103 results about "Spine procedure" patented technology

Apparatus and method for minimally invasive spinal surgery employs an elongated flexible guide element inserted so as to pass in through a first lateral posterior incision, through the spinal column anterior to the spinal cord, and out through a second lateral posterior incision contralateral to said first incision. The guide element is used to guide various elements to a desired position within the spinal column as part of the surgical procedure. Preferably, two hollow rigid tubes rigidly coupled outside the body in converging relation are used to define a working gap within the spinal column through which the guide element passes. This provides a platform for manipulation of tissues and introduction of implants anterior to the spinal cord. Procedures described include reinforcement of a degenerative intervertebral disc and restoration of a damaged vertebral body.

A retractor is provided for performing spinal surgery with a minimal approach, and which spares the lumbar muscles from surgical disruption. A preferred embodiment includes a blade having first and second faces wherein the faces are positioned substantially transverse to one another, and wherein at least one of the faces has a tapered width. Alternatively, both the first and second faces are tapered. Additionally, a third face positioned transverse to the first face and substantially parallel to the third face may be incorporated into the retractor. The second face also preferably includes at least one tooth, and more preferably, a plurality of teeth at its distal end for laterally engaging an articular process of a vertebra of the spine.

An implant has a first contact surface to contact a first vertebral body endplate and a second contact surface to contact a second vertebral body endplate adjacent the first vertebral body. The implant is deployable, when positioned within an intradiscal space between the first and second vertebral bodies, from a first non-expanded condition where the first contact surface has a first effective footprint area A1 to a second expanded condition where the first contact surface has a second effective footprint area A2. The ratio A2 / A1 is at least 1.05.

Apparatus and method for minimally invasive spinal surgery employs an elongated flexible guide element inserted so as to pass in through a first lateral posterior incision, through the spinal column anterior to the spinal cord, and out through a second lateral posterior incision contralateral to said first incision. The guide element is used to guide various elements to a desired position within the spinal column as part of the surgical procedure. Preferably, two hollow rigid tubes rigidly coupled outside the body in converging relation are used to define a working gap within the spinal column through which the guide element passes. This provides a platform for manipulation of tissues and introduction of implants anterior to the spinal cord. Procedures described include reinforcement of a degenerative intervertebral disc and restoration of a damaged vertebral body.

The present invention relates generally to an algorithm aimed at neurophysiology monitoring, and more particularly to an algorithm capable of quickly finding stimulation thresholds over multiple channels of a neurophysiology monitoring system.

This invention relates generally to spine surgery and, in particular, to a surgical implant for separating adjacent spinal vertebrae.

Instrumentation and methods are provided for performing image-guided spinal surgery using an anterior surgical approach. In one embodiment, the method comprises providing a surgical navigation reference device, mounting the reference device to bone at a location remote from the spinal column and in a substantially fixed position relative thereto, accessing a portion of the spinal column from an anterior direction, and performing an image-guided surgical procedure on the spinal column using an anterior surgical approach. In another embodiment, the mounting of the reference device comprises anchoring the reference device to a portion of the patient's pelvic bone, and more specifically the anterior region of the iliac crest. In a further embodiment, the image-guided surgical procedure comprises a spinal implantation procedure wherein a spinal implant is inserted into an intervertebral opening formed along the lumbar region of the spinal column using an anterior surgical approach.

A method of determining the size and trajectory of screws in pedicles during surgery, comprising generating a three-dimensional image of the bony spine; hollowing out the vertebra in the image with cortical wall thicknesses selected by a surgeon; determining the isthmus within each pedicle; generating a straight line starting at the center of the isthmus and extending in opposite directions so that it is positioned concentrically within the pedicle without touching the walls thereof, the line terminating inside the vertebral body a predetermined distance from the anterior inner cortical wall and extending outwardly in the opposite direction to penetrate the posterior pedicle cortex; expanding the line concentrically and radially to a cross sectional size that is less than that of the isthmus, the line being expanded into a cylinder that stops growing when any portion thereof contacts the inner cortical wall of the hollowed out vertebral body; and calculating pedicle screw size and trajectory based on the cylinder.

An internal fixation rod for spine surgery includes an elongate body, a first rod end, a second rod end, a first mounting member and a second mounting member. The first mounting member is disposed proximate the first rod end, and the second mounting member is disposed proximate the second rod end. The first mounting member and the second mounting member are smaller in cross-section than the elongate body.

A spinal implant may be deployable, when positioned within a vertebral space between a pair of vertebral bodies, from a first laterally non-expanded condition to a second laterally expanded condition. The spinal implant may include top beams and bottom beams separated by at least one post that is, in one embodiment, length variable in response to a load put on the implant after deployment of the implant. In an alternate embodiment, at least one post is laterally variable in response to a load put on the implant. In another embodiment, one of the posts may be centrally located.

