and a seat 30 a 3 as shown in fig6 . the receiver 30 comprises an outer wall 30 b that has a diameter that is dimensioned or adapted to permit the receiver 30 to be received in the receiving area 24 and rotate within and relative to the retraction device or apparatus 10 after the receiver 30 is received between the recessed walls 20 a 1 and 22 a 1 in the receiving area 24 . note that the outer wall 30 b of receiver 30 may comprise a lip or flange 30 b 1 having a retaining function described later herein . as best illustrated in fig1 and 7 , notice that the retractor body 12 has the pair of generally opposed walls , legs , portions 20 and 22 ( fig1 ). the walls , legs or portions 20 and 22 are arcuate or curved in cross - section . the recessed walls 20 a 1 and 22 a 1 and associated cut - outs 16 and 18 cooperate to define the rod - receiving channel 26 that receives the rod 28 ( fig7 ). the retractor body 12 comprises at least one or a plurality of lips or flanges 20 b and 22 b integrally formed in walls 20 and 22 and that engage and cooperate with the lip or flange 30 b 1 on receiver 30 to retain the receiver 30 in the area 24 and on the retractor body 12 . in the illustration being described the first and second elongated portions or legs 20 and 22 are resilient and elastic so that they can deflect to receive the receiver 30 when it is received in the area 24 between the inner walls 20 a 1 and 22 a 1 . in the illustration being described , a friction or interference fit is provided so that the receiver 30 can be slid onto and rotated within the retractor body 12 in the embodiment shown in fig1 - 8 . during a surgical procedure , a surgeon makes an incision and the retraction device or apparatus 10 , which has an assembly of the receiver 30 and screw 29 a after the screw 29 a is received in the receiver 30 and the receiver 30 is received in the receiving area 24 , is inserted through the incision and the screw 29 a is screwed into bone with a screw driver ( not shown ) inserted through the aperture 14 of retractor body 12 . the retractor , retraction device or apparatus 10 causes the tissue to be retracted during the act of the placement of the polyaxial screw 29 . it should be understood that after the screw 29 a is placed and screwed into the bone of the patient , a tool 32 ( fig7 ) may be inserted into the aperture 14 of the retractor body 12 in the illustration of fig1 - 8 . the tool 32 comprises a working end 32 a that is received in the channel or slot 30 a of the receiver 30 . after the rod 28 has been positioned in the desired position subsequent to screw 29 a placement , the tool 32 can be received in the channel or slot 30 a and the receiver 30 rotated ( clockwise in the illustration being described ) in order to lock the receiver 30 onto the rod 28 . it should be understood that in the illustration being described the retraction device or apparatus 10 does not rotate during the rotation of the receiver 30 . moreover , as with the second embodiment described later , it should be understood that the retraction device or apparatus 10 may be mounted onto the receiver 30 and then the screw 29 a placed or screwed into the bone , thereby providing a single unit for the surgeon to substantially simultaneously place the screw 29 a and retract the tissue . it should be understood that the screw 29 a and receiver 30 could alternatively be placed or screwed into the bone and then the retraction device or apparatus 10 placed over and mounted on the receiver 30 if desired . note that the retractor body 12 comprises the rod - receiving channel 26 that is generally elongated and traverses a majority or substantially all of the length of the retractor body 12 . the rod - receiving channel 26 is aligned with the opening 30 a 1 of the rod - locking channel 30 a so that when a rod 28 is placed in the rod - receiving channel 26 of the retractor body 12 it can be easily aligned with and guided into the opening 30 a 1 of the rod - locking channel 30 a and downward toward the seat 30 a 2 , as illustrated in fig6 and 7 . after the rod 28 is positioned in the seat 30 a 2 , the tool 32 ( fig7 ) can be used to rotate the receiver 30 to lock the rod 28 in the receiver 30 . after the receiver 30 locks the rod 28 therein , the retractor body 12 can be removed and dismounted from the receiver 30 by pulling it away from the receiver 30 . in this illustration , the rod - receiving channel 26 in the retractor body 12 is substantially linear or straight , while the rod - locking channel 30 a in the receiver 30 is not straight and is generally l - shaped as shown . fig7 and 8 illustrate the receiver 30 after it has been rotated from the unlocked position ( fig7 ) to the locked position ( fig8 ) using the tool 32 . in the illustrations described herein , the retractor body 12 is tubular and cylindrical , but it should be understood that it could take different forms , such as a solid form , without departing from the scope of the invention . for example , the retractor body 12 could be non - cylindrical ( e . g ., hexagonal , octagonal , square or like ). in the illustration being described , an indicia 39 a ( fig8 ) may be provided on the retractor body 12 and a second indicia 39 b provided on the outer wall 30 b to facilitate aligning the rod - receiving channel 26 with the opening 30 a 1 of the rod - locking channel 30 a . alternatively , and as described later herein relative to other embodiments , a coupler 31 ( fig9 ) may be provided that facilitates coupling and aligning the retractor body 12 to the receiver 30 . note that a dimension or width ( as viewed in fig4 ) of the rod - receiving channel 26 is substantially the same as a dimension or width of the inlet 30 a 1 of the rod - locking channel 30 a . advantageously , the channel 26 and retraction body 12 provide an alignment guide for receiving the rod 28 and directing the rod 28 through the slot or channel 26 and into the rod - locking channel 30 a of the receiver 30 . fig9 - 13 illustrate another embodiment of the invention . like parts are identified with the same part numbers in this embodiment , except that an apostrophe (“ ”) has been added to the part numbers in this embodiment . in this embodiment , the retraction device or apparatus 10 rotates with the receiver 30 during locking of the rod 28 in the receiver 30 . in this illustration , note that the retraction body 12 of retraction device or apparatus 10 comprises a generally l - shaped rod - receiving channel 34 ( fig1 ) that has a shape and dimension that generally complements a shape and dimension of the rod - locking channel 30 a of the receiver 30 . as best illustrated in fig1 and 12 , the rod 28 is inserted into an elongated portion 34 a of the rod - receiving channel 34 and then moved downward ( as viewed ) into opening 30 a 1 . notice that after the rod 28 is placed in the seat 30 a 2 of rod - locking channel 30 a of the receiver 30 both the retraction device or apparatus 10 and the receiver 30 , are rotated together to the locked position , as illustrated in fig1 and 12 . after the receiver 30 is locked onto the rod 28 , the retraction device or apparatus 10 may be rotated relative to the receiver 30 in a counterclockwise direction in the illustration being described and then removed or detached from the receiver 30 . in this regard , the frictional fit engagement and clamping force between the recessed wall 20 a 1 and 22 a 1 and the outer wall 30 b of the receiver 30 is less than the coupling strength between the receiver 30 and the rod 28 , thereby permitting the retraction device or apparatus 10 to rotate after the receiver 30 is locked onto the rod 28 and without rotating and unlocking the receiver 30 from the rod 28 . as illustrated in fig9 - 11 , the receiver 30 may comprise a coupler 31 , such as a notch , tooth or other male projections 20 a 2 and 22 a 2 that are received in notched areas or slots 30 d 1 and 30 d 2 , respectfully . this feature facilitates locking the retraction device or apparatus 10 to the receiver 30 . this feature also reduces or facilitates reducing undesired rotation of the retraction device or apparatus 10 relative to the receiver 30 during rotation of the retraction device or apparatus 10 and receiver 30 and locking of the receiver 30 onto the rod 28 . the coupler 31 also facilitates automatic or quick alignment of channel 34 with the rod - locking channel 30 a when the retractor body 12 is mounted on the receiver 30 . referring now to fig1 - 21 , another embodiment of the invention is shown . in this embodiment , like parts are identified with the same part numbers , except that a double apostrophe (“″”) mark has been added to the part numbers in fig1 - 21 . in this embodiment , an implant system is shown comprising a polyaxial screw assembly similar to the assembly shown in fig6 - 13 . this embodiment further comprises a reducer 60 ″, which will be described later herein . the retractor body 12 ″ is detachably mounted onto the polyaxial screw 29 ″ and receiver or polyaxial screw receiver 30 ″ in the manner describer earlier . as with the embodiments illustrated in fig6 - 13 , the retractor body 12 ″ detachably mounts onto the outer wall 30 b of the polyaxial screw receiver 30 ″. the retractor body 12 ″ further comprises a rod - receiving channel 34 ″. the rod - receiving channel 34 ″ becomes