|Publication number||US7731737 B2|
|Application number||US 10/693,663|
|Publication date||Jun 8, 2010|
|Filing date||Oct 24, 2003|
|Priority date||Oct 24, 2003|
|Also published as||US20050090833|
|Publication number||10693663, 693663, US 7731737 B2, US 7731737B2, US-B2-7731737, US7731737 B2, US7731737B2|
|Original Assignee||Zimmer Spine, Inc.|
|Export Citation||BiBTeX, EndNote, RefMan|
|Patent Citations (109), Non-Patent Citations (6), Referenced by (7), Classifications (36), Legal Events (4)|
|External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, Espacenet|
1. Field of the Invention
This application relates to methods of using access devices to perform minimally invasive surgery, such as procedures for stabilizing bone structures of a patient.
2. Description of the Related Art
Spinal surgery presents significant difficulties to the physician attempting to reduce chronic back pain or correct spinal deformities without introducing additional trauma due to the surgical procedure itself. In order to access the vertebrae to perform spinal procedures, the physician is typically required to make large incisions and cut or strip muscle tissue surrounding the spine. In addition, care must be taken not to injure nerve tissue in the area. Consequently, traditional surgical procedures of this type carry high risks of scarring, pain, significant blood loss, and extended recovery times.
Apparatuses for performing minimally invasive techniques have been proposed to reduce the trauma of posterior spinal surgery by reducing the size of the incision and the degree of muscle stripping in order to access the vertebrae. One such apparatus provides a constant diameter cannula, which is made narrow in order to provide a small entry profile. As a result, the cannula provides minimal space for the physician to observe the body structures and manipulate surgical instruments in order to perform the required procedures.
Once a doctor has exposed the vertebrae in some way, the most common treatment to reduce or eliminate degeneration of the spine or a portion thereof is fixation and/or fusion. Those conditions that compromise the spinal motion segments (adjacent vertebrae and the disc tissue or space in between) are often addressed by inserting a fusion device to promote bone growth between adjacent vertebrae. These devices are most commonly reinforced with a series of pedicle screws and rods to ensure minimal movement between adjacent vertebrae. These fixation devices provide load support for the spine, and can decrease the need for more extensive postoperative immobilization. Unfortunately, a narrow cannula is typically insufficient to perform one level spinal fixation procedures, which requires visualization of two vertebrae and introduction of screws, rods, as well as other large spinal fixation devices. Moreover, the pedicle screw fixation systems themselves require access to a larger area of the spine than the targeted disk area, increasing the trauma during surgery and increasing the time of patient recovery.
Accordingly, there is a need in the art for devices and methods for treating the spine which provide minimally invasive access to the spine such that fixation can be achieved with as little trauma to the surrounding area as possible.
One embodiment provides for a method to fix adjoining vertebrae of the spine of a patient. An access device is inserted into the patient at a surgical location adjacent the spine. This access device is inserted in a first configuration with a first cross-sectional area defined by its distal portion. Once at or near the surgical location, the access device is actuated to a second configuration having an enlarged cross-sectional area at its distal portion. With the access device in place, a fastener is delivered through the access device to the surgical location. The fastener is then advanced through a first vertebra and into a second vertebra. This fixation technique allows for the fixation of two adjacent vertebrae with minimal disruption and trauma to the surrounding tissue.
Further objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying figures showing illustrative embodiments of the invention, in which:
Throughout the figures, the same reference numerals and characters, unless otherwise stated, are used to denote like features, elements, components or portions of the illustrated embodiments. Moreover, while the subject invention will now be described in detail with reference to the figures, it is done so in connection with the illustrative embodiments. It is intended that changes and modifications can be made to the described embodiments without departing from the true scope and spirit of the subject invention as defined by the appended claims.
As should be understood in view of the following detailed description, this application is directed to apparatuses and methods for treating the spine of a patient through an access device, also referred to herein as an expandable conduit. More particularly, the systems described below provide access to surgical locations at or near the spine and provide a variety of tools useful in performing treatment of the spine. Also, the systems described herein enable a surgeon to perform a wide variety of methods as described herein.
I. Systems for Performing Procedures at a Surgical Location
Various embodiments of apparatuses and procedures described herein will be discussed in terms minimally invasive procedures and apparatuses, e.g., of endoscopic apparatuses and procedures. However, many aspects of the present invention may find use in conventional, open, and mini-open procedures. In the drawings and description which follows, the term “proximal,” as is traditional, refers to the end portion of the apparatus which is closest to the operator, while the term “distal” will refer to the end portion which is farthest from the operator.
Visualization of the surgical site may be achieved in any suitable manner, e.g., by use of a viewing element, such as an endoscope, a camera, loupes, a microscope, direct visualization, or any other suitable viewing element, or a combination of the foregoing. In one embodiment, the viewing element provides a video signal representing images, such as images of the surgical site, to a monitor M. The viewing element may be an endoscope and camera which captures images to be displayed on the monitor M whereby the physician D is able to view the surgical site as the procedure is being performed. The endoscope and camera will be described in greater detail herein.
The systems and procedures will be described herein in connection with minimally invasive postero-lateral spinal surgery. One such method is a two level posterolateral fixation of the spine involving the L4, L5, and S1 vertebrae. (In the drawings, the vertebrae will generally be denoted by reference letter V.) The usefulness of the apparatuses and procedures is neither restricted to the postero-lateral approach nor to the L4, L5, and S1 vertebrae, but it may be used in other anatomical approaches and other vertebra(e) within the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar regions of the spine. The procedures may be directed toward surgery involving one or more vertebral levels. It is also useful for anterior and lateral procedures. Moreover, it is believed that the invention is also particularly useful where any body structures must be accessed beneath the skin and muscle tissue of the patient, and where it desirable to provide sufficient space and visibility in order to manipulate surgical instruments and treat the underlying body structures. For example, certain features or instrumentation described herein are particularly useful for a minimally invasive procedures, e.g., arthroscopic procedures. As discussed more fully below, one embodiment of an apparatus described herein provides an expandable conduit that has an expandable distal portion. The expandable distal portion prevents or substantially prevents the expandable conduit or instruments extended therethrough to the surgical site from being dislodging or popping out of the operative site.
The system 10 includes an expandable conduit or access device that provides a internal passage for surgical instruments to be inserted through the skin and muscle tissue of the patient P to the surgical site. The expandable conduit has a wall portion defining reduced profile configuration for initial percutaneous insertion into the patient. This wall portion may have any suitable arrangement. In one embodiment, discussed in more detail below, the wall portion has a generally tubular configuration that may be passed over a dilator that has been inserted into the patient to atraumatically enlarge an opening sufficiently large to receive the expandable conduit therein.
The wall portion of the expandable conduit is subsequently expanded to an enlarged configuration, by moving against the surrounding muscle tissue to at least partially define an enlarged surgical space in which the surgical procedures will be performed. In a sense, it acts as its own dilator. The expandable conduit may also be thought of as a retractor, and may be referred to herein as such. Typically, but not by way of limitation, the distal portion expands to a greater extent than the proximal portion, because the surgical procedures are to be performed at the surgical site which is adjacent the distal portion when the expandable conduit is inserted into the patient.
