Methods and instruments for endoscopic interbody surgical techniques

US7320688B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Warsaw Orthopedic, Inc.

Inventors

• Kevin T. Foley · Germantown, US
• John L. White · Kent, US
• Bradley T. Estes · Durham, US
• Mingyan Liu · Bourg-la-Reine, FR
• Loic Josse · Palaja, FR
• Jeffrey D. Moore · Austin, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 5, 2003
• Grant date: Jan 22, 2008
• Expiry date: Apr 27, 2024

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61F2230/0019
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

This invention relates to methods and instruments for performing a surgical procedure in a disc space between adjacent vertebrae. A cannula is inserted to create a working channel through the skin and tissue of a patient using a transforaminal approach to the disc space. A viewing element is used to visualize working end of the cannula and the disc space. A facetectomy is performed through the working channel to access the disc space. The disc space is prepared with various instruments, such as distractors, shims, chisels and distractor-cutters that extend through the working channel. At least implant is inserted into the disc space. The procedure allows bi-lateral support of the adjacent vertebrae with the at least one implant inserted via a unitary, minimally invasive approach to disc space.