IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,134,987
Granted Patent B2
US 11,134,987 · App. 16/125,375 · Granted Oct 5, 2021

Method and devices for a sub-splenius/supra-levator scapulae surgical access technique

Inventors: William C. Horton (Duxbury, MA); John Riley Hawkins (Cumberland, RI); Christopher L. Ramsay (Wareham, MA); Edward B. Zalenski (Lakeville, MA); Alexander Grinberg (Auburndale, MA); Hassan Serhan (South Easton, MA); Ernest Quintanilha (Norton, MA)
Assignee: DePuy Synthes Products, Inc.
A61B17/56A61B1/06A61B1/32A61B17/0218A61B17/06066A61B17/06166A61B90/30A61B17/06A61B2017/0225A61B2090/309
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,134,987
App. No.
16/125,375
Granted
Oct 5, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

A novel posterolateral inter-muscular approach has been developed to access the cervical spine. The approach includes elevating the splenius capitis and trapezios muscles dorsally to create a window for deep spine access, wherein the window comprises: i) an anterior superior border of the trapezius muscle; ii) an anterior inferior border of the splenius capitis muscle, and iii) a posterior superior border of the levator scapulae muscle. Preferably, a device such as an implant or an instrument is then passed through the window to manipulate the spine.

Claims (17)

1. A surgical method, comprising:

forming an incision in the skin of a patient to access the spine;

retracting a leg of a triangle of soft tissue using a retractor to increase an access window to the spine;

passing a device through the access window,

detecting nervous tissue in the vicinity of the access window using an electrode coupled to the retractor;

illuminating the spine in the vicinity of the access window from a light source on an inner surface of the retractor; and

manipulating at least a portion of the spine through the access window.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the device is an implant.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the implant is a fusion cage.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the device is an instrument.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the instrument retractor comprises a camera.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein manipulating at least a portion of the spine includes performing a foraminotomy.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein manipulating at least a portion of the spine includes removing material.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the incision is formed in the a posteriolateral corridor.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one step of the method is performed by a surgical robot.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising providing at least one of irrigation and suction through the access window.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the light source receives light from a fiberoptic cable coupled to the retractor.