While in the reduced profile configuration, the expandable conduit defines a first unexpanded configuration. Thereafter, the expandable conduit enlarges the surgical space defined thereby by engaging the tissue surrounding the conduit and displacing the tissue radially outwardly as the conduit expands. The expandable conduit may be sufficiently rigid to displace such tissue during the expansion thereof. The expandable conduit may be resiliently biased to expand from the reduced profile configuration to the enlarged configuration. In addition, the conduit may also be manually expanded by an expander device with or without one or more surgical instruments inserted therein, as will be described below. The surgical site is at least partially defined by the expanded conduit itself. During expansion, the conduit moves from the first overlapping configuration to a second overlapping configuration.
In addition to enlargement, the distal end portion of the expandable conduit may be configured for relative movement with respect to the proximal end portion in order to allow the physician to precisely position the distal end portion at the desired location. This relative movement also provides the advantage that the proximal portion of the expandable conduit nearest the physician D may remain substantially stable during such distal movement. In an exemplary embodiment, the distal portion is a separate component which is pivotably or movably attached relative to the proximal portion. In another embodiment, the distal portion is flexible or resilient in order to permit such relative movement.
One embodiment of an expandable conduit is illustrated in
In the illustrated embodiment, the skirt portion 24 is manufactured from a resilient material, such as stainless steel. The skirt portion 24 is manufactured so that it normally assumes an expanded configuration illustrated in
The skirt portion 24 is sufficiently rigid that it is capable of displacing the tissue surrounding the skirt portion 24 as it expands. Depending upon the resistance exerted by surrounding tissue, the skirt portion is sufficiently rigid to provide some resistance against the tissue to remain in the configurations of
The skirt portion 24 of the expandable conduit 20 is illustrated in an initial flattened configuration in
As discussed above, the skirt portion 24 is attached to the proximal wall portion 22 with a pivotable connection, such as rivet 30. A pair of rivet holes 36 are provided in the skirt portion 24 to receive the rivet 30. The skirt portion 24 also has two free ends 38 and 40 in one embodiment that are secured by a slidable connection, such as second rivet 44 (not shown in
An additional feature of the skirt portion 24 is the provision of a shallow concave profile 50 defined along the distal edge of the skirt portion 24, which allows for improved placement of the skirt portion 24 with respect to the body structures and the surgical instruments defined herein. In one embodiment, a pair of small scalloped or notched portions 56 and 58, are provided, as illustrated in
As illustrated in
Further details of the expandable conduit are described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,187,00, and in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/772,605, filed Jan. 30, 2001, U.S. application Ser. No. 10/361,887 filed Feb. 10, 2003, and application Ser. No. 10/280,489 filed Oct. 25, 2002, which are incorporated by reference in their entirety herein.
In one embodiment of a procedure, an early stage involves determining a point in the skin of the patient at which to insert the expandable conduit. The access point preferably corresponds to the posterior-lateral aspects of the spine. Manual palpation and Anterior-Posterior (AP) fluoroscopy may be used to determine preferred or optimal locations for forming an incision in the skin of the patient. In one embodiment, the expandable conduit 20 preferably is placed midway (in the cephcaudal direction) between the L4 through S1 vertebrae, centrally about 4-7 cm from the midline of the spine.
After the above-described location is determined, an incision is made at the location. A guide wire (not shown) is introduced under fluoroscopic guidance through the skin, fascia, and muscle to the approximate surgical site. A series of dilators is used to sequentially expand the incision to the desired width, about 23 mm in one procedure, without damaging the structure of surrounding tissue and muscles. A first dilator is placed over the guide wire, which expands the opening. The guide wire is then subsequently removed. A second dilator that is slightly larger than the first dilator is placed over the first dilator, which expands the opening further. Once the second dilator is in place, the first dilator is subsequently removed. This process of (1) introducing a next-larger-sized dilator coaxially over the previous dilator and (2) subsequently removing the previous dilator when the next-larger-sized dilator is in place continues until an opening of the desired size is created in the skin, muscle, and subcutaneous tissue. In one embodiment of the method, desired opening size is about 23 mm. (Other dimensions of the opening, e.g., about 20 mm, 27 mm, 30 mm, etc., are also useful with this apparatus in connection with spinal surgery, and still other dimensions are contemplated.)
Once positioned in the patient, the expandable conduit 20 may be enlarged to provide a passage for the insertion of various surgical instruments and to provide an enlarged space for performing the procedures described herein. As described above, the expandable conduit may achieve the enlargement in several ways. In one embodiment, a distal portion of the conduit may be enlarged, and a proximal portion may maintain a constant diameter. The relative lengths of the proximal portion 22 and the skirt portion 24 may be adjusted to vary the overall expansion of the conduit 20. Alternatively, such expansion may extend along the entire length of the expandable conduit 20. In one embodiment of a procedure, the expandable conduit 20 may be expanded by removing a suture 35 and tearing the outer sleeve 32 surrounding the expandable conduit 20, and subsequently allowing the skirt portion 24 to resiliently expand towards its fully expanded configuration as (illustrated in
According to one embodiment of a procedures, the expandable conduit 20 may be further enlarged at the skirt portion 24 using an expander apparatus to create a surgical access space. An expander apparatus useful for enlarging the expandable conduit has a reduced profile configuration and an enlarged configuration. The expander apparatus is inserted into the expandable conduit in the reduced profile configuration, and subsequently expanded to the enlarged configuration. The expansion of the expander apparatus also causes the expandable conduit to be expanded to the enlarged configuration. In some embodiments, the expander apparatus may increase the diameter of the expandable conduit along substantially its entire length in a conical configuration. In other embodiments, the expander apparatus expands only a distal portion of the expandable conduit, allowing a proximal portion to maintain a constant diameter.
In addition to expanding the expandable conduit, the expander apparatus may also be used to position the distal portion of the expandable conduit at the desired location for the surgical procedure. The expander engages an interior wall of the expandable conduit, and moves the conduit to the proper location. For the embodiments in which the distal portion of the expandable conduit is relatively movable with respect to the proximal portion, the expander apparatus is useful to position the distal portion without substantially disturbing the proximal portion.
In some procedures, an expander apparatus is used to further expand the skirt portion 24 towards the enlarged configuration (illustrated in
In use, the finger grips 212 are approximated towards one another, as indicated by an arrow A in
When the expandable conduit 20 is inserted into the patient and the outer sleeve 32 is removed, the skirt portion 24 expands to a point where the outward resilient expansion of the skirt portion 24 is balanced by the force of the surrounding tissue. The surgical space defined by the conduit may be sufficient to perform any of a number of surgical procedures or combination of surgical procedures described herein. However, if it is desired to expand the expandable conduit 20 further, the expander apparatus 200 may be inserted into the expandable conduit 20 in the reduced profile configuration until the shoulder portions 216 are in approximation with the proximal end 25 of the skirt portion 24 of the expandable conduit 20, as shown in
A subsequent, optional step in the procedure is to adjust the location of the distal portion of the expandable conduit 20 relative to the body structures to be operated on. For example, the expander apparatus 200 may also be used to engage the inner wall of the skirt portion 24 of the expandable conduit 20 in order to move the skirt portion 24 of the expandable conduit 20 to the desired location. For an embodiment in which the skirt portion 24 of the expandable conduit 20 is relatively movable relative to the proximal portion, e.g. by use of the rivet 30, the expander apparatus 200 is useful to position the skirt portion 24 without substantially disturbing the proximal portion 22 or the tissues closer to the skin surface of the patient. As will be described below, the ability to move the distal end portion, e.g., the skirt portion 24, without disturbing the proximal portion is especially beneficial when an additional apparatus is mounted relative to the proximal portion of the expandable conduit, as described below.
An endoscope mount platform 300 and indexing arm 400 provide securement of an endoscope 500 on the proximal end 25 of the expandable conduit 20 for remotely viewing the surgical procedure, as illustrated in
The endoscope mount platform 300 further provides a guide portion 306 that extends substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis 308 away from the central opening 304. The base 302 is typically molded as one piece with the guide portion 306. The base 302 and guide portion 306 may be constructed as a suitable polymer such as polyetheretherketone (PEEK).
The guide portion 306 includes a first upright member 310 that extends upward from the base 302 and a second upright member 312 that extends upward from the base 302. The upright members 310, 312 each have a respective vertical grooves 314 and 315 that can slidably receive an endoscopic mount assembly 318.
The endoscope 500 (not shown in
The endoscope mount 320 is removably positioned in a recess 328 defined in the substantially “U”-shaped saddle unit 322, which is selectively movable in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis 308 in order to position the endoscope 500 at the desired height within the expandable conduit 20 to provide a zoom feature to physician's view of the surgical procedure.
A screw mechanism 340 is positioned on the base 302 between the upright members 310 and 312, and is used to selectively move the saddle unit 322, and the endoscope mount 320 and the endoscope 500 which are supported by the saddle unit 322. The screw mechanism 340 comprises a thumb wheel 342 and a spindle 344. The thumb wheel 343 is rotatably mounted in a bore in the base 302. The thumb wheel 342 has an external thread 346 received in a cooperating thread in the base 302. The spindle 344 is mounted for movement substantially parallel to the central axis 308. The spindle 344 has a first end received in a rectangular opening in the saddle unit 322, which inhibits rotational movement of the spindle 344. The second end of the spindle 344 has an external thread which cooperates with an internal thread formed in a bore within the thumb wheel 342. Rotation of the thumb wheel 342 relative to the spindle 344, causes relative axial movement of the spindle unit 344 along with the saddle unit 322. Further details of the endoscope mount platform are described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/491,808 filed Jan. 28, 2000, application Ser. No. 09/821,297 filed Mar. 29, 2001, and application Ser. No. 09/940,402 filed Aug. 27, 2001.
The collars 420 advantageously make the surgical system 10 a modular in that different expandable conduits 20 may be used with a single endoscope mount platform 300. For example, expandable conduits 20 of different dimensions may be supported by providing of indexing collars 420 to accommodate each conduit size while using a single endoscope mount platform 300. The central opening 304 of the endoscope mount platform 300 has constant dimension, e.g., a diameter of about 32.6 mm. An appropriate indexing collar 420 is selected, e.g., one that is appropriately sized to support a selected expandable conduit 20. Thus the outer wall 422 and the outer diameter 430 are unchanged between different indexing collars 420, although the inner wall 424 and the inner diameter 432 vary to accommodate differently sized conduits 20.
The indexing collar 420 is mounted to the proximal portion of the expandable conduit 20 and allows angular movement of the endoscope mount platform 300 with respect thereto about the longitudinal axis 308 (as indicated by an arrow C in
The rod portion 502 supports an optical portion (not shown) at a distal end 508 thereof, which may define a field of view of about 105 degrees and a direction of view 511 of about 25-30 degrees. An eyepiece 512 is positioned at an end portion of the body portion 504. A camera (not shown) preferably is attached to the endoscope 500 adjacent the eyepiece 512 with a standard coupler unit. A light post 510 supplies illumination to the surgical site at the distal end portion 508. A preferred camera for use in the system and procedures described herein is a three chip unit that provides greater resolution to the viewed image than a single chip device.
A subsequent stage in the procedure involves placing the support arm 400 and the endoscope mount platform 300 on the proximal portion, e.g., the proximal end 25, of the expandable conduit 20 (
One procedure performable through the expandable conduit 20, described in greater detail below, is a two-level spinal fixation. Surgical instruments inserted into the expandable conduit may be used for debridement and decortication. In particular, the soft tissue, such as fat and muscle, covering the vertebrae may be removed in order to allow the physician to visually identify the various “landmarks,” or vertebral structures, which enable the physician to locate the location for attaching a fastener, such a fastener 600, discussed below, or other procedures, as will be described herein. Allowing visual identification of the vertebral structures enables the physician to perform the procedure while viewing the surgical area through the endoscope, microscope, loupes, etc., or in a conventional, open manner.
Tissue debridement and decortication of bone are completed using one or more debrider blades, bipolar sheath, high speed burr, and additional conventional manual instruments. The debrider blades are used to excise, remove and aspirate the soft tissue. The bipolar sheath is used to achieve hemostasis through spot and bulk tissue coagulation. The debrider blades and bipolar sheath are described in greater detail in U.S. Pat. No. 6,193,715, assigned to Medical Scientific, Inc., which is incorporated by reference in its entirety herein. The high speed burr and conventional manual instruments are also used to continue to expose the structure of the vertebrae.
A subsequent stage is the attachment of fasteners to the vertebrae V. Prior to attachment of the fasteners, the location of the fastener attachment is confirmed. In the exemplary embodiment, the pedicle entry point of the L5 vertebrae is located using visual landmarks as well as lateral and A/P fluoroscopy, as is known in the art. With continued reference to
After hole in the pedicle is provided at the entry point 92 (or at any point during the procedure), an optional step is to adjust the location of the distal portion of the expandable conduit 20. This may be performed by inserting the expander apparatus 200 into the expandable conduit 20, expanding the distal portions 210, and contacting the inner wall of the skirt portion 24 to move the skirt portion 24 to the desired location. This step may be performed while the endoscope 500 is positioned within the expandable conduit 20, and without substantially disturbing the location of the proximal portion of the expandable conduit 20 to which the endoscope mount platform 300 may be attached.
As illustrated in
In the illustrated embodiment, the biasing member 608 is a resilient ring having a gap 620, which permits the biasing member 608 to radially contract and expand.
