Spine-anchored targeting systems and methods for posterior spinal surgery
A monopedicular targeting system for posterior spinal surgery includes a first joint component, a fastener for affixing the first joint component to a single pedicle, a positioning arm having a second joint component for mating with the first joint component to form a first joint having three rotational degrees of freedom, and a connector for coupling the spinal surgery device to the positioning arm. The connector has a third joint component that mates with a fourth joint component of a spinal surgery device to form a second joint having three rotational degrees of freedom. A monopedicular targeting method for posterior spinal surgery includes affixing a fastener to a single pedicle and adjusting three translational degrees of freedom and three rotational degrees of freedom of a posterior spinal surgery device with respect to a pedicle of a vertebra by manipulating joints of a manipulator connecting the spinal surgery device to the fastener.
1 . A method of spinal surgery, comprising:
implanting a pedicle screw into a pedicle of a vertebra of a patient's anatomy at a first location;
inserting a tubular device in the anatomy at a second location over an intervertebral space;
mounting a targeting system only to the pedicle screw and the tubular device, such that the tubular device is only connected to the patient's anatomy via the targeting system; and
performing a surgical step on the intervertebral disc space of the patient anatomy through the tubular device.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the performing step occurs while the targeting system is mounted to the pedicle screw and the tubular device.
3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of adjusting the targeting system to move the tubular device with respect to the pedicle screw.
4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the adjusting step includes articulating a joint of the targeting system.
5 . The method of claim 4 , further comprising the step of locking the joint.
6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the joint includes a spherical, cylindrical and/or a telescoping joint.
7 . A method of spinal surgery, comprising:
implanting an anchor into a pedicle of a vertebra of a patient's anatomy at a first location;
attaching a targeting system only to the anchor;
articulating a joint of the targeting system to position a tubular device in the anatomy at a second location, such that the tubular device is only connected to the patient's anatomy via the targeting system; and
inserting an implant through the tubular device and into an intervertebral disc space.
8 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the further comprising moving the tubular device in at least three degrees of freedom relative to the pedicle screw.
9 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of inserting an implant through the tubular device.
10 . A method of spinal surgery, comprising:
implanting an anchor into a pedicle of a vertebra of a patient's anatomy at a first location;
attaching a targeting system to only the anchor;
adjusting the targeting system to position a tubular device in the anatomy at a second location, such that the tubular device is only connected to the patient's anatomy via the targeting system; and
performing a surgical step on an intervertebral disc space of the patient anatomy with an instrument placed through the tubular device.
11 . The method of claim 10 wherein the performing step occurs while the targeting system is mounted to the pedicle screw and the tubular device.
12 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the adjusting step includes articulating at least one joint of the targeting system.
13 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising the step of locking the joint.
14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the joint includes a spherical, cylindrical and/or telescoping joint.
15 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the adjusting step includes moving the tubular device in at least three degrees of freedom relative to the anchor.
16 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising the step of inserting an implant through the tubular device.
17 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising the step of inserting an instrument through the tubular device and into the intervertebral space.
18 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising the step of locking the joint.
19 . The method of claim 7 , wherein movement of the patient imparts similar movement on the tubular device.