Percutaneous posterolateral spine fusion

Abstract

A method, tools, and system for performing a percutaneous or minimally invasive spine fusion procedure are provided. A trocar and then dilator are used to create a channel for a hollow and longitudinally slit delivery tube. The method includes inserting a decorticator, such as a rasp, via a delivery tube, decorticating a first region of a first bone associated with a spine, and pushing a bone fusion substance via the delivery tube to the region to fuse the first region with a second region of a second bone associated with the spine. The spine fusion may be a posterolateral fusion and the first region may be a transverse process region of a lumber spine. The bone fusion substance may be pushed using a pusher instrument inserted into the delivery tube, and the delivery tube may be removed while the pusher instrument is held in place to direct the bone fusion substance.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates to the field of minimally invasive and percutaneous surgeries and related procedures, such as posterolateral spine fusion, including lumbar spine fusion at the transverse processes, and to medical instruments for performing the same.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]Certain types of spine disease caused by painful relative motion of vertebrae of the spine warrant a procedure known as spinal fusion. Such abnormal and painful motion can be caused by proximity of discs, abnormal slippage of the vertebrae and other degenerative spinal conditions. In addition, certain conditions involving instability of the spine, and certain types of fractures, infections, deformities or tumors may also warrant spinal fusion.[0003]Traditionally, an open surgical or invasive technique is used, according to which an incision is generally first made; a portion of a bone is removed or decorticated; a bone fusing substance, such as some combination of ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

This patent describes a method and system for performing a spine fusion procedure. The method involves inserting a decorticator and a pusher instrument into a delivery tube and using them to fuse two bones associated with the spine. The system includes a trocar, dilator, delivery tube, decorticator, and pusher instrument, which can be adjusted or malleable to the curvature of the spine. The technical effects of this invention include improved spine fusion procedures that require fewer instruments and are more efficient in terms of time and cost.

Problems solved by technology

Such abnormal and painful motion can be caused by proximity of discs, abnormal slippage of the vertebrae and other degenerative spinal conditions.

However, this technique requires multiple incisions in the patient's body and requires cumbersome application of the bone matrix or bone fusion substance.

Further, these references do not disclose pushing the bone fusion substance via a delivery tube to the decorticated transverse processes or to other areas of interest.

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