The spacer member 606 is provided with a longitudinal bore 626, which provides access to a hexagonal recess 628 in the proximal end of the joint portion 614 of the screw member 602. The proximal portion of the housing 604 includes a pair of upright members 630 and 631 that are separated by substantially “U”-shaped grooves 632. A recess for receiving elongated member 650 is defined by the pair of grooves 632 between upright member 630 and 631. Elongated member 650 to be placed distally into the housing 604 in an orientation substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of the housing 604, as will be described below. The inner walls of he upright members 630 and 631 are provided with threads 634 for attachment of the cap screw 610 by threads 613 therein.
The fastener 600 is inserted into the expandable conduit 20 and guided to the prepared hole 92 in the vertebrae as a further stage of the procedure. The fastener 600 must be simultaneously supported and rotated in order to be secured in hole 92. In the illustrated embodiment the fastener 600 is supported and attached to the bone by an endoscopic screwdriver apparatus 660, illustrated in
The distal tool portion 666, as illustrated in greater detail in
The insertion of the fastener 600 into the prepared hole 92 may be achieved by insertion of screwdriver 660 into conduit 20 (indicated by arrow G). This procedure may be visualized by the use of the endoscope 500 in conjunction with fluoroscopy. The screw portion 602 is threaded into the prepared hole 92 by the endoscopic screwdriver 660 (indicated by arrow H). The endoscopic screwdriver 660 is subsequently separated from the fastener 600, by applying a force in the proximal direction, and thereby releasing the distal tip portion 666 from the hexagonal recess 628 (e.g., causing the transverse distal portion 686 of the spring member 672 to slide within the transverse recess 680 against the bias, indicated by arrow F), and removing the screwdriver 660 from the expandable conduit 20. An alternative method may use a guidewire, which is fixed in the hole 92, and a cannulated screw which has an internal lumen (as is known in the art) and is guided over the guidewire into the hole 92. The screwdriver would be cannulated as well to fit over the guidewire.
For a two-level fixation, it may be necessary to prepare several holes and attach several fasteners 600. Typically, the expandable conduit 20 will be sized in order to provide simultaneous access to all vertebrae in which the surgical procedure is being performed. In some cases, however, additional enlargement or repositioning of the distal portion of the expandable conduit may be required in order to have sufficient access to the outer vertebrae, e.g., the L4 and S1 vertebrae. In the illustrated embodiment, the expander apparatus 200 may be repeatedly inserted into the expandable conduit 20 and expanded in order to further open or position the skirt portion 24. In one procedure, additional fasteners are inserted in the L4 and S1 vertebrae in a similar fashion as the fastener 600 inserted in to the L5 vertebra as described above. (When discussed individually or collectively, a fastener and/or its individual components will be referred to by the reference number, e.g., fastener 600, housing 604, and all fasteners 600. However, when several fasteners and/or their components are discussed in relation to one another, an alphabetic subscript will be used, e.g., fastener 600 a is moved towards fastener 600 b.)
In a further stage of the procedure, the housing portions 604 of the fasteners 600 are substantially aligned such that their upright portions 630 and 631 face upward, and the notches 632 are substantially aligned to receive the elongated member 650 therein. The frictional mounting of the housing 604 to the screw member 602, described above, allows the housing 604 to be temporarily positioned until a subsequent tightening step, described below. Positioning of the housing portions 604 may be performed by the use of an elongated surgical instrument capable of contacting and moving the housing portion to the desired orientation. One such instrument for positioning the housings 604 is a grasper apparatus 700, illustrated in
A subsequent stage in the process is the insertion of the elongated member 650 into the expandable conduit. The elongated member 650 is manufactured from a biocompatible material and must be sufficiently strong to maintain the positioning of the vertebrae, or other body structures. In the exemplary embodiment, the elongated members 650 are manufactured from Titanium 6/4 or titanium alloy. Alternatively, the elongated member 650 may be manufactured from stainless steel or other suitable material. The radii and length of the elongated members 650 are selected by the physician to provide the best fit for the positioning of the screw heads. Such selection may be performed by placing the elongated member 650 on the skin of the patient overlying the location of the fasteners and viewed fluoroscopically. For example, a 70 mm preformed rod having a 3.5″ bend radius may be selected for the spinal fixation.
The elongated member 650 is subsequently fixed to each of the fasteners 600, and more particularly, to the housings 604 of each fastener 600. The grasper apparatus 700, described above, is also particularly useful for inserting the elongated member 650 into the expandable conduit 20 and positioning it with respect to each housing 604. As illustrated in
As illustrated in
Further positioning of the elongated member 650 may be performed by guide apparatus 800, illustrated in
In the illustrated embodiment, the guide apparatus 800 has a proximal handle portion 802, an elongated body portion 804, and a distal tool portion 806. The elongated body portion 804 defines a central bore 808 (illustrated in dashed line) along its longitudinal axis 810. The central bore 808 is sized and configured to receive the endoscopic screwdriver 660 and cap screw 610 therethrough. In the exemplary embodiment, the diameter of the central bore 808 of the elongated body portion 804 is about 0.384-0.388 inches in diameter, and the external diameter of the endoscopic screwdriver 660 (
The distal portion 806 of the apparatus includes several semicircular cut out portions 814 which assist in positioning the elongated member 650. As illustrated in
As illustrated in
The guide apparatus 800 and the endoscopic screwdriver 660 may cooperate as follows. The guide apparatus 800 is configured to be positioned in a surrounding configuration with the screwdriver 600. In the illustrated embodiment, the body portion 804 is configured for coaxial placement about the screwdriver 660 in order to distribute the contact force of the guide apparatus 800 on the elongated member 650. The distal portion 806 of the guide apparatus 800 may bear down on the elongated member 650 to seat the elongated member 650 in the notches 632 in the housing 604. The “distributed” force of the guide apparatus 800 may contact the elongated member 650 on at least one or more locations. In addition, the diameter of central bore 808 is selected to be marginally larger than the exterior diameter of cap screw 610, such that the cap screw 610 may freely slide down the central bore 808, while maintaining the orientation shown in
As illustrated in
If locations of the vertebrae are considered acceptable by the physician, then the fixation procedure is substantially complete once the cap screws 610 have been attached to the respective housings 604, and tightened to provide a fixed structure as between the elongated member 650 and the various fasteners 600. However, if compression or distraction of the vertebrae with respect to one another is required additional apparatus would be used to shift the vertebrae prior to final tightening all of the cap screws 610.
In the illustrated embodiment, this step is performed with a surgical instrument, such as compressor-distractor instrument 900, illustrated in
The distal tool portion 902 of the compressor-distractor instrument 900 is illustrated in
The distal tool portion 902 may also include a spacing member, such as spacing member 906, which engages an adjacent fastener 600 b while driver member 904 is engaged with the housing 604 a to move the fastener 600 b with respect to the fastener 600 a. In the exemplary embodiment, spacing member 906 is a jaw portion which is pivotably mounted to move between a first position adjacent the driver portion and a second position spaced from the driver portion, as shown in
As illustrated in
Once the elongated member 650 is fixed with respect to the fasteners 600, the procedure is substantially complete. The surgical instrumentation, such as the endoscope 500 is withdrawn from the surgical site. The expandable conduit 20 is also withdrawn from the site. The muscle and fascia typically close as the expandable conduit 20 is withdrawn through the dilated tissues in the reduced profile configuration. The fascia and skin incisions are closed in the typical manner, with sutures, etc. The procedure described above may be repeated for the other lateral side of the same vertebrae, if indicated.
