Abstract: A surgical wire is part of a system that includes a retractor blade defining one or more paths for the surgical wire to follow. The paths can be one or more openings, cannulations, paths, tubes, other structures, or combinations thereof. The surgical wire can be routed through the front, back, and/or middle of the retractor blade and into a vertebral body. The surgical wire can be routed through a shim in communication with the retractor blade and into a vertebral body Systems and methods are used to insert surgical wires into bone. Systems and methods are used for removing surgical wires from bone. Systems include those for gripping and pulling or pushing surgical wires. Systems include those that interact with a retractor (e.g., an arm, body, or blade thereof) to facilitate removal of the surgical wire.

Abstract: A computer system for a system interaction matrix creation tool is provided. The computer system has a platform, at least one input device, and a central processing unit in communication with the platform and the at least one input device. The central processing unit is configured to display a system interaction matrix having a first dimension indexed to a plurality of affecting subsystems, and a second dimension indexed to a plurality of affected subsystems, receive a selection of one of the plurality affecting subsystems and a selection of one of the plurality of affected subsystems, and receive a selection of one of a plurality of types of interactions existing between the selected one of the plurality of affecting subsystems and the selected one of the plurality of affected subsystems. The central processing unit is further configured to receive a description of the selected interaction.