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US 2021/0298660 A1Published application
Surgical access system and related methods
AssigneeNuVasive, Inc.
InventorsPatrick Miles, Scot Martinelli, Eric Finley
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A surgical access system including a tissue distraction assembly and a tissue refraction assembly, both of which may be equipped with one or more electrodes for use in detecting the existence of (and optionally the distance and/or direction to) neural structures before, during, and after the establishment of an operative corridor to a surgical target site.
Claims11
A method comprising:
- advancing a plurality of blades in a trans-psoas fashion to a surgical target site within a patient while the plurality of blades is in a closed position;
- while advancing the plurality of blades:
- causing electrical stimulation signals to be provided to the patient via a stimulation electrode;
- and
- determining a proximity of nerve tissue to the plurality of blades based on a response to the electrical stimulation;
- and
- selectively open the plurality of blades to create a customized operative corridor to the surgical target site.
4 more elements
A method comprising:
- while a plurality of blades of a retractor assembly is being advanced simultaneously to a surgical target site while in a closed position:
- sending electrical stimulation signals to patient tissue via one or more stimulation electrodes provided at the retractor assembly such that, depending upon a proximity of the plurality of blades to nerve tissue, the electrical stimulation signals cause the nerve tissue to depolarize, thereby causing one or more muscle groups to generate electromyography responses;
- sensing the electromyography responses via an electromyography harness;
- and
- providing an indication of a level of the electromyography responses at a user interface of a touch screen.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.