II. Other Fixation Procedures Performed with the Systems Described Herein
As discussed above, the systems disclosed herein provide access to a surgical location at or near the spine of a patient to enable procedures to be performed on the spine. These procedures can be applied to one or more vertebral levels. Additional procedures and combinations of procedures that may be performed using the systems described herein are discussed below. These procedures include translaminar facet screw fixation and transfacet pedicle screw fixation to stabilize two adjacent vertebrae. Both of the above mentioned procedures are generally transfacet fixation procedures. Translaminar includes penetration by the fastener through portions of both the spinous process, the lamina, and the facet joint. They can be used alone or in conjunction with the fixation techniques including but not limited to bone graft materials or fixation devices placed in the actual disc space to promote fusion of the vertebrae.
In one embodiment stabilizing two adjacent vertebrae, an access device is inserted into the patient to provide access to a spinal location, as described above. A variety of anatomical approaches may be used to provide access to a spinal location using the expandable conduit. The access device preferably is inserted generally posteriorly. As used herein the phrase “generally posteriorly” is used in its ordinary sense and is a broad term that refers to a variety of surgical approaches to the spine that may be provided from the posterior side, i.e., the back, of the patient, and includes, but is not limited to, posterior, postero-lateral, and transforaminal approaches. Any of the access devices described or incorporated herein, such as the expandable conduit, could be used. Referring to the proximal and distal ends of these access devices, they may be circular, oblong, oval or another shape. The shape of one end need not determine the shape of the other. The term “oblong” is used in its ordinary sense (i.e. having an elongated form) and is a broad term and it includes a structure having a dimension, especially one of two perpendicular dimensions, such as, for example, width or length, that is greater than another. The term “oval” is used in its ordinary sense (i.e., egg like or elliptical) and is a broad term and includes oblong shapes having curved protions and oblong shapes having parallel sides and curved portions.
Further details of various additional embodiments of the access device may be found in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/678,744, filed Oct. 2, 2003, entitled MINIMALLY INVASIVE ACCESS DEVICE AND METHOD, and in U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. ______, filed Oct. 22, 2003, both of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.
The distal end of the access device may be placed at the desired surgical location, e.g., adjacent the spine of the patient, with a central region of the access device over a first vertebrae. In one procedure, the distal end of the access device is inserted until it contacts at least a portion of at least one of the vertebrae being treated or at least a portion of the spine. In another procedure, the distal end of the access device is inserted until it contacts a portion of the spine and then is withdrawn a small amount to provide a selected gap between the spine and the access device. In other procedures, the access device may be inserted a selected amount, but not far enough to contact the vertebrae being treated, the portion of the vertebrae being treated, or the spine.
The access device may be configured, as described above, to provide increased access to the surgical location. The access device can have a first configuration for insertion to the surgical location over the first vertebra and a second configuration wherein increased access is provided to the target vertebrae. The first configuration may provide a first cross-sectional area at a distal portion thereof. The second configuration may provide a second cross-sectional area at the distal portion thereof. The second cross-sectional area preferably is enlarged compared to the first cross-sectional area. In some embodiments, the access device may be expanded from the first configuration to the second configuration to provide access to the adjacent vertebrae either above the first vertebra, below the first vertebra, or both.
A. Transfacet Spinal Stabilization using Translaminar Fact Screw Fixation
In one embodiment of this invention, translaminar facet screw fixation is achieved using one or more access devices to achieve access to the spine. Translaminar facet screw fixation includes a stabilization fastener through portions of the spinous process, the lamina and the facet joint. There are multiple ways of achieving access using the access devices. In one embodiment, access is gained using two devices, one access device on the ipsalateral side and one on the contralateral side of the spine. It is useful to define several axes in
In another embodiment, the access device 20 can be expanded to provide access to more than one spinous process 1010, opening the door to multilevel fixations. The approach would be similar to the above-described approach; however, the actuated portion of the access device would be expanded to reveal multiple vertebrae.
With the access device 20 oriented as described above, the doctor can then stabilize the vertebrae using translaminar facet screw fixation.
In a preferred embodiment, a translaminar tunnel 1060 is created with a drill D1 as depicted in
With the translaminar tunnel 1060 in place, the physician can, though an access device, introduce a first fastener 1020 a to the desired vertebrae. This fastener 1020 a is secured through the spinous process 1010 of the first vertebrae V1, through the facet joint 1030 b on the contralateral side from the insertion point 1040 a and into the base 1050 b of the pedicle of the second vertebrae V2 using a screw driver or similar mechanical device D2 for assisted insertion passing through the access device 20 and coming into mechanical contact with the fastener 1020 a. In other embodiments, the fastener 1020 a may reach the apex of the pedicle or may not enter the pedicle at all, rather travelling though the lateral facet near the transverse process 1070 b.
Access is gained though a second access device 20 as described above and a second fastener 1020 b is similarly inserted through the access device 20 and secured to the vertebrae through the spinous process 1010 and a portion of the lamina 1090 a of the first vertebrae V1, this time at insertion point 1040 b, traveling through the facet joint 1030 a on the side opposite the insertion point 1040 b and into the base 1050 a of the pedicle of the second vertebrae V2. In alternative embodiments, the fastener 1020 b used to secure the vertebrae may reach other portions of the pedicle other than the base, and/or may not reach the pedicle at all. Alternative embodiments may have the fastener travel through the lateral facet near the transverse process or any combination of this with the above-discussed portions of the vertebrae. These fasteners 1020 a and 1020 b may comprise screws, straight pins or tapered pins pressed into or bonded to the bone such that they travel through the two vertebrae securing them together. In addition, said fasteners 1020 a and 1020 b may be composed of a number of biocompatible, stiff materials, including metal material, polymeric material, ceramic material, or other synthetic or naturally stiff material with similar characteristics. In a preferred embodiment, the fasteners 1020 a and 1020 b are screws made of a metallic material.
B. Spinal Stabilization using Transfact Pedicle Screw Fixation
In one embodiment of this invention, transfacet pedicle screw fixation is achieved using one or more access devices to achieve access to the spine. Transfacet pedicle screw fixation includes the penetration of a fastener through at least a portion of the facet joint. There are multiple ways of achieving access using the access devices. In one embodiment, access is gained using one access device to insert all tools and fasteners needed in the procedure. In this embodiment, an access device is envisioned with a diameter of 16-24 mm with an actuatable section expandable to between 25 and 40 mm. This and other embodiments may use an access device of greater or smaller diameter. In this embodiment, the access device preferably enters from a generally posterior approach and rests at or near the desired vertebrae. Once the access device is inserted, its distal end may be actuated from a first configuration to a second configuration to allow sufficient space for the physician to manipulate the tools and equipment to effect a proper stabilization.
