Systems and methods of performing spine surgery and maintaining a volume of fluid at a surgical site

A surgical system for performing a surgical procedure at a surgical site of a spine of a patient, the surgical system comprising:

• a retractor having a proximal end defining an opening to ambient, a distal end, an inner surface defining a working channel, wherein the distal end is configured to be positioned within the patient to provide the working channel to the surgical site;
• an inflow source coupled to the retractor for providing a fluid to the surgical site to form a volume of fluid within the working channel of the retractor, the inflow source having an inflow sensor for providing an inflow input signal;
• an outflow source for removing a volume of fluid from the surgical site;
• a fluid level sensor disposed about the inner surface of the retractor such that the fluid level sensor is configured to be at least partially disposed within the patient, wherein the fluid level sensor is configured to provide a fluid level sensor input signal based on a level of the fluid disposed in the working channel;
• and
• a controller in communication with at least one chosen from the inflow source and the outflow source, and configured to control a flow rate of fluid being provided by the inflow source, an outflow rate of fluid being removed by the outflow source, or a combination thereof based on the fluid level sensor input signal and the inflow input signal.

A surgical system for performing a surgical procedure at a surgical site of a spine of a patient, the surgical system comprising:

• a retractor having a proximal end defining an opening to ambient, a distal end, an inner surface defining a working channel, wherein the distal end is configured to be positioned within the patient to provide the working channel to the surgical site;
• an inflow source coupled to the retractor for providing a fluid to the surgical site to form a volume of fluid within the working channel of the retractor, the inflow source having an inflow sensor for providing an inflow input signal;
• a first outflow source coupled to the retractor for removing a volume of fluid from the surgical site, the first outflow source having an outflow sensor for providing an outflow input signal;
• a second outflow source configured in fluid communication with a surgical instrument having a cutting member for removing the volume of fluid from the surgical site;
• a fluid level sensor disposed about the inner surface of the retractor such that the fluid level sensor is configured to be at least partially disposed within the patient, wherein the fluid level sensor is configured to provide a fluid level sensor input signal based on a level of the fluid disposed in the working channel;
• a first controller in communication with the inflow source and the fluid level sensor;
• and
• a second controller in communication with the first controller and the first outflow source;
• wherein the first controller is configured to control the inflow source to control a flow rate of fluid being provided by the inflow source, and the second controller is configured to control the first outflow source to control an outflow rate of fluid being removed by the first outflow source based on the sensor input signal, the inflow input signal, and the outflow input signal to compensate for sensed changes due to operation of the second outflow source such that a threshold level of fluid is maintained in the retractor.