Robot guided oblique spinal stabilization

A method for performing a minimally invasive procedure for spinal stabilization between two adjacent vertebrae of a subject, the method comprising:

• generating three-dimensional preoperative data including information regarding the spatial location of the bone structures and nerve positions associated with said two adjacent vertebrae;
• using said three-dimensional preoperative data to plan at least one safe path for oblique screw insertion, from the pedicle region in an inferior one of said two adjacent vertebrae into the body of the adjacent superior vertebra towards its anterior cortical rim;
• mounting a surgical robot such that it can delineate said at least one safe path;
• registering the coordinate system of said robot to said three-dimensional preoperative data;
• utilizing said surgical robot to generate a drilled hole along one of said at least one planned paths;
• and
• inserting a screw obliquely between said inferior and superior vertebrae through said drilled hole.
• wherein said method enables said spinal stabilization procedure to be performed by minimally invasive techniques without direct viewing of anatomical details of said vertebrae.

A method for performing spinal stabilization between two adjacent vertebrae of a subject, the method comprising:

• drilling two oblique posterior entry passages, one from each pedicle region in an inferior one of said two adjacent vertebrae into the body of the adjacent superior vertebra towards its anterior cortical rim;
• cleaning the disc space between said two adjacent vertebrae;
• accessing said disc space between said two adjacent vertebrae through a first one of said oblique posterior entry passages, and distracting said two adjacent vertebrae;
• inserting a screw obliquely into said inferior and superior vertebrae along the other one of said oblique posterior entry passages, such that said vertebrae are mutually fixed in position;
• and
• inserting a second screw obliquely between said inferior and superior vertebrae along the first one of said oblique posterior entry passages, such that said vertebrae are firmly fixed in position.