Loading patent…
OwnerGary Karlin Michelsoninventor
Estimating the term…
An improved method and instrumentation for performing spinal surgery, including discectomy, interbody fusion and rigid internal fixation of the spine, from the lateral aspect of the spine is disclosed. The surgical procedure can be performed through a very small incision. The instrumentation of the present invention, all of which is inserted from a lateral position into the spine in the preferred embodiment, comprises a guide pin, a distractor, an extended outer sleeve, an inner sleeve an adjustable drill and an implant driver. The distractor of the present invention is driven into the disc for spacing apart and realigning the adjacent vertebrae. It further functions as an alignment rod for inserting the extended outer sleeve which is a hollow tubular member capable of maintaining said spacing and alignment of two adjacent vertebrae and defines a protected space through which subsequent instruments which may include, but are not limited to, a drill and a diameter reducing inner sleeve may be passed, as well as a spinal implant. The remainder of the surgical procedure consisting of the removal of spinal material across the disc, fusion, and rigid internal stabilization via the implant may all be performed via the closed space within the extended outer sleeve.
A method for inserting an interbody intraspinal implant into a disc space between adjacent vertebrae located within a human thoracic and lumbar spine having an anterior aspect and a posterior aspect being divided by a plane through transverse processes of the adjacent vertebrae, and having a lateral aspect, the method comprising the steps of:
The method of claim 35 further comprising the step of tapping the opening to provide threads on at least a portion of the adjacent vertebrae prior to the step of inserting said implants.
The method of claim of 1 further comprising the step of utilizing a radiographic imaging device during at least a portion of the method.
A method for inserting an interbody intraspinal implant into a disc space between adjacent vertebrae located within a human thoracic and lumbar spine having an anterior aspect and a posterior aspect being divided by a plane through transverse processes of the adjacent vertebrae, and having a lateral aspect, the method comprising the steps of:
A method for inserting an interbody intraspinal implant into a disc space between adjacent vertebrae located within a human thoracic and lumbar spine having an anterior aspect and a posterior aspect being divided by a plane through transverse processes of the adjacent vertebrae, and having a lateral aspect, the method comprising the steps of:
The method of claim 76 in which the driving step includes the sub-step of penetrating the disc space with said engaging means, and wherein said engaging means includes a disc penetrating extension.
A method for inserting an interbody spinal implant into a disc space between two adjacent vertebrae located within a human thoracic and lumbar spine having an anterior aspect and a posterior aspect being divided by a plane through transverse processes of the adjacent vertebrae, and having a lateral aspect, the method comprising the steps of:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.