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Procedure and system for spinal pedicle screw insertion

  • US 5,474,558 A
  • Filed: 07/18/1994
  • Issued: 12/12/1995
  • Est. Priority Date: 04/30/1992
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A surgical tool system for forming and working openings in a patient'"'"'s bone having nerve tissue in the region of the openings to be formed, comprising:

  • an elongate tool handle shaped to be held and twisted by a surgeon when forming openings in the patient'"'"'s bone;

    a first probe member arranged to extend from an end of the tool handle and including a probe shaft;

    electrically conductive tip means at a free end of said probe shaft, said tip means being suitably shaped and having sufficient strength for forming an opening in a selected bone when urged against the bone by said tool handle; and

    stimulator circuit means coupled to the tip means on said probe shaft for producing an electric stimulation potential of at least a first level at said tip means when the tip means is forming said opening;

    wherein said first level of the electric stimulation potential corresponds to a potential at which a predetermined nerve response is induced in the patient when said tip means is in proximity to said nerve tissue while forming said opening in the patient'"'"'s bone.

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