Methods and apparatus for forming shaped axial bores through spinal vertebrae
First Claim
1. Apparatus for providing access to a series of adjacent vertebrae located within a human lumbar and sacral spine having an anterior aspect, a posterior aspect and an axial aspect from an anterior or posterior sacral target point of a sacral vertebra in alignment with a visualized, axial instrumentation/fusion line extending in the axial aspect through the series of adjacent vertebral bodies, wherein the axial aspect is curved in the posterior-anterior plane due to curvature of the spinal column, the vertebrae separated by intact or damaged spinal discs, the apparatus comprising:
- boring means for boring a trans-sacral axial bore from the accessed sacral target point in alignment with the axial instrumentation/fusion line cephalad and axially through the vertebral bodies of the series of adjacent vertebrae and any intervertebral spinal discs; and
a bore enlarging tool sized to fit within the axial bore, the tool adapted to be inserted from the accessed sacral target point to a selected location along the axial bore, the tool operable to enlarge a section of the axial bore to form at least one recess therein;
wherein the bore enlarging tool comprises a counterboring tool assembly comprising;
an elongate drive shaft extending between a shaft proximal end and a shaft distal end, the shaft having a shaft lumen;
a cutting head mounted to the shaft distal end, the cutting head comprising deployment/retraction means for deploying the cutting head from a retracted locked position to a deployed locked position and for retracting the cutting head from the deployed locked position to the retracted locked position, the cutting head capable of cutting away bone or intervertebral disc material while in the deployed locked position; and
rotating means for rotating the cutting head from the shaft distal end to cut away vertebral bone or disc material.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
One or more shaped axial bore extending from an accessed posterior or anterior target point are formed in the cephalad direction through vertebral bodies and intervening discs, if present, in general alignment with a visualized, trans-sacral axial instrumentation/fusion (TASIF) line in a minimally invasive, low trauma, manner. An anterior axial instrumentation/fusion line (AAIFL) or a posterior axial instrumentation/fusion line (PAIFL) that extends from the anterior or posterior target point, respectively, in the cephalad direction following the spinal curvature through one or more vertebral body is visualized by radiographic or fluoroscopic equipment. Preferably, curved anterior or posterior TASIF axial bores are formed in axial or parallel or diverging alignment with the visualized AAIFL or PAIFL, respectively, employing bore forming tools that can be manipulated from proximal portions thereof that are located outside the patient'"'"'s body to adjust the curvature of the anterior or posterior TASIF axial bores as they are formed in the cephalad direction. Further bore enlarging tools are employed to enlarge one or more selected section of the anterior or posterior TASIF axial bore(s), e.g., the cephalad bore end or a disc space, so as to provide a recess therein that can be employed for various purposes, e.g., to provide anchoring surfaces for spinal implants inserted into the anterior or posterior TASIF axial bore(s).
225 Citations
22 Claims
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1. Apparatus for providing access to a series of adjacent vertebrae located within a human lumbar and sacral spine having an anterior aspect, a posterior aspect and an axial aspect from an anterior or posterior sacral target point of a sacral vertebra in alignment with a visualized, axial instrumentation/fusion line extending in the axial aspect through the series of adjacent vertebral bodies, wherein the axial aspect is curved in the posterior-anterior plane due to curvature of the spinal column, the vertebrae separated by intact or damaged spinal discs, the apparatus comprising:
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boring means for boring a trans-sacral axial bore from the accessed sacral target point in alignment with the axial instrumentation/fusion line cephalad and axially through the vertebral bodies of the series of adjacent vertebrae and any intervertebral spinal discs; and
a bore enlarging tool sized to fit within the axial bore, the tool adapted to be inserted from the accessed sacral target point to a selected location along the axial bore, the tool operable to enlarge a section of the axial bore to form at least one recess therein;
wherein the bore enlarging tool comprises a counterboring tool assembly comprising;
an elongate drive shaft extending between a shaft proximal end and a shaft distal end, the shaft having a shaft lumen;
a cutting head mounted to the shaft distal end, the cutting head comprising deployment/retraction means for deploying the cutting head from a retracted locked position to a deployed locked position and for retracting the cutting head from the deployed locked position to the retracted locked position, the cutting head capable of cutting away bone or intervertebral disc material while in the deployed locked position; and
rotating means for rotating the cutting head from the shaft distal end to cut away vertebral bone or disc material. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. Apparatus for providing access to a series of adjacent vertebrae located within a human lumbar and sacral spine having an anterior aspect, a posterior aspect and an axial aspect from an anterior or posterior sacral target point of a sacral vertebra in alignment with a visualized, axial instrumentation/fusion line extending in the axial aspect through the series of adjacent vertebral bodies, wherein the axial aspect is curved in the posterior-anterior plane due to curvature of the spinal column, the vertebrae separated by intact or damaged spinal discs, the apparatus comprising:
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boring means for boring a curved, trans-sacral axial bore from the accessed sacral target point in alignment with the axial instrumentation/fusion line cephalad and axially through the vertebral bodies of the series of adjacent vertebrae and any intervertebral spinal discs; and
a bore enlarging tool sized to fit within the curved axial bore, the tool adapted to be inserted from the accessed sacral target point to a selected location along the curved axial bore, the tool operable to enlarge a section of the curved axial bore to form at least one recess therein;
wherein the bore enlarging tool comprises a counterboring tool assembly comprising;
an elongate drive shaft extending between a shaft proximal end and a shaft distal end, the shaft having a shaft lumen;
a cutting head mounted to the shaft distal end, the cutting head comprising deployment/retraction means for deploying the cutting head from a retracted locked position to a deployed locked position and for retracting the cutting head from the deployed locked position to the retracted locked position, the cutting head capable of cutting away bone or intervertebral disc material while in the deployed locked position; and
rotating means for rotating the cutting head from the shaft distal end to cut away vertebral bone or disc material. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification