IP Library Granted Patent US 12685543
Granted Patent B2
US 12685543 · App. 18/951,258 · Granted Jul 21, 2026

Percutaneous discectomy kit and method

Inventors: Joseph Gleason (Eagan, MN); Garrett Ganske (Lino Lakes, MN); Dan McPhillips (Ham Lake, MN); Craig Bourgeault (St. Louis Park, MN)
Assignee: Spineology Inc.
A61B17/1671A61B17/00234A61B17/3209A61B17/3423A61B17/92A61B90/06A61F2/4611A61B6/481A61B2017/00261A61B2017/922A61B2090/062
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12685543
App. No.
18/951,258
Granted
Jul 21, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method for performing percutaneous spinal interbody fusion on a spine of a patient can include inserting without direct visualization a neuro-monitoring dilating probe into the patient, performing neuro-monitoring via the neuro-monitoring dilating probe, advancing the neuro-monitoring dilating probe into a disc space, passing a second dilator over the neuro-monitoring dilating probe, and advancing the second dilator into the disc space. A kit for performing percutaneous spinal interbody fusion can include a neuro-monitoring dilating probe, a second dilator, a tissue removal tool, an access portal comprising an adjustable depth stop, and a discectomy verification device.

Claims (45)

1 . A method of performing percutaneous spinal interbody fusion on a spine of a patient, the method comprising:

inserting without direct visualization a neuro-monitoring dilating probe into the patient;

advancing the neuro-monitoring dilating probe into a disc space;

removing tissue from the patient using an articulating curette, wherein the step of removing tissue from the patient using an articulating curette comprises:

pivoting a cutting head of the articulating curette in a first rotational direction to remove tissue from the patient; and

rotating a main shaft of the articulating curette with respect to a handle assembly of the articulating curette so that the cutting head will be inverted and rotate in a second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction to remove tissue from the patient.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

passing a second dilator over the neuro-monitoring dilating probe; and

advancing the second dilator into the disc space.

3 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

placing an impactor over the second dilator;

placing an access portal into the disc space; and

impacting the impactor until a distal tip of an access portal is penetrated into the disc space.

4 . The method of claim 3 , further comprising removing the second dilator using the dilator impactor.

5 . The method of claim 3 , further comprising advancing a drill through the access portal until the drill contacts an access portal stop surface of an adjustable stop of the access portal.

6 . The method of claim 3 , further comprising placing a force dissipation device over the second dilator, wherein the access portal is placed through an access portal lock of the force dissipation device.

7 . The method of claim 3 , further comprising adjusting a depth stop of the access portal to define a permissible depth that a surgical instrument can penetrate into the patient.

8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising placing an implant in a prepared cavity in the disc space via a percutaneous implant guide.

9 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising performing neuro-monitoring via the neuro-monitoring dilating probe.

10 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising removing material from the disc space via a shaper instrument.

11 . A method of performing percutaneous spinal interbody fusion on a spine of a patient, the method comprising:

inserting without direct visualization a neuro-monitoring dilating probe into the patient;

advancing the neuro-monitoring dilating probe into a disc space;

inflating an expandable device of a discectomy verification device with contrast medium when the expandable device is located inside of the disc space.

12 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising, when the expandable device is inflated with the contrast medium inside of the disc space, performing indirect visualization imaging of the disc space to view a size and a shape of the disc cavity.

13 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising determining a depth of insertion of the discectomy verification device by comparing a visual marking on the discectomy verification device to a depth stop of an access portal.

14 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising placing an implant in a prepared cavity in the disc space via a percutaneous implant guide.

15 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising performing neuro-monitoring via the neuro-monitoring dilating probe.

16 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

passing a second dilator over the neuro-monitoring dilating probe; and

advancing the second dilator into the disc space.

17 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising:

placing an impactor over the second dilator;

placing an access portal into the disc space; and

impacting the impactor until a distal tip of an access portal is penetrated into the disc space.

18 . A method of performing percutaneous spinal interbody fusion on a spine of a patient, the method comprising:

inserting without direct visualization a neuro-monitoring dilating probe into the patient;

advancing the neuro-monitoring dilating probe into a disc space;

passing a second dilator over the neuro-monitoring dilating probe;

placing an access portal into the disc space; and

placing a force dissipation device over the second dilator, wherein the access portal is placed through an access portal lock of the force dissipation device.

19 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising removing tissue from the patient using an articulating curette.

20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the step of removing tissue from the patient using an articulating curette comprises:

pivoting a cutting head of the articulating curette in a first rotational direction to remove tissue from the patient; and

rotating a main shaft of the articulating curette with respect to a handle assembly of the articulating curette so that the cutting head will be inverted and rotate in a second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction to remove tissue from the patient.