| US 7,569,056 B2 | ||
| Methods and apparatus for forming shaped axial bores through spinal vertebrae | ||
| Andrew H. Cragg, Edina, Minn. (US); and Jonathan Kagan, Hopkins, Minn. (US) | ||
| Assigned to TranS1 Inc., Wilmington, N.C. (US) | ||
| Filed on May 25, 2004, as Appl. No. 10/853,476. | ||
| Application 10/853476 is a continuation of application No. 09/710369, filed on Nov. 10, 2000, granted, now 6,740,090, filed on May 25, 2004. | ||
| Claims priority of provisional application 60/182748, filed on Feb. 16, 2000. | ||
| Prior Publication US 2004/0220577 A1, Nov. 04, 2004 | ||
| This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer. | ||
| Int. Cl. A61B 17/00 (2006.01); A61B 17/32 (2006.01); A61B 17/56 (2006.01) | ||
| U.S. Cl. 606—79 [606/61; 606/80; 606/180] | 19 Claims |
| 18. Apparatus for providing access to a series of adjacent vertebrae located within a human lumbar and sacral spine having
an anterior aspect, a posterior aspect and an axial aspect from an anterior or posterior sacral target point of a sacral vertebra
in alignment with a visualized, axial instrumentation/fusion line extending in the axial aspect though the series of adjacent
vertebral bodies, wherein the axial aspect is curved in the posterior-anterior plane due to curvature of the spinal column,
the vertebrae separated by intact or damaged spinal discs, the apparatus comprising:
a controllable boring device configured for boring a curved, trans-sacral axial bore from the accessed sacral target point
in alignment with the axial instrumentation/fusion line cephalad and axially though the vertebral bodies of the series of
adjacent vertebrae and any intervertebral spinal discs; and
a bore enlarging tool sized to fit within the curved axial bore, the tool adapted to be inserted from the accessed sacral
target point to a selected location along the curved axial bore, the tool operable to enlarge a section of the curved axial
bore to form at least one recess therein;
wherein the controllable boring device comprises:
a flexible drive shaft;
a drill bit attached to a distal end of the flexible drive shaft;
a pre-curved sheath with an inner lumen for receiving the flexible drive shaft and an outer sheath configured to move over
the pre-curved sheath.
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