Systems and methods that facilitate minimally invasive spine surgery
First Claim
1. A system that facilitates spinal rod placement, comprising:
- sequential cannulated dilators that create a portal along a working axis;
a hinged retractor placed over the cannulated dilators that exposes a working area, the hinged retractor including (i) an upper cylinder having a proximal end, a distal end, and first and second handles operatively connected to the proximal end, (ii) a lower cylinder having a proximal end, a distal end, and a handle operatively connected to the proximal end, wherein the first handle of the upper cylinder facilitates an angled expansion, and the second handle facilitates a symmetric expansion, of the upper cylinder relative to the lower cylinder, and (iii) two hinges operatively connected to the proximal end of the upper cylinder that facilitate the angled expansion of the upper cylinder relative to the lower cylinder;
screw preparation instruments that create a path along the working axis, each of the screw preparation instruments including a targeted guide with a laser oriented along a central axis thereof and attached to a fluoroscope;
at least one anchor device;
a T-handle alignment guide to facilitate insertion of the at least one anchor device within the spine along the working axis, the at least one anchor device having a head that accommodates the T-handle alignment guide;
an alignment marker sleeve that fits within an inner cylindrical chamber of the T-handle alignment guide; and
a flexible alignment marker that fits within a cannula of the alignment marker sleeve such that the tip of the flexible alignment marker rests near the center of the at least one anchor device.
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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.
56 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A system that facilitates spinal rod placement, comprising:
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sequential cannulated dilators that create a portal along a working axis; a hinged retractor placed over the cannulated dilators that exposes a working area, the hinged retractor including (i) an upper cylinder having a proximal end, a distal end, and first and second handles operatively connected to the proximal end, (ii) a lower cylinder having a proximal end, a distal end, and a handle operatively connected to the proximal end, wherein the first handle of the upper cylinder facilitates an angled expansion, and the second handle facilitates a symmetric expansion, of the upper cylinder relative to the lower cylinder, and (iii) two hinges operatively connected to the proximal end of the upper cylinder that facilitate the angled expansion of the upper cylinder relative to the lower cylinder; screw preparation instruments that create a path along the working axis, each of the screw preparation instruments including a targeted guide with a laser oriented along a central axis thereof and attached to a fluoroscope; at least one anchor device; a T-handle alignment guide to facilitate insertion of the at least one anchor device within the spine along the working axis, the at least one anchor device having a head that accommodates the T-handle alignment guide; an alignment marker sleeve that fits within an inner cylindrical chamber of the T-handle alignment guide; and a flexible alignment marker that fits within a cannula of the alignment marker sleeve such that the tip of the flexible alignment marker rests near the center of the at least one anchor device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method that facilitates spinal rod guidance, comprising:
- finding a working axis using laser-guided fluoroscopy;
making an incision in a patient;inserting a guide pin through the incision along the working axis; creating a working portal using sequential cannulated dilators; defining a working area using a targeted guide laser attached to a fluoroscope, the targeted guide laser is oriented along a central axis of a screw preparation instrument locating an entry point on the spine using the laser-guided fluoroscopy; creating a screw path along the working axis; placing a first polyaxial screw along the screw path; securing a first T-handle alignment guide on the first polyaxial screw; assessing orientation of the T-handle alignment guide using fluoroscopy; selectively placing the first polyaxial screw within the spine; placing a second polyaxial screw along the screw path; securing a second T-handle alignment guide on the second polyaxial screw; selectively placing the second polyaxial screw within the spine; and placing at least one transconnecting tower along the screw path between the first and second polyaxial screws, the at least one transconnecting 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 contain at least one rod-guidance entry funnel. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
- finding a working axis using laser-guided fluoroscopy;
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19. A system that facilitates spinal rod placement, comprising:
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means for placing transconnecting towers along a rod path prior to or following spinal rod placement, each transconnecting 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 at least one rod-guidance entry funnel; means for directing a connecting rod through the entry funnels of the upper level of the transconnecting towers; and means for directing a spinal rod through the entry funnels of the lower level of the transconnecting towers.
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Specification