This invention relates to a spinal implant for promoting fusion of adjacent vertebrae and restoration of normal disc height. The spinal implant includes an upper and lower surface adapted to engage cancellous bone tissue in the vertebral bodies. The spinal implant also includes at least two opposing bearing surfaces adapted to bear against cortical bone tissue in the endplates of adjacent vertebrae. This invention also provides an instrumentation to prepare the intervertebral space to receive the spinal implant and techniques for treating patents in need of corrective spinal surgery.

Surgical instrumentation for use in placing an implant into a disc space between a pair of spinal vertebrae may include: (a) a distractor having a distal end that may be placed into the disc space between the pair of spinal vertebrae; (b) an inserter for use in moving the implant toward the disc space between the pair of spinal vertebrae; and, (c) a distractor / inserter rail / groove interconnection that interconnects the distractor and the inserter for relative movement thereby.

A surgical connector useful to link spine rods together. The connector may be used adjacent a pair of mounting screws in one vertebra to limit movement between the screws or may be used to apply a lateral force to a portion of the spine to change curvature. A method of performing spinal surgery is also provide to reinforce a patient's spine.

Various devices and methods for accessing and preparing treatment sites within the intervertebral disc space for subsequent negligible-incision surgical (NIS) or percutaneous procedures to treat disc degeneration and disc related back pain are disclosed. Also disclosed is a method for performing a percutaneous spine procedure including preparing a treatment site within the intervertebral disc space for subsequent delivery of a biomaterial to treat disc degeneration and disc related back pain.

A retractor is provided for performing spinal surgery with a minimal approach, and which spares the lumbar muscles from surgical disruption. A preferred embodiment includes a blade having first and second faces wherein the faces are positioned substantially transverse to one another, and wherein at least one of the faces has a tapered width. Alternatively, both the first and second faces are tapered. Additionally, a third face positioned transverse to the first face and substantially parallel to the third face may be incorporated into the retractor. The second face also preferably includes at least one tooth, and more preferably, a plurality of teeth at its distal end for laterally engaging an articular process of a vertebra of the spine.

This invention relates to a spinal implant for promoting fusion of adjacent vertebrae and restoration of normal disc height. The spinal implant includes an upper and lower surface adapted to engage cancellous bone tissue in the vertebral bodies. The spinal implant also includes at least two opposing bearing surfaces adapted to bear against cortical bone tissue in the endplates of adjacent vertebrae. This invention also provides an instrumentation to prepare the intervertebral space to receive the spinal implant and techniques for treating patents in need of corrective spinal surgery.

Natural and / or synthetic materials to form a strong barrier between the skeletal system and the great vessels. In the preferred embodiments, a natural or synthetic material is used to prevent scar tissue from forming around the vessels and / or to act as barrier placed between the vessels and the skeletal system, including the spine. Devices according to the invention may also be used over the dura and nerves following laminectomy procedures, between the sternum and the pericardium or heart following cardiac procedures, in intra-abdominal procedures such as intestinal or vascular surgery, over the brain in intra-cranial surgery, over the ovaries or other organs or tissues in the female genitourinary system, over the prostate or other organ or tissues in the male genitourinary system, or in other surgeries on humans or animals.

The invention encompasses compositions, methods, and kits, for fixing bone and / or repairing connective tissue associated with bone using a fenestrated bone screw. In certain embodiments, the invention encompasses a pedicle screw system including a bio-resorbable or implantable capsule containing cement and methods of use thereof for treating, preventing, and managing disorders in osteoporotic patients. In certain embodiments, the invention encompasses a fenestrated pedicle screw with cement containment skin that is useful in treating subjects in need of spine surgery due to neurologic deficit, deformity, or trauma, which subjects do not have sufficient time for the medical treatment of osteoporosis.

A total disc replacement system for use in spine surgery involving a pair of endplates, a pair of bearing surfaces, and an intradiscal element composed of an elastomeric polymer.

The present invention relates to a device (and corresponding method) that protects (e.g., shields and / or retracts) exiting and / or descending nerve (e.g., nerve root). This may be carried out in a controlled, unobtrusive manner during, for example, Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion (“TLIF”), Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (“PLIF”), or Minimally Invasive Surgery (“MIS”) spinal procedures. Further, the device may be form-fit to one or more particular ones of the following: nerve, pedicle, annulus, vertebral body, interbody device.

An interbody cage can be utilized in a multi-access approach. Such a device can be inserted in an MIS exposure and then can be expanded insitu. Such a multi access device can expand in width to cover a larger area for fusion to occur. Such device includes a unique feature that allows for the graft material to stay in place upon deployment. Such a cage device can be configured with four graft boxes that can be filled with allograft or autograft material to allow for fusion to occur. Along with the graft boxes, such a cage can also be configured with a unique feature in the posterior piece of the device that has small cut outs or ports to allow for moldable allograft material to be injected through the inserter device.

