SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PERFORMING SURGICAL PROCEDURES AND ASSESSMENTS
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention involves systems and related methods for performing surgical procedures and assessments, including the use of neurophysiology-based monitoring to: (a) determine nerve proximity and nerve direction to surgical instruments employed in accessing a surgical target site; (b) assess the pathology (health or status) of a nerve or nerve root before, during, or after a surgical procedure; and/or (c) assess pedicle integrity before, during or after pedicle screw placement, all in an automated, easy to use, and easy to interpret fashion so as to provide a surgeon-driven system.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. (canceled)
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2. A method of inserting a spinal implant through a trans-psoas operative corridor to an intervertebral disc of a spine in a patient, the patient having an anterior aspect, a posterior aspect and two lateral aspects, the method comprising:
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using a control unit operable to provide a stimulation signal and including a graphical user interface to receive user input and to display neuromuscular response information in response to signals from a plurality of sensors mounted on the patient; inserting an initial dilator into the patient from one lateral aspect of the two lateral aspects of the patient toward a lateral aspect of the spine, and advancing the initial dilator along a trans-psoas path through bodily tissue toward the lateral aspect of the spine; using an elongate stimulation instrument disposed within an inner lumen of the initial dilator to deliver the stimulation signal proximate to a distal end of the initial dilator while the initial dilator is inserted into the trans-psoas path toward the spine; monitoring the neuromuscular response information displayed by the control unit in response to delivery of the stimulation signal while the initial dilator is inserted into the trans-psoas path toward the spine; sequentially advancing a first sequential dilator and a second sequential dilator along the trans-psoas path toward the spine, the first sequential dilator having a diameter smaller than that of the second sequential dilator; advancing a working corridor instrument over the second sequential dilator along the trans-psoas path toward the spine; establishing the trans-psoas operative corridor to the intervertebral disc of the spine using the working corridor instrument; and delivering a spinal fusion implant through the trans-psoas operative corridor toward the spine. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of inserting a spinal implant through a trans-psoas operative corridor to an intervertebral disc of a spine in a patient, comprising:
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using a control unit operable to provide a stimulation signal and including a graphical user interface to receive user input and to display neuromuscular response information in response to signals from a plurality of sensors mounted on the patient; inserting an initial dilator into the patient from an anatomically lateral aspect of the patient toward a lateral aspect of the spine, and advancing the initial dilator along an anatomically lateral trans-psoas path through bodily tissue toward the lateral aspect of the spine; using an elongate stimulation instrument disposed within an inner lumen of the initial dilator to deliver the stimulation signal proximate to a distal end of the initial dilator while the initial dilator is inserted into the anatomically lateral trans-psoas path toward the spine; monitoring the neuromuscular response information displayed by the control unit in response to delivery of the stimulation signal while the initial dilator is inserted into the anatomically lateral trans-psoas path toward the spine; sequentially advancing a first sequential dilator and a second sequential dilator along the anatomically lateral trans-psoas path toward the spine, the first sequential dilator having a diameter smaller than that of the second sequential dilator; advancing a working corridor instrument over the second sequential dilator along the anatomically lateral trans-psoas path toward the spine; establishing the trans-psoas operative corridor to the intervertebral disc of the spine using the working corridor instrument; and delivering a spinal fusion implant through the trans-psoas operative corridor toward the spine. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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Specification