Method and Apparatus for Performing Spinal Surgery
AssigneeNuVasive, Inc.
InventorsTroy B. WOOLLEY, Nathan LOVELL, Michael SERRA, Mark PETERSON
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Implants, instruments, and methods for performing surgical procedures on the spine, including one or more of creating an operative corridor to the spine, delivering implants to the spine, fusing one or more segments of the spine, and fixing one or more segments of the spine.
Claims20
A method for performing a spinal fixation procedure on a spinal segment of human spine, the spinal segment including at least a first vertebra and a second vertebra separated from the first vertebra by an intervertebral disc space, comprising:
- creating an operative corridor at least in part by:
- anchoring a first retractor blade to a pedicle of the first vertebra with a first bone anchor;
- and
- anchoring a second retractor blade to a pedicle of the second vertebra with a second bone anchor;
- advancing a third retractor blade through the operative corridor to the spinal segment, connecting the third retractor blade to a translating arm of a retractor body, and translating the translating arm to expand the operative corridor;
- fixing the spinal segment by inserting and locking a rod to the first pedicle and the second pedicles;
- and
- removing the first, second, and third retractor blades from the operative corridor and closing the operative corridor.
A method, comprising:
- coupling a first retractor blade to a first portion of a first bone anchor;
- coupling a second retractor blade to a first portion of a second bone anchor;
- connecting the first retractor blade to a first arm of a retractor body;
- connecting the second retractor blade to a second arm of the retractor body;
- actuating the first and second arms of the retractor body to change the distance between the first retractor blade and the second retractor blade;
- advancing a third retractor blade;
- connecting the advanced third retractor blade to a translating arm of the retractor body;
- translating the translating arm;
- and
- link the first bone anchor and the second bone anchor.
A method for performing a spinal fixation procedure on a spinal segment of human spine, the spinal segment including at least a first vertebra and a second vertebra separated from the first vertebra by an intervertebral disc space, comprising:
- anchoring a first retractor blade to a pedicle of the first vertebra with a first bone anchor;
- and
- anchoring a second retractor blade to a pedicle of the second vertebra with a second bone anchor;
- advancing a third retractor blade through an operative corridor defined at least in part by the first retractor blade and the second retractor blade;
- connecting the third retractor blade to a translating arm of a retractor body;
- translating the translating arm to expand the operative corridor;
- coupling a third bone anchor to a fourth retractor blade;
- advancing the third bone anchor and the fourth retractor blade together to a third pedicle adjacent the second pedicle;
- anchoring the bone anchor to the third pedicle;
- and
- fixing the spinal segment by inserting and locking a rod to the first and second pedicles;
- removing the first, second, and third retractor blades from the operative corridor and closing the operative corridor;
- and
- linking the third bone anchor together with the first bone anchor and the second bone anchor with a spinal rod,
- wherein the third pedicle is part of a third vertebra separated from the second vertebra by a second intervertebral disc space, and wherein the second vertebra, the third vertebra, and the second intervertebral disc space comprise a second spinal segment.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.