Another possible embodiment would place a single access device over multiple vertebrae. The access angle would be similar to the above-described, with the actuated portion of the access device open sufficiently to span two or more spinous processes, thus allowing the physician to fix three vertebra with 2 or more fasteners.
In another embodiment, a separate access device is used on either side of the spinous process to effect the transfacet pedicle screw fixation. In such an embodiment, the access device can be actuated to cover one or more vertebrae per side, allowing for single or multilevel fixation. The approach angle would be similar to that described above with the access device shifted laterally to address specific sides of the vertebrae.
With the access device oriented as described above, the doctor can then stabilize the vertebrae using transfacet pedicle screw fixation.
Once a starting point has been marked, the physician can, though an access device 20, introduce a first fastener 1020 a to the desired vertebrae. This fastener 1020 a is secured through the facet joint 1030 a into the base 1050 a of the pedicle of the second vertebrae V2 using a screw driver or similar device D2 passing through the access device 20 and coming into mechanical contact with the fastener 1020 a. Because of the second, expanded configuration at the distal end of the access device 20, a second fastener 1020 b is similarly secured through the same access device 20 on the side opposite the first fastener 1020 a, travelling through the facet joint 1030 b into the base 1050 b of the pedicle of the second vertebrae V2. The angle of the access device 20 may be altered laterally as needed to facilitate insertion of the fasteners. These fasteners 1020 a and 1020 b may comprise screws, straight pins or tapered pins pressed into or bonded to the bone such that they travel through the two vertebrae securing them together. In addition, said fasteners 1020 a and 1020 b may be composed of a number of biocompatible, stiff materials, including metal material, polymeric material, ceramic material, or other synthetic or naturally stiff material with similar characteristics. In a preferred embodiment, the fasteners 1020 a and 1020 b are screws made of a metallic material. Transfacet pedicle screw fixation is further described in an article by H. Boucher entitled “Method of spinal fusion.” Clin Orthop 1997; 335; 4-9, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
In another embodiment, two access devices are used to accomplish the transfacet pedicle screw fixation.
As described above, the bone through which the fasteners are to run may be optionally tapped, pre-drilled or marked in some other manner to allow for ease and accuracy when inserting the fasteners. In a preferred embodiment, the fasteners provide the stabilization required to allow the bone of the adjacent vertebrae to fuse. In one embodiment of this stabilization technique, a single insertion point through the back and a single access device are used to conduct the entire operation to further minimize the trauma to surrounding tissue in the region of the desired stabilization. Though a narrow cannula may provide access for insertion of a single fastener, the access device described herein allows the necessary room to insert several fasteners at angles to each other. It should be noted that though a single access device may be used, multiple access devices may be used to facilitate the operation.
It is to be understood that the fixation techniques herein described may be used in combination with any number of other spinal operations, including but not limited to discectomy, nucleotomy, laminectomy, laminotomy, distraction, posterior-lateral fusion, etc.
Further details of the expandable conduit and its applications are described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/658,736, filed Sep. 9, 2003, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.
It will be understood that the foregoing is only illustrative of the principles of the invention, and that various modifications, alterations, and combinations can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.
|Cited Patent||Filing date||Publication date||Applicant||Title|
|US3789852||Jun 12, 1972||Feb 5, 1974||Dusseau A||Expandable trochar, especially for medical purposes|
|US4545374||Sep 3, 1982||Oct 8, 1985||Jacobson Robert E||Method and instruments for performing a percutaneous lumbar diskectomy|
|US4601713||Jun 11, 1985||Jul 22, 1986||Genus Catheter Technologies, Inc.||Variable diameter catheter|
|US4716901||Sep 25, 1985||Jan 5, 1988||Pratt Burnerd International Limited||Surgical appliance for forming an opening through the skin|
|US4819620||Aug 13, 1987||Apr 11, 1989||Ichiro Okutsu||Endoscope guide pipe|
|US4863133||May 26, 1987||Sep 5, 1989||Leonard Medical||Arm device for adjustable positioning of a medical instrument or the like|
|US4921478||Feb 23, 1988||May 1, 1990||C. R. Bard, Inc.||Cerebral balloon angioplasty system|
|US4984564||Sep 27, 1989||Jan 15, 1991||Frank Yuen||Surgical retractor device|
|US5025778||Mar 26, 1990||Jun 25, 1991||Opielab, Inc.||Endoscope with potential channels and method of using the same|
|US5131382||Mar 27, 1989||Jul 21, 1992||Meyer William F||Endoscopic percutaneous discectomy device|
|US5139499||Sep 5, 1990||Aug 18, 1992||American Cyanamid Company||Screw and driver|
|US5163949||Jul 17, 1991||Nov 17, 1992||Bonutti Peter M||Fluid operated retractors|
|US5171279||Mar 17, 1992||Dec 15, 1992||Danek Medical||Method for subcutaneous suprafascial pedicular internal fixation|
|US5190561||Jan 23, 1991||Mar 2, 1993||Surgical Innovations, Inc.||Tissue and organ extractor|
|US5195541||Oct 18, 1991||Mar 23, 1993||Obenchain Theodore G||Method of performing laparoscopic lumbar discectomy|
|US5196015 *||Apr 30, 1992||Mar 23, 1993||Neubardt Seth L||Procedure for spinal pedicle screw insertion|
|US5197971||Dec 18, 1990||Mar 30, 1993||Bonutti Peter M||Arthroscopic retractor and method of using the same|
|US5224680||Aug 22, 1991||Jul 6, 1993||Automated Medical Products Corp.||Surgical instrument holder|
|US5287845||Jan 15, 1992||Feb 22, 1994||Olympus Winter & Ibe Gmbh||Endoscope for transurethral surgery|