generally aligned with an opening 30 a 1 ″ and ultimately to the seat 30 a 2 ″. as with the prior embodiments , the rod - receiving channel 34 ″ and the retractor body 12 ″ is adapted to facilitate urging and guiding the rod 28 ″ into the channel opening 30 a 1 ″ and ultimately to the seat 30 a 2 ″ in the manner described herein . the retractor body 12 ″ comprises the first elongated portion , leg or wall 20 ″ and the second elongated portion , leg or wall 22 ″ as shown . an end 20 a ″ of the first elongated portion 20 ″ has the inner or recessed wall 20 a 1 ″, and end 22 a ″ of the second elongated portion 22 ″ comprises the inner or recessed wall 22 a 1 ″. the recessed walls 20 a 1 ″ and 22 a 1 ″ cooperate to define the area 24 ″ for receiving the polyaxial screw receiver 30 ″. as with prior embodiments , the first and second recessed walls 20 a 1 ″ and 22 a 1 ″ of the first and second elongated portions 20 ″ and 22 ″ are dimensioned and adapted to be mounted onto the outer surface 30 b ″ of the polyaxial screw receiver 30 ″. a friction , press or interference fit is provided so that rotating the retractor body 12 ″ will cause the polyaxial screw receiver 30 ″ to rotate as in the embodiment illustrated in fig9 - 13 . this rotation is performed after the rod 28 ″ has been received in rod - receiving channel 34 ″, guided into and received in the opening 30 a 1 ″ and seat 30 a 2 ″ of the rod - locking channel 30 a ″ in order to cause the rod 28 ″ to be received in the locking seat 30 a 3 ″ of the polyaxial screw receiver 30 ″. as mentioned , the first and second elongated portions or legs 20 ″ and 22 ″ are elastic and resilient and permit the ends 20 a ″ and 22 a ″ to separate to receive the polyaxial screw receiver 30 ″ until it is captured in the receiving area 24 ″. as with the prior embodiment , notice that the polyaxial screw receiver 30 ″ may comprise the edge or lip 30 b 1 ″. the retractor body 12 ″ comprises the internal lip or flanges 20 b ″ and 22 b ″ that cooperate with the lip 30 b 1 ″ to retain the retractor body 12 ″ on the polyaxial screw receiver 30 ″. the at least one inner wall , such as recessed wall 20 a 1 ″ and recessed wall 22 a 1 ″, is adapted to frictionally engage the outer surface 30 b ″ so that by rotating the retractor body 12 ″, the receiver 30 ″ will also rotate until the rod 28 ″ becomes locked in the rod - locking channel 30 a ″ of polyaxial screw receiver 30 ″. in another illustrative embodiment , the at least one inner wall , such as inner wall 20 a 1 ″ and inner wall 22 a 1 ″, are mounted on the polyaxial screw receiver 30 ″ and are adapted to permit the polyaxial screw receiver 30 ″ to be rotated to lock the rod 28 ″ in the polyaxial screw receiver 30 ″ while the retractor body 12 ″ is held stationary as in the embodiment of fig1 - 8 . in that application , the retractor body 12 ″ is held stationary while a tool , such as the tool 32 ″ in fig7 , is used to rotate the retractor body 12 ″ to the locked position whereupon the rod 28 ″ becomes locked in the polyaxial screw receiver 30 ″. as with the embodiment illustrated in fig9 - 13 , the rod - receiving channel 34 ″ comprises a shape , configuration and / or dimension that is generally the same as the shape , configuration or dimension of the rod - locking channel 30 a ″ so that when the retractor body 12 ″ is mounted on the polyaxial screw receiver 30 ″, the rod - receiving channel 34 ″ and rod - locking channel 30 a ″ become generally aligned . it should be understood that , as with the prior embodiments , the receiving area 24 ″ generally defines a female receiving area that generally complements the shape of the outer surface of the polyaxial screw receiver 30 ″. this alignment enables the retractor body 12 ″ to be rotated in a first direction , such as in a clockwise direction , to cause the polyaxial screw receiver 30 ″ to rotate and lock the rod 28 ″ in the polyaxial screw receiver 30 ″ after the rod 28 ″ has been moved through the rod - receiving channel 34 ″ and into the rod - locking channel 30 a ″. thereafter , the retractor body 12 ″ may be rotated in a second direction , which is generally opposite the first direction , after the polyaxial screw receiver 30 ″ is locked onto the rod 28 ″ and without rotating the polyaxial screw receiver 30 ″ in the second direction as mentioned earlier . in this regard , after the rod 28 ″ has become locked in the polyaxial screw receiver 30 ″, the retractor body 12 ″ can be rotated so as to align the rod - receiving channel 34 ″ with the rod 28 ″ so that the retractor body 12 ″ can be moved axially ( in the direction of arrow a in fig1 ) away from the polyaxial screw receiver 30 ″ and