Surgical Tools and method to facilitate spinal surgery

1 . A method to facilitate surgical access to a vertebral disc, the method comprising the steps of:

locating an inferior pedicle;

placing a bone cutter guide at the inferior pedicle;

guiding a bone cutter to the inferior pedicle using the bone cutter guide;

removing a portion of the inferior vertebral body using the bone cutter;

inserting a speculum along the bone cutter guide until the speculum contacts a disc annulus between the inferior vertebral body and a superior vertebral body; and

moving the speculum to provide access to the vertebral disc and protect the nerve during surgery, such that the surgeon can piece the disc annulus and access the disc nucleus.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of locating the inferior pedicle comprises using surgical navigation technology.

3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of threading a pedicle screw into the inferior pedicle with a pedicle screw extender, and wherein the bone cutter is placed using the pedicle screw and pedicle screw extender as an orientation tool to place the bone cutter guide.

4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising angularly orienting the bone cutter prior to removing the portion of the inferior vertebral body.

5 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising a distractor on the speculum to separate the inferior vertebral body and the superior vertebral body.

6 . The method of claim 5 , where in the distractor distracts the inferior vertebral body and the superior vertebral body when it is turned.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the bone cutter is removed prior to insertion of the speculum.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of inserting the speculum further comprises piercing the disc annulus.

9 . A system to facilitate surgical access to an intervertebral disc between an inferior vertebral body and a superior vertebral body, the system comprising:

a bone cutter;

a guide coupled to the bone cutter, the guide to facilitate placement of the bone cutter on a portion of the inferior vertebral body to be removed to provide surgical access; and

a speculum coupled to the guide, the speculum have a flat surface proximate an annulus of the intervertebral disc, the flat surface being movable to distract the nerve from the surgical access, wherein

the system facilitates removal of bone and isolation of nerves to provide surgical access and reduce time in surgery.

10 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the guide comprises a track.

11 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the track couples to a pedicle screw extender.

12 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the speculum comprises a lip, the lip and flat surface cooperating to lift and shield the nerve.

13 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the speculum comprises a distractor.

14 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the distractor operates to distract the vertebral bodies by rotation.

15 . The system of claim 13 , further comprising an angular orientation device to orientate the bone cutter with the vertebral body.

16 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the bone cutter comprises a shape selected from the group of shapes consisting of: a box shape, a rectangular shape, a triangular shape, a circular shape, an elliptical shape, or a polygon shape.

17 . A bone removal tool to facilitate surgical procedures, the tool comprising:

a bone cutter;

a bone cutter guide, the bone cutter guide coupled to the bone cutter; and

a track, the track coupled to the bone cutter such that the bone cutter is movable on extenders such that the bone cutter can be moved to contact a vertebral body.

18 . The bone removal tool of claim 17 , further comprising a speculum to engage, lift, and shield a nerve from a surgical area.

19 . The bone removal tool of claim 18 , further comprising an angular orientation device.

20 . The bone removal tool of claim 18 , further comprising a distractor having a leading edge to pierce a disc annulus.