|US5295994||Nov 15, 1991||Mar 22, 1994||Bonutti Peter M||Active cannulas|
|US5312417||Jul 29, 1992||May 17, 1994||Wilk Peter J||Laparoscopic cannula assembly and associated method|
|US5345927||Mar 11, 1993||Sep 13, 1994||Bonutti Peter M||Arthroscopic retractors|
|US5354302||Nov 6, 1992||Oct 11, 1994||Ko Sung Tao||Medical device and method for facilitating intra-tissue visual observation and manipulation of distensible tissues|
|US5357983 *||Jan 4, 1993||Oct 25, 1994||Danek Medical, Inc.||Method for subcutaneous suprafascial pedicular internal fixation|
|US5370674||Mar 22, 1993||Dec 6, 1994||Farrell; Harriet M.||Method of heating medical liquids|
|US5395317||Oct 30, 1991||Mar 7, 1995||Smith & Nephew Dyonics, Inc.||Unilateral biportal percutaneous surgical procedure|
|US5439464||Mar 9, 1993||Aug 8, 1995||Shapiro Partners Limited||Method and instruments for performing arthroscopic spinal surgery|
|US5454365||Aug 27, 1993||Oct 3, 1995||Bonutti; Peter M.||Mechanically expandable arthroscopic retractors|
|US5472426||Aug 17, 1993||Dec 5, 1995||B.E.I. Medical||Cervical discectomy instruments|
|US5484437||Jun 10, 1993||Jan 16, 1996||Michelson; Gary K.||Apparatus and method of inserting spinal implants|
|US5489307||Sep 1, 1994||Feb 6, 1996||Spine-Tech, Inc.||Spinal stabilization surgical method|
|US5520607||Mar 4, 1994||May 28, 1996||Vision Sciences, Inc.||Holding tray and clamp assembly for an endoscopic sheath|
|US5571072||Apr 28, 1995||Nov 5, 1996||Kronner; Richard F.||Dual-axis endoscope holder|
|US5575754||Mar 29, 1995||Nov 19, 1996||Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.||Endoscopic apparatus for three dimensional instrumentation|
|US5601590||Apr 4, 1995||Feb 11, 1997||General Surgical Innovations, Inc.||Expandable cannulas|
|US5601690||Jul 11, 1994||Feb 11, 1997||Gauld Equipment Company||Method for screening pulp|
|US5667520||Aug 29, 1994||Sep 16, 1997||General Surgical Innovations, Inc.||Method of performing balloon dissection|
|US5690606||Feb 28, 1996||Nov 25, 1997||Slotman; Gus J.||Tisssue spreading surgical instrument|
|US5707359||Nov 14, 1995||Jan 13, 1998||Bufalini; Bruno||Expanding trocar assembly|
|US5792044||Mar 22, 1996||Aug 11, 1998||Danek Medical, Inc.||Devices and methods for percutaneous surgery|
|US5795289||Jul 28, 1997||Aug 18, 1998||Wyttenbach; William H.||Speculum|
|US5827319||May 20, 1996||Oct 27, 1998||Innerdyne, Inc.||Radially expandable access system having disposable and reusable components|
|US5946988||Jul 29, 1996||Sep 7, 1999||Howmedica Gmbh||Tool for driving pedicle screws|
|US5954635||Aug 29, 1997||Sep 21, 1999||Sdgi Holdings Inc.||Devices and methods for percutaneous surgery|
|US5961499||Jun 6, 1995||Oct 5, 1999||Peter M. Bonutti||Expandable cannula|
|US5997508||Mar 28, 1996||Dec 7, 1999||Medtronic, Inc.||Expandable percutaneous introducer sheath|
|US6053907||Aug 13, 1998||Apr 25, 2000||Endius Incorporated||Surgical instruments with flexible drive shaft|
|US6120437||Jan 6, 1995||Sep 19, 2000||Inbae Yoon||Methods for creating spaces at obstructed sites endoscopically and methods therefor|
|US6162236||Jul 9, 1997||Dec 19, 2000||Terumo Kabushiki Kaisha||Trocar needle and expandable trocar tube|
|US6171299||Jun 5, 1995||Jan 9, 2001||General Surgical Innovations, Inc.||Method of providing surgical access through an incision|
|US6187000||Aug 20, 1998||Feb 13, 2001||Endius Incorporated||Cannula for receiving surgical instruments|
|US6193715||Mar 19, 1999||Feb 27, 2001||Medical Scientific, Inc.||Device for converting a mechanical cutting device to an electrosurgical cutting device|
|US6306170||Feb 22, 2001||Oct 23, 2001||Tegementa, L.L.C.||Threaded fusion cage anchoring device and method|
|US6312443||Dec 21, 1999||Nov 6, 2001||Nuvasive, Inc.||Expandable cannula|
|US6338730||Jun 6, 1995||Jan 15, 2002||Peter M. Bonutti||Method of using expandable cannula|
|US6358226||Jun 21, 2000||Mar 19, 2002||Audrey M. Ryan||Lactation apparatus|
|US6358266||Oct 9, 1996||Mar 19, 2002||General Surgical Innovations, Inc.||Active cannulas|
|US6361488||Jan 28, 2000||Mar 26, 2002||Endius Incorporated||Support apparatus for endoscopic surgery|
|US6371968||May 8, 1997||Apr 16, 2002||Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.||Cavity retaining tool for bone surgery, a cavity retaining tool for general surgery, an endoscopic surgery system involving the use of a cavity retaining tool, and a procedure for surgery|
|US6383195||Apr 9, 1999||May 7, 2002||Endoline, Inc.||Laparoscopic specimen removal apparatus|
|US6485518 *||Dec 11, 2000||Nov 26, 2002||Nuvasive||Facet screw and bone allograft intervertebral support and fusion system|
|US6494893||Jun 12, 2001||Dec 17, 2002||Innderdyne, Inc.||Trocar system having expandable port|
|US6497654||Feb 18, 2000||Dec 24, 2002||Genzyme Corporation||Illuminated rectal retractor|
|US6524320||May 15, 2001||Feb 25, 2003||Endius Incorporated||Cannula for receiving surgical instruments|
|US6530880||Mar 29, 2001||Mar 11, 2003||Endius Incorporated||Apparatus for supporting an endoscope|
|US6530926 *||Aug 1, 2000||Mar 11, 2003||Endius Incorporated||Method of securing vertebrae|
|US6540747||Apr 14, 2000||Apr 1, 2003||Nuvasive, Inc.||System for securing joints together|
|US6564078||Jun 4, 1999||May 13, 2003||Nuvasive, Inc.||Nerve surveillance cannula systems|
|US6652553||Jul 16, 2001||Nov 25, 2003||Endius Incorporated||Surgical tool for use in expanding a cannula|
|US6800084||Jan 30, 2001||Oct 5, 2004||Endius Incorporated||Method for performing a surgical procedure and a cannula for use in performing the surgical procedure|
|US6821243||Aug 27, 2001||Nov 23, 2004||Endius Incorporated||Apparatus for adjustably supporting an endoscope|
|US6837889||Mar 1, 2002||Jan 4, 2005||Endius Incorporated||Apparatus for connecting a longitudinal member to a bone portion|
|US7004947||Jun 24, 2002||Feb 28, 2006||Endius Incorporated||Surgical instrument for moving vertebrae|
|US7056321||Oct 25, 2002||Jun 6, 2006||Endius, Incorporated||Method of securing vertebrae|
|US7066937||Feb 13, 2002||Jun 27, 2006||Endius Incorporated||Apparatus for connecting a longitudinal member to a bone portion|
