Method and apparatus for introducing material along an access path to a treatment site
Disclosed are surgical tools, tool sets and methods for percutaneously accessing and preparing treatment sites within the spine for subsequent treatment procedures. The treatment site may be an inter-vertebral motion segments in the lumbar and sacral regions of the spine. The tool set may comprise introducer tools and bone dilators for accessing and tapping into a targeted site, such as, for example, the anterior surface of the S1 vertebral body. The tool set may also comprise cutters and extractors for preparing the treatment site for subsequent treatment procedures. The tool set may additionally comprise a bone graft inserter, an exchange system, and/or a temporary distraction tool for further preparing the treatment site for subsequent treatment procedures.
1 . An inserter for introducing material along an access path to a treatment site, comprising:
an elongate, tubular delivery cannula, having a proximal end, a distal end, and a central lumen extending therethrough;
a packer having an elongate body dimensioned for axial reciprocal movement within the lumen; and
an impactor mass on the packer.
2 . An inserter as in claim 1 , further comprising a beveled distal end on the delivery cannula.
3 . An inserter as in claim 1 , wherein the central lumen increases in diameter in the proximal direction.
4 . An inserter as in claim 1 , further comprising a funnel on the proximal end of the delivery cannula.
5 . An inserter as in claim 1 , wherein the impactor mass is on the proximal end of the packer.
6 . An inserter as in claim 1 , further comprising a bushing on the elongate body.
7 . An inserter as in claim 6 , further comprising at least one O ring on the bushing.
8 . An inserter as in claim 6 , wherein the bushing is dimensioned relative to the inside diameter of the central lumen to provide a sliding fit therebetween.
9 . A method of introducing material into a treatment site, comprising the steps of:
positioning an elongate, tubular delivery cannula along an access tract to a treatment site;
introducing material into the tubular cannula;
providing an elongate packer; and
axially advancing the packer into the tubular cannula to advance the material to the treatment site.
10 . A method as in claim 9 , wherein the positioning step comprises positioning a distal end of the cannula in communication with a bore in the spine.
11 . A method as in claim 10 , wherein the positioning step comprises positioning a distal end of the cannula in communication with a bore in the sacral spine.
12 . A method as in claim 9 , wherein the introducing step comprises introducing bone graft material.
13 . A method as in claim 9 , wherein the introducing step comprises introducing bone growth facilitation material.
14 . A method as in claim 9 , wherein the treatment site comprises a disc space.