dismounted therefrom . the retractor body 12 ″ is fit or mounted onto the polyaxial screw receiver 30 ″ with a friction , press or interference fit . as mentioned earlier , the frictional engagement and gripping strength between the first and second inner walls 20 a 1 ″ and 22 a 1 ″ and the outer surface 30 b ″ of the polyaxial screw receiver 30 ″ is less than a frictional engagement and coupling strength between the polyaxial screw receiver 30 ″ and the rod 28 ″. this permits the retractor body 12 ″ to rotate ( counterclockwise in the illustration ) about the outer wall or surface 30 b ″ after the polyaxial screw receiver 30 ″ is locked onto the rod 28 ″ and without unlocking or rotating the polyaxial screw receiver 30 ″ to the unlock position . as illustrated in fig1 , the rod - receiving channel 34 ″ is generally l - shaped like the embodiment of fig1 - 13 . a portion 34 a ″ ( fig1 ) traverses a substantial or majority of a length of the retractor body 12 ″. it should be understood , however , that the retractor body 12 ″ of the type illustrated in fig1 - 20 could also be used with this embodiment and comprise a channel , like the channel 26 ″ that is substantially straight or linear , that traverses a majority of a length of the retractor body 12 ″. thus , the rod - receiving channel 34 ″ could be entirely straight or linear even though the rod - locking channel 30 a ″ is not entirely straight . alternatively , both the rod - locking channel 30 a ″ and the rod - receiving channel 34 ″ could be either linear or non - linear as illustrated in the figures . as with the embodiment shown in fig1 - 13 , the retractor system 10 ″ may comprise the coupler 31 ″ for facilitating coupling and securing the retractor body 12 ″ onto the receiver 30 ″. in the illustration described , the coupler 31 ″ may comprise the at least one or a plurality of projection 20 a 2 ″ and 22 a 2 ″ in the walls 20 ″ and 22 ″ of the retractor body 12 ″. as described earlier herein , the projections 20 a 2 ″ and 22 a 2 ″ mate with and are received in the notched - out areas 30 d 1 ″ and 30 d 2 ″ in receiver 30 ″. the notched - out areas 30 d 1 ″ and 30 d 2 ″ each have a shape that generally complements the shape of the projections 20 a 2 ″ and 22 a 2 ″. as with the embodiment illustrated in fig1 , for example , the coupler 31 ″ facilitates securing the retractor body 12 ″ to the receiver 30 ″ and causing the rod - locking channel 30 a ″ and rod - receiving channel 34 ″ to become generally aligned . if a coupler 31 ″ is not provided , the indicia or marking 39 a , 39 b ( fig8 ) or other means for aligning the rod - receiving channel 34 ″ with the opening 30 a 1 ″ of the rod - locking channel 30 a ″ may be provided . as with the prior embodiments , the retractor body 12 ″ is generally tubular and comprises the first wall 20 ″ and the second wall 22 ″ that are defined by the cut - out areas 16 ″ and 18 . the cut - out areas 16 ″ and 18 ″ cooperate to define the rod - receiving channel 34 ″ as with the prior illustrative embodiment . as with prior embodiments , the retractor body 12 ″ is sized and adapted to permit a tool , such as the tool 32 ″ ( fig7 ), to be placed in the area 14 ″ in order to either rotatably drive the receiver 30 ″ or to engage the head ( not shown ) of the screw 29 a ″ in order to screw the screw 29 a ″ into bone during the surgical procedure . one feature of the embodiment shown in fig1 - 21 is the use of a reducer 60 ″ for urging or driving the rod 28 ″ in the rod - receiving channel 34 ″ until it is received in the opening 30 a 1 ″ and seats 30 a 2 ″, 30 a 3 ″ of the rod - locking channel 30 a ″. the reducer 50 ″ comprises a non - linear reducer channel 66 ″ which in the embodiment illustrated in fig1 - 21 is helical . note in the illustration being described that reducer 60 ″ comprises a tubular wall 61 ″ having a first cut - out 62 ″ and a second cut - out 64 ″ which cooperate to define the reducer channel 66 ″. the rod 28 ″ may be placed through the cut outs 62 ″ and 64 ″ as illustrated in fig1 and into the reducer channel 66 ″. in the illustration being described , the first and second cut - out areas 62 ″ and 64 ″ define wall portions 61 a ″ and 61 b ″ that are helical . the cut outs 62 ″ and 64 ″ and wall portions 61 a ″ and 61 b ″ and are spaced approximately 180 ° apart to define the helical reducer channel 66 ″. an end 61 c of the wall 61 ″ comprises a generally circular knob or grip 68 ″ for facilitating gripping the reducer 60 ″. the grip 68 ″ is integrally formed with the tubular wall 61 ″ and capable of rotating the wall 61 ″ upon rotation of the grip 68 ″. the grip 68 ″ also comprises an annular flange 72 ″ that engages and cooperates with a seat 74 ″ in the retractor body 12 ″ so that the reducer 60 ″ may be rotatably mounted onto the retractor body 12 ″. as shown in fig2 , another embodiment is provided where the tubular wall 61 ″ is dimensioned and adapted to be received in the area 14 ″ inside the retractor body 12 ″ as shown . as best illustrated in fig1 , the reducer 60 ″ comprises an area 80 ″ that is dimensioned and adapted to receive and permit rotation of the retractor body 12 ″ inside the reducer 60 . the rod 28 ″ is placed and traversed through the reducer channel 66 ″ and through the rod - receiving channel 34 ″ as shown . the reducer knob , grip or handle 68 ″ is rotated which causes the rod 28 ″ to traverse the length of both the reducer channel 66 ″ and the rod - receiving channel 34 ″ in the retractor body 12 ″, as illustrated in fig1 - 17 . the ends of the tubular wall portions 61 a ″ and 61 b ″ each comprise a stop 82 ″ ( fig1 ) that engages and captures the rod 28 ″ when the rod 28 ″ has reached the end of its travel in the reducer channel 66 ″ and is received in the seat 30 a 2 ″ of the rod - locking channel 30 a ″, as illustrated in fig1 and 18 . in the illustration , the stop 82 ″ comprises a curved seat 82 a ″ formed or provided at the ends of the wall portions 61 a ″ and 61 b ″. the curved seat 82 a ″ captures and engages the rod 28 ″ as shown in fig1 . after the rod 28 ″ is received in the seat 30 a 2 ″ of the rod - locking channel 30 a ″ of the receiver 30 ″, the reducer 60 ″ may be removed from the retractor body 12 ″ by moving the reducer 60 ″ axially in the direction of arrow b in fig1 . after the reducer 60 ″ has been removed from the retractor body 12 ″, the receiver 30 ″ may be rotated ( in a clockwise direction in the illustration being described ) to lock the rod 28 ″ in the receiver 30 ″ in the manner described earlier relative to fig9 - 13 . alternatively , the retractor body 12 ″ may be rotated by using the tool 32 ″ in the manner illustrated in fig7 relative to the prior embodiment . in order to stabilize or retain the retractor body 12 ″ in a stationary position during rotation of the reducer 60 ″, a stabilizer 40 ″ or means for stabilizing the retractor body 12 ″ may be provided . in the illustration being described , the stabilizer 40 ″ may take the form of a plurality of apertures 40 a ″ and 40 b ″ in the retractor body 12 ″ wall . during use , a tool ( not shown ), such as a screwdriver or other elongated shafted tool or dow , may be placed through the apertures 40 a ″ and 40 b ″ and used to hold the retractor body 12 ″ stationary during rotation of the knob 68 ″ of reducer 60 ″. the tool ( not shown ) may also be used to rotate the retractor body 12 ″ in order to rotate the receiver 30 ″ to an unlocked or locked position and to pull or detach the retractor body 12 ″ from the receiver 30 ″. it should be appreciated that a length of the reducer 58 ″ is selected so that when the rod 28 ″ has reached the stops 82 ″ at the ends of the wall portions 61 a ″ and 60 b ″, respectively , the rod 28 ″ is seated at the seat 30 a 2 ″. this facilitates properly situating and seating the rod 28 ″ in the rod - locking channel 30 a ″ before the receiver 30 ″ is rotated from the open position shown in fig1 to the locked position illustrated in fig1 . in the illustration being described , the retraction device or apparatus 10 is made of stainless steel , but it should be understood that it could be made of any suitable material that is capable of performing the functions described herein . thus , for example , the retraction device or apparatus 10 could be made of a polymer material , plastic , composite material , metallic material , such as titanium , or other suitable material . advantageously , the retractor and reducer systems and methods described herein provide means , system and apparatus for guiding or placing a polyaxial screw in a patient and / or situating a rod in the polyaxial screw , while substantially simultaneously retracting tissue during a surgical procedure . while the form of apparatus herein and methods described constitutes a preferred embodiment of this invention , it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to this precise form of apparatus , and that changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention .
a retractor system and method for locating and placing a polyaxial screw while substantially simultaneously retracting tissue is shown and described . the retractor has a channel that facilitates introducing a rod into the polyaxial screw . various embodiments are shown , including one which utilized a reducer for moving the rod in the retractor .