METHODS AND DEVICES FOR MINIMALLY INVASIVE SPINAL FIXATION ELEMENT PLACEMENT
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A minimally invasive surgical method, comprising:
- forming an incision through tissue located adjacent to a vertebra in a patient'"'"'s spinal column;
identifying a muscle plane;
inserting a substantially planar blunt tip of a tool through the incision while manipulating the blunt tip along the muscle plane extending between the incision and the vertebra to separate the muscles.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Minimally invasive methods and devices for introducing a spinal fixation element into a surgical site in a patient'"'"'s spinal column are provided. In one embodiment, a dissection tool is provided for separating muscles along a muscle plane without causing damage to the muscles. The dissection tool can also include a lumen extending therethrough for receiving a guide wire. The tool allows the guide wire to be positioned relative to a vertebra, and once properly positioned, the tool can be removed to allow a spinal anchor to be delivered along the guide wire and implanted into the vertebra.
-
Citations
24 Claims
-
1. A minimally invasive surgical method, comprising:
-
forming an incision through tissue located adjacent to a vertebra in a patient'"'"'s spinal column;
identifying a muscle plane;
inserting a substantially planar blunt tip of a tool through the incision while manipulating the blunt tip along the muscle plane extending between the incision and the vertebra to separate the muscles. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A minimally invasive surgical method, comprising:
-
making a first incision in a patient;
inserting a blunt tip of a tool through the first incision and manipulating the blunt tip to create a first pathway from the first incision, between a muscle plane, to a first site on a first vertebral body;
advancing a guide wire through the tool to position a distal end of the guide wire adjacent the first site. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
-
-
18. A dissection tool for separating muscles, comprising:
-
a rigid elongate tube adapted for percutaneous delivery and including a proximal handle and a distal end;
a lumen extending between the proximal and distal ends of the tube and sized to receive a guide wire; and
a blunt member formed on the distal end of the tool and configured to separate muscles along a muscle plane while minimizing trauma to the muscles. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
-
-
21. A medical device kit, comprising:
-
a tissue dissection tool have a blunt member formed on a distal end thereof and adapted to separate muscles along a muscle plane while minimizing trauma to the muscles, the tissue dissection tool including a lumen extending therethrough;
at least one guide wire adapted to be disposed through the lumen in the tissue dissection tool; and
at least one spinal anchor adapted to be implanted in a vertebral body. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
-
Specification