|US7144393||Feb 10, 2003||Dec 5, 2006||Dipoto Gene P||Structure for receiving surgical instruments|
|US7226451||Oct 2, 2003||Jun 5, 2007||Shluzas Alan E||Minimally invasive access device and method|
|US20010011170||Jan 30, 2001||Aug 2, 2001||Endius Incorporated||Method for performing a surgical procedure and a cannula for use in performing the surgical procedure|
|US20010049498||Jul 16, 2001||Dec 6, 2001||Endius Incorporated||Sugical tool for use in expanding a cannula|
|US20020002360||Mar 30, 2001||Jan 3, 2002||Orth Michael J.||Methods, systems, and kits for implanting articles|
|US20030009130||Sep 5, 2001||Jan 9, 2003||Stecker Eric C.||Enlargeable multifunctional devices|
|US20030014068||Sep 12, 2002||Jan 16, 2003||Bonutti Peter M.||Expandable cannula|
|US20030040656||Aug 27, 2001||Feb 27, 2003||Endius Incorporated||Apparatus for adjustably supporting an endoscope|
|US20030073998||Oct 25, 2002||Apr 17, 2003||Endius Incorporated||Method of securing vertebrae|
|US20030139648||Feb 6, 2003||Jul 24, 2003||Foley Kevin Thomas||Devices and methods for percutaneous surgery|
|US20030153911||Feb 13, 2002||Aug 14, 2003||Endius Incorporated||Apparatus for connecting a longitudinal member to a bone portion|
|US20030153927||Feb 10, 2003||Aug 14, 2003||Endius Incorporated||Structure for receiving surgical instruments|
|US20030167058||Mar 1, 2002||Sep 4, 2003||Endius Incorporated||Apparatus for connecting a longitudinal member to a bone portion|
|US20030191371||Apr 5, 2002||Oct 9, 2003||Smith Maurice M.||Devices and methods for percutaneous tissue retraction and surgery|
|US20030195405||May 7, 2003||Oct 16, 2003||Nuvasive, Inc.||Nerve surveillance cannulae systems|
|US20030199871||Jun 5, 2003||Oct 23, 2003||Foley Kevin T.||Methods and instruments for endoscopic interbody surgical techniques|
|US20030236529||Jun 24, 2002||Dec 25, 2003||Endius Incorporated||Surgical instrument for moving vertebrae|
|US20040133201||Sep 9, 2003||Jul 8, 2004||Alan Shluzas||Methods and apparatuses for treating the spine through an access device|
|US20040230100||May 13, 2004||Nov 18, 2004||Shluzas Alan E.||Access device for minimally invasive surgery|
|EP0528562A2||Jul 30, 1992||Feb 24, 1993||Smith & Nephew Richards Inc||Pedicle screw and percutaneous fixation of vertebrae|
|EP0807415A2||May 7, 1997||Nov 19, 1997||Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.||A cavity retaining tool for bone surgery, a cavity retaining tool for general surgery, an endoscopic surgery system involving the use of a cavity retaining tool, and a procedure for surgery|
|EP0980677A1||Jun 17, 1999||Feb 23, 2000||Endius Incorporated||Cannula for receiving surgical instruments|
|EP1305077A1||Jul 31, 2001||May 2, 2003||Endius Incorporated||Method and apparatus for securing vertebrae|
|JP2000083960A||Title not available|
|JP2001149376A||Title not available|
|WO1992021292A2||May 26, 1992||Dec 10, 1992||Origin Medsystems Inc||Retraction apparatus and methods for endoscopic surgery|
|WO1993014801A1||Jan 21, 1993||Aug 5, 1993||Peter J Wilk||Laparoscopic cannula assembly and associated method|
|WO1995010218A1||Sep 29, 1994||Apr 20, 1995||Stanford Surgical Technologies||Stereoscopic percutaneous visualization system|
|WO2001054560A3||Jan 24, 2001||Feb 21, 2002||Endius Inc||Support apparatus for endoscopic surgery|
|WO2002009801A1||Jul 31, 2001||Feb 7, 2002||Thomas W Davison||Method and apparatus for securing vertebrae|
|WO2002078767A2||Mar 28, 2002||Oct 10, 2002||Endius Inc||Apparatus for adjustably supporting an endoscope|
|WO2003007783A2||Jul 13, 2002||Jan 30, 2003||Endius Inc||Surgical tool for use in expanding a cannula|
|WO2004103188A2||May 14, 2004||Dec 2, 2004||Endius Inc||Access device for minimally invasive surgery|
|WO2005032358A3||Oct 4, 2004||Jul 21, 2005||Endius Inc||Methods, systems and apparatuses for performing minimally invasive spinal procedures|
|1||F. Magerl; "Stabilization of the Lower Thoracic Lumbar Spine With External Skeletal Fixation"; Clin Orthop 1984; 189; pp. 125-141.|
|2||H. Boucher; "Method of Spinal Fusion"; Clin Orthop 1997; 335; pp. 4-9.|
|3||Lisa A. Ferrara et al.; "A Biomechanical Comparison of Facet Screw Fixation and Pedicle Screw Fixation"; Spine vol. 28, No. 12; pp. 1226-1234.|
|4||Robert F. Heary et al.; "Circumferential Fusion for Spondylolisthesis in the Lumbar Spine"; Neurosurg Focus 13(1); 2002.|
|5||U.S. Appl. No. 10/658,736, filed Sep. 9, 2003.|
|6||U.S. Appl. No. 10/678,744, filed Oct. 2, 2003.|
|Citing Patent||Filing date||Publication date||Applicant||Title|
|US8546456||Jul 24, 2009||Oct 1, 2013||Smith & Nephew, Inc.||Fracture fixation systems|
|US8568306||Apr 3, 2010||Oct 29, 2013||Mitchell A Hardenbrook||Surgical retractor system|
|US8795167||Oct 23, 2012||Aug 5, 2014||Baxano Surgical, Inc.||Spinal therapy lateral approach access instruments|
|US8801608||Sep 24, 2013||Aug 12, 2014||Mitchell A. Hardenbrook||Two-stage spinal access channel with psoas docking|
|US8998968||Nov 28, 2012||Apr 7, 2015||Choice Spine, Lp||Facet screw system|
|US20110087074 *||Apr 14, 2011||Hardenbrook Mitchell A||Surgical retractor system|
|US20120029518 *||Jul 29, 2010||Feb 2, 2012||Warsaw Orthopedic, Inc||Lumbo-sacral implant system and method|
|U.S. Classification||606/279, 606/247, 606/99, 606/198, 606/86.00A|
|International Classification||A61B17/34, A61B17/00, A61B17/88, A61B17/32, A61B19/00, A61B17/70|
|Cooperative Classification||A61B17/7082, A61B2019/5206, A61B17/3439, A61B2017/00261, A61B17/3421, A61B2017/3445, A61B17/7079, A61B19/5212, A61B17/3468, A61B17/7083, A61B17/8875, A61B17/7037, A61B17/7064, A61B17/1757, A61B17/7091, A61B17/7032, A61B2017/320032, A61B17/32002, A61B19/26|
|European Classification||A61B17/70P2, A61B17/17S4, A61B17/32E2, A61B17/70B5B, A61B17/34G4, A61B17/34G4H|
|Apr 5, 2004||AS||Assignment|
Owner name: ENDIUS, INCORPORATED,MASSACHUSETTS
Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:DIPOTO, GENE;REEL/FRAME:015176/0053
Effective date: 20040209
|Jan 22, 2009||AS||Assignment|
Owner name: ZIMMER SPINE, INC.,MINNESOTA
Free format text: MERGER;ASSIGNOR:ENDIUS INCORPORATED;REEL/FRAME:022143/0280
Effective date: 20071221
|Aug 3, 2010||CC||Certificate of correction|
|Nov 6, 2013||FPAY||Fee payment|
Year of fee payment: 4