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Vertebral bone navigation systems

  • US 8,414,571 B2
  • Filed: 07/06/2012
  • Issued: 04/09/2013
  • Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2010
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A system for channeling a path into bone, comprising:

  • a trocar having a proximal end, distal end and a central channel;

    wherein the central channel is disposed along a central axis of the trocar and extends from the proximal end toward the distal end;

    wherein the trocar comprises a radial opening at or near the distal end of the trocar, the radial opening being in communication with the central channel;

    a curveable cannula sized to be received in said central channel and delivered from the proximal end toward said radial opening;

    the curveable cannula comprising a curveable distal end configured to be extended laterally outward from the radial opening in a curved path extending away from the trocar;

    a probe sized to fit within a central passageway of the curveable cannula, wherein the central passageway has a diameter configured to allow the probe to be delivered through the central passageway to a location beyond the curved path,a drive nut coupled to the curveable cannula,wherein the drive nut comprises a threaded distal recess configured to house a proximal end of the probe,wherein the probe comprises mating threads configured to mate with corresponding threads of the threaded distal recess so as to allow controlled translation of the drive nut with respect to the probe,wherein the distal end of the curveable cannula is deformable so as to be delivered in a straight configuration through the trocar and deployed in a curved configuration outward from the radial opening at an angle with respect to the central axis of the trocar; and

    a pull cord coupled to the distal tip of the curveable cannula, the pull cord extending to the proximal end of the trocar;

    wherein the pull cord is configured to apply a tensile force to the distal end of the curveable cannula to bias the curveable cannula into a curved configuration.

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