Surgical instruments and method useful for endoscopic spinal procedures
AssigneesGus J. Slotman, Sherman Stein, United States Surgical Corporation
InventorsGus J. Slotman, Sherman Stein, David T. Green, Salvatore Castro, Carlo A. Mililli, Keith Ratcliff
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Abstract
The present invention provides endoscopic instrumentation and surgical techniques especially useful for accessing at least a portion of an intervertebral disc. Vertebrae spreading instruments are provided for spreading adjacent vertebrae to facilitate access to the intervertebral disc are. The disclosed surgical method uses an anterior approach to access the intervertebral disc and spreads adjacent vertebrae utilizing an endoscopic vertebrae spreading instrument.
Claims12
A method for accessing vertebral structures comprising:
- forming an endoscopic channel on an anterior portion of a patient's body;
- inserting an endoscopic vertebrae spreading instrument into said endoscopic channel;
- and
- spreading adjacent vertebrae in the spinal column using said endoscopic vertebrae spreading instrument.
A method for intervertebral disc removal comprising:
- endoscopically accessing the spinal column through an anterior endoscopic port;
- inserting an endoscopic spreading instrument into the endoscopic port:
- spreading apart vertebrae adjacent an intervertebral disc using the endoscopic spreading instrument;
- accessing an intervertebral disc nucleus;
- and
- removing at least a portion of the disc nucleus through said anterior endoscopic port.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.