A guide is disclosed for use in performing spinal surgery to prepare across a spinal disc and adjacent vertebrae an implantation space. The guide is associated with a computer controlled surgical navigation system employing an energy-detecting array to track positions of the guide in three dimensional space relative to a known reference point. The guide comprises a body for providing protected access to prepare across the spinal disc and into the adjacent vertebrae the implantation space. The body has a passage adapted to receive a bone removal device for forming the implantation space through the body. At least one electrically energizable energy emitter array is attached to the body for use in identifying the location of the guide relative to the adjacent vertebrae. A system and method for using the guide in spinal surgery are also disclosed.

A method of repairing a bone joint by using a simple and flexible artificial ligament which easily conforms to a patient's anatomy and can be used independently or in combination with an intervertebral graft, implant or prosthesis to return stability to the spine subsequent to a surgical spine procedure, is disclosed. The method includes anchoring the artificial ligament to at least two vertebrae to aid in restoring stability to the compromised joint. The artificial ligament is also disclosed.

Minimal Invasive Spine Surgery (MISS) as a surgical approach is increasingly utilized because of the advantages it offers over conventional spine surgery. The smaller incision results in decreased tissue damage, less blood loss, decreased hospital stay & faster postoperative recovery. The drawbacks of MISS are the long learning curve of working through a smaller incision, longer length of surgery, & potential higher complication rate due to compromised visual field. These limitations can be overcome by more effectively using imaging and navigational devices. The pedicle device simplifies the hardest part of MISS instrumented fusion of conventional pedicle screw insertion by introducing a percutaneous temporary device to locate and create the channel for later conventional pedicle screw implantation using available imaging techniques. This results in faster conventional pedicle screw insertion with precision, thereby decreasing implantation error and minimizing soft tissue injury and blood loss, as well as neurological, vascular, and dural injuries and complications.

A method of determining the pedicle base circumference and the pedicle isthmus to facilitate screw placement in a pedicle of a vertebral body during spinal surgery, comprising providing a series of first lines tangential to the outer cortical surface of the vertebral body in and near the pedicle on a transverse section from a three-dimensional image of the vertebral body, providing a series of second lines extending through the vertebral body in and near the pedicle thereof in perpendicular relation to the series of first lines, identifying the pedicle base circumference as the areas of the outer cortical surface where adjacent second lines are at the greatest angle with respect to one another, and identifying the pedicle isthmus as the areas of the outer cortical surface where the second lines that are opposed to each other are closest to being parallel to one another.

Methods and apparatus provide for: coupling an elongate guide substantially at a first end to at least one vertebral body of a spinal column of a patient; and extending a second end of the guide to a structure of the patient spaced in an anterior direction away from the at least one vertebral body towards an entry incision.

The present invention relates generally to a device of and a method for correcting spinal deformities, such as scoliosis and kyphosis. The invention employs the superelasticity or pseudoelasticity, such as found in a nickel-titanium alloy, to provide a continuous, predictable, and controllable correction force and to achieve a gradual and full correction. The correction force can be exerted on the deformed spine either at the time of the spine surgery or after the surgery or both, to afford a full or substantially full correction. The continuous and controllable correction force of the present invention is safer than an instantaneous and large correction force applied only at the time of surgery. Additionally, the continuous and controllable correction force is capable of gradually and fully correcting the spinal deformities without any post-operative manipulation of the correction device or re-operation.

The present invention relates to an image-based, patient-specific medical spinal surgery technique and to a spinal prosthesis used in the surgery, and particularly, to an image-based, patient-specific medical spinal surgery technique and to a spinal prosthesis which are intended to solve a problem of damage to a spine caused by installing a spinal prosthesis used in spinal surgery, by introducing an image of a patient to manufacture an insertable spinal prosthesis that is customized for a shape of a spine of an individual patient in a polymer-based material.

The present invention provides a spinal alignment system comprising at least one vertebral coupler, at least one reference device and a surgical orientation device. The present invention further provides methods using the spinal alignment system to assist in alignment of the spine during a surgical procedure to correct a deformity due to trauma or degeneration. The present invention also provides a pedicle screw navigation system comprising of a pedicle screw navigator, a first reference device, a second reference device and a surgical orientation device. The present invention provides methods using the pedicle screw navigation system to assist in determining the proper orientation of a pedicle screw during spinal surgery.

The present invention relates to an image-based, patient-specific medical spinal surgery technique and to a spinal prosthesis to the surgery, and particularly, to an image-based, patient-specific medical spinal surgery technique and to a spinal prosthesis which are intended to solve a problem of damage to a spine caused by installing a spinal prosthesis used in spinal surgery, by introducing an image of a patient to manufacture an insertable spinal prosthesis that is customized for a shape of a spine of an individual patient in a polymer-based material.