Spinal marker system and methods of use

A method of temporarily marking a target site on a vertebral body in a patient in need for a surgical procedure, said method comprising:

• providing a spinal marker comprising:
• a first penetration member having a first apex configured to pierce a bone of the vertebral body that forms a first taper from a first base;
• a second penetration member having a second apex configured to pierce the bone, that forms a second taper with a second base, such that the second taper is non-linear with and steeper than the first taper;
• wherein the first base of the first penetration member is concentretic to, abuts to, and does not have a larger cross-section than the second apex of the second penetration member where the first base and the second apex abut;
• estimating a location of the target site within the patient;
• exposing a first vertebral body of the patient;
• inserting the first apex of the first penetration member of the marker into the bone of the anterior face of the first vertebral body to make a first test hole;
• imaging the first vertebral body to verify the position of the first penetration member of the spinal marker embedded in the first vertebral body, using a radiographic imaging tool to generate a first image, is at the target site;
• reviewing said image and verifying the position of the first penetration member of the spinal marker embedded in the first vertebral body relative to the actual target site;
• wherein when the position of the inserted first penetration member of the spinal marker on the image is not verified at the actual target site, extracting the spinal marker from the first test hole in the first vertebral body and re-inserting the first apex of the first penetration member into a different position from the first test hole within the bone of the anterior face of the first vertebral body or the bone of the anterior face of a second vertebral body of the patient to make a second test hole;
• and then repeat the step of the imaging the first or second vertebral body, using the radiographic imaging tool to generate a second image, to verify the different position of the first penetration member of the spinal marker embedded in the first or second vertebral body is at the target site on the second image;
• wherein when the position of the inserted first penetration member of the spinal marker on the first or second image is verified to be at the actual target site, inserting the spinal marker further into the first or second test hole in the bone of the anterior face of the first or second vertebral body, such that the second penetration member embeds within the bone of the first or second vertebral body and creates a second final hole larger than, and concentric to, the first or second test hole;
• and removing the spinal marker from the target site.