Surgical access and nerve surveillance
First Claim
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1. A method of performing spine surgery, comprising:
- advancing a stimulation instrument and an expandable structure along a path towards a spinal target site, wherein the expandable structure includes a passageway extending from a proximal end to a distal end, the stimulation instrument fitting within the passageway of the expandable structure;
delivering a stimulation signal from a stimulation electrode disposed proximate a distal end of the stimulation instrument while the stimulation instrument is positioned along the path to detect the presence of nerves adjacent the stimulation instrument;
manipulating the expandable structure to increase a circumference of the expandable structure from a first circumference to a larger second circumference;
advancing an access instrument over the expandable structure to the surgical target site, the access instrument having a second passageway extending from a proximal end to a distal end, the second passageway having a third circumference fitting around the second circumference of the expandable structure;
removing the stimulation instrument and the expandable structure from the second passageway after the access instrument has been advanced to the spinal target site; and
introducing an implant into the spinal target site through the access instrument.
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Abstract
An expandable tip cannula system, comprising: a hollow cannula shaft having a proximal end and a distal end; and an expandable tip mounted at the distal end of the hollow cannula shaft, the expandable tip comprising a plurality of generally-triangular shaped petals held together in a radially-inwardly tapered arrangement between adjacent petals, each petal comprising a nerve sensing electrode disposed therein.
285 Citations
7 Claims
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1. A method of performing spine surgery, comprising:
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advancing a stimulation instrument and an expandable structure along a path towards a spinal target site, wherein the expandable structure includes a passageway extending from a proximal end to a distal end, the stimulation instrument fitting within the passageway of the expandable structure; delivering a stimulation signal from a stimulation electrode disposed proximate a distal end of the stimulation instrument while the stimulation instrument is positioned along the path to detect the presence of nerves adjacent the stimulation instrument; manipulating the expandable structure to increase a circumference of the expandable structure from a first circumference to a larger second circumference; advancing an access instrument over the expandable structure to the surgical target site, the access instrument having a second passageway extending from a proximal end to a distal end, the second passageway having a third circumference fitting around the second circumference of the expandable structure; removing the stimulation instrument and the expandable structure from the second passageway after the access instrument has been advanced to the spinal target site; and introducing an implant into the spinal target site through the access instrument. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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Specification