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Spinal surgery system and methodRelated Patent Categories: Surgery, Instruments, Orthopedic Instrumentation, Internal Fixation Means, Spinal Positioner Or StabilizerSpinal surgery system and method description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060036241, Spinal surgery system and method. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to spinal surgery and, in particular, it concerns a system and method for performing various minimally invasive spinal surgical procedures. [0002] The past several years have witnessed a multitude of novel ideas and techniques for improved care for patients with spinal conditions. Some of these advances have improved the quality of life of patients suffering from degenerative disk disease with disabling low back pain. The current trend is towards less invasive approaches with less iatrogenic soft-tissue morbidity, as compared to traditional procedures with or without fusion of vertebral bones. [0003] Despite a wide range of procedures performed today as minimally invasive spinal surgery ("MISS") procedures, there remain fundamental limitations to the available options in a number of respects. Firstly, while a posterior approach is preferred for minimizing iatrogenic soft-tissue morbidity, it has been found difficult to achieve precise positioning of devices anterior to the spinal cord using a posterior approach. Furthermore, the available techniques for anchoring implants in position within the spinal column are limited in their reliability and tend to generate problematic local debris. [0004] There is therefore a need for an apparatus and method for minimally invasive spinal surgery which would provide a guide element for providing a well defined reference location within the spinal column for performance of a MISS procedure anterior to the spinal cord. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0005] The present invention is an apparatus and method for minimally invasive spinal surgery, and corresponding surgical techniques which can advantageously be implemented using the apparatus and method of the invention. [0006] According to the teachings of the present invention there is provided, an apparatus for use in performing a minimally invasive spinal surgical procedure via a pair of bilateral stab wounds on either side of a subject region of the spine of a patient, the apparatus comprising: (a) a first hollow rigid tube having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end for insertion through a first of the stab wounds; (b) a second hollow rigid tube having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end for insertion through a second stab wound in the back of a patient; (c) a rigid coupling for rigidly coupling the first and second tubes such that the tubes converge towards the distal ends but maintain a predefined gap between the distal ends; and (d) an elongated flexible guide element for deployment so as to extend through the first hollow tube from the proximal end to the distal end, to traverse the gap and to extend through the second hollow tube from the distal end to the proximal end. [0007] According to a further feature of the present invention, the first and second tubes are implemented as substantially straight hollow tubes. [0008] According to a further feature of the present invention, the distal ends of the first and second tubes are implemented as inward-facing beveled ends. [0009] According to a further feature of the present invention, the distal ends of the first and second tubes are curved towards the gap. [0010] According to a further feature of the present invention, there is also provided a removable trocar removably receivable within each of the first and second tubes for facilitating insertion of the first and second tubes in the back of the patient. [0011] According to a further feature of the present invention, the guide element is asymmetric under rotations about its length. [0012] According to a further feature of the present invention, there is also provided a retractable drilling device removably associated with at least one of the first and second tubes and configured for drilling a connecting channel through the gap for insertion of the guide element. [0013] According to a further feature of the present invention, the drilling device is implemented as a directional drilling device configured for drilling in a direction non-parallel with a central bore of the tube. [0014] According to a further feature of the present invention, there is also provided a plurality of beads detachably associated with the guide element, and a release mechanism for releasing the plurality of beads from the guide element in the gap. [0015] According to a further feature of the present invention, the plurality of beads are interconnected as at least one chain of beads such that the plurality of beads remain interconnected after release from the guide element. [0016] According to a further feature of the present invention, the plurality of beads are formed from a material having a porous surface with pores of width 50-100 microns, and more preferably of width 70-80 microns. [0017] According to a further feature of the present invention, there is also provided a net element deployable within the gap around the guide element so as to contain the plurality of beads within a predefined containment volume. [0018] According to a further feature of the present invention, the plurality of beads are each formed with at least one surface configured to promote scar tissue formation, and wherein the net element is formed to allow penetration of cells to facilitate scar tissue formation at the at least one surface. [0019] According to a further feature of the present invention, there is also provided a pair of flexible elongated fixation appendages associated with the net element so as to be locatable within the first and second tubes and adapted for fixation to bone surfaces after removal of the first and second tubes to fix the net element in a required position. [0020] According to a further feature of the present invention, there is also provided a directional tissue compression device removably deployable along at least one of the first and second tubes, the directional tissue compression device including at least one compression element configured for applying pressure to a slice of tissue located adjacent to the gap and extending away from the first and second tubes so as to form a cavity. [0021] According to a further feature of the present invention, there is also provided an expandably fillable element for deployment in the cavity. [0022] According to a further feature of the present invention, the expandably fillable element includes perforations configured for allowing release of a small proportion of a filler material to enhance fixation of the expandably fillable element. Continue reading about Spinal surgery system and method... Full patent description for Spinal surgery system and method Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Spinal surgery system and method patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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