Surgical instruments useful for endoscopic spinal procedures
US5697889A · kind A · utility
184Cited by
46References
18Claims
0Family size
Assignees
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 5, 1995 |
| Grant date | Dec 16, 1997 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 5, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61F2002/4635
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
The present invention provides endoscopic instrumentation and surgical techniques especially useful for accessing at least a portion of an intervertebral disc. Vertebrae spreading instruments are provided for spreading adjacent vertebrae to facilitate access to the intervertebral disc are. The disclosed surgical method uses an anterior approach to access the intervertebral disc and spreads adjacent vertebrae utilizing an endoscopic vertebrae spreading instrument.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.