US 8,066,705 B2 · Instrumentation for the endoscopic correction of spinal disease

Abstract

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.

Claims41

Dependent claims

An instrument kit for use in performing surgery on a spinal segment including a disc space and two vertebral bodies adjacent the disc space, said kit comprising:

a guard having a passage therethrough for providing protected access to the disc space and the adjacent vertebral bodies, said guard having at least one projection extending distally from a distal end of said guard, said distal end adapted to contact each of the vertebral bodies adjacent the disc space to be fused, said at least one projection adapted to penetrate the disc space so as to be located at least in part between the perimeters of the vertebral bodies where adjacent to the disc space, said at least one projection having opposed portions adapted to contact at least a portion of each of the adjacent vertebral bodies, respectively, from within the disc space;
a spinal implant adapted to be inserted through said passage of said guard and at least in part into the disc space, said implant having opposed surfaces each adapted to contact one each of the adjacent vertebral bodies, each of said opposed surfaces having at least one opening to permit for the growth of bone from adjacent vertebral body to adjacent vertebral body through said implant;
and
an endoscope for visualizing the position of at least a portion of at least one of said guard and said implant relative to the vertebral bodies.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Instrumentation for the endoscopic correction of spinal disease

Life of this patent

Instrumentation for the endoscopic correction of spinal disease

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims41