Systems and methods that facilitate minimally invasive spine surgery
First Claim
1. A system that facilitates minimally invasive spine surgery, comprising:
- sequential cannulated dilators that create a portal along a working axis;
a hinged retractor placed over the cannulated dilators that increases a field of vision, the hinged retractor comprising;
an upper cylinder that has a proximal end and a distal end and a first and second handle operatively connected to the proximal end, the first handle facilitates an angled expansion and the second handle facilitates symmetric expansion;
a lower cylinder that has a proximal end and a distal end and a handle operatively connected to the proximal end; and
two hinges operatively connected to the proximal end of the upper cylinder that facilitate expansion of the upper cylinder and the lower cylinder;
preparation instruments that include a targeted guide with a laser attached to a fluoroscope, the preparation instruments create a path along the working axis;
at least one anchor device;
guidance instruments that selectively insert the at least one anchor device within the spine along the working axis; and
a transconnecting tower that has an upper level fitted with alignment holes that include at least one rod-guidance entry funnel and at least one alignment guide hole and a lower level that includes rod-guidance entry funnels, the upper level accommodates a connecting rod and the lower level accommodates a spinal rod.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method that facilitates minimally invasive spine surgery. The system includes screw preparation instruments that include a targeted guide with a laser attached to a fluoroscope, at least one polyaxial screw and rod guidance instruments that selectively insert the at least one polyaxial screw within the spine. The screw preparation instruments include an awl, a hand-held drill or tap, a ball-tipped probe, a cannulated depth gauge ruler, and a hexagonal screwdriver. Each screw preparation instrument have respective handles marked with a targeting guide oriented along respective central axes of the instruments. The rod guidance instruments include a rod with a tapered tip, a T-handle rod holder, a T-handle alignment guide, an alignment marker sleeve, a flexible alignment marker with a polyaxial head, and a template rod.
43 Citations
19 Claims
-
1. A system that facilitates minimally invasive spine surgery, comprising:
-
sequential cannulated dilators that create a portal along a working axis; a hinged retractor placed over the cannulated dilators that increases a field of vision, the hinged retractor comprising; an upper cylinder that has a proximal end and a distal end and a first and second handle operatively connected to the proximal end, the first handle facilitates an angled expansion and the second handle facilitates symmetric expansion; a lower cylinder that has a proximal end and a distal end and a handle operatively connected to the proximal end; and two hinges operatively connected to the proximal end of the upper cylinder that facilitate expansion of the upper cylinder and the lower cylinder; preparation instruments that include a targeted guide with a laser attached to a fluoroscope, the preparation instruments create a path along the working axis; at least one anchor device; guidance instruments that selectively insert the at least one anchor device within the spine along the working axis; and a transconnecting tower that has an upper level fitted with alignment holes that include at least one rod-guidance entry funnel and at least one alignment guide hole and a lower level that includes rod-guidance entry funnels, the upper level accommodates a connecting rod and the lower level accommodates a spinal rod. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. A method that facilitates minimally invasive spine surgery, comprising:
-
employing a laser in connection with fluoroscopy to find a working axis; making an incision in a patient; inserting a guide pin through the incision along the working axis; creating a portal with sequential cannulated dilators; exposing a working area with a hinged cylinder retractor placed over the cannulated dilators; locating an entry point on the spine with the laser in connection with fluoroscopy; creating a screw path along the working axis; placing at least a first polyaxial screw along the screw path; securing at least a first T-handle alignment guide on the at least a first polyaxial screw; selectively placing the at least a first polyaxial screw within the spine; placing at least a first alignment marker sleeve within the first T-handle alignment guide; inserting at least a first flexible alignment marker within a cannula of the first alignment marker sleeve; placing at least a second alignment marker sleeve within at least a second T-handle alignment guide, the second T-handle alignment guide secured to at least a second polyaxial screw; inserting at least a second flexible alignment marker within a cannula of the second alignment marker sleeve; and employing a template rod to connect the first flexible alignment marker with the second flexible alignment marker. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
-
-
19. A system that facilitates minimally invasive spine surgery, comprising:
-
a plurality of components to be inserted into a spine; means for employing laser-guided fluoroscopy to selectively place a subset of the plurality of components within the spine; means for exposing a working area with a hinged cylinder retractor placed over cannulated dilators, the hinged retractor comprising; an upper cylinder that has a proximal end and a distal end and a first and second handle operatively connected to the proximal end, the first handle facilitates an angled expansion and the second handle facilitates symmetric expansion; a lower cylinder that has a proximal end and a distal end and a handle operatively connected to the proximal end; and two hinges operatively connected to the proximal end of the upper cylinder that facilitate expansion of the upper cylinder and the lower cylinder; and means for placing connecting towers along a rod path prior to or following spinal rod placement, each connecting tower having an upper level fitted with alignment holes that include at least one rod-guidance entry funnel and at least one alignment guide hole and a lower level that includes rod-guidance entry funnels; means for directing a connecting rod through the entry funnels of the upper level of the connecting towers; and means for directing a spinal rod through the entry funnels of the lower level of the connecting towers.
-
Specification