US 12,285,342 B2
Method and apparatus for minimally invasive insertion of intervertebral implants
Faheem A. Sandhu, Washington, DC (US)
Assigned to DePuy Synthes Products, Inc., Raynham, MA (US)
Filed by DePuy Synthes Products, Inc., Raynham, MA (US)
Filed on Feb. 23, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/173,151.
Application 18/173,151 is a continuation of application No. 16/734,461, filed on Jan. 6, 2020, granted, now 11,590,002.
Application 16/734,461 is a continuation of application No. 15/976,143, filed on May 10, 2018, granted, now 10,537,443, issued on Jan. 21, 2020.
Application 15/976,143 is a continuation of application No. 14/183,108, filed on Feb. 18, 2014, granted, now 9,993,353, issued on Jun. 12, 2018.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/784,549, filed on Mar. 14, 2013.
Prior Publication US 2023/0190495 A1, Jun. 22, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A61F 2/46 (2006.01); A61B 17/16 (2006.01); A61B 17/34 (2006.01); A61F 2/44 (2006.01); A61B 17/00 (2006.01); A61B 17/02 (2006.01); A61F 2/30 (2006.01)
CPC A61F 2/4611 (2013.01) [A61B 17/1671 (2013.01); A61B 17/3417 (2013.01); A61B 17/3421 (2013.01); A61F 2/447 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00261 (2013.01); A61B 17/02 (2013.01); A61B 2017/3445 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30281 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30387 (2013.01); A61F 2002/3039 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30397 (2013.01); A61F 2002/304 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30433 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30507 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30522 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30538 (2013.01); A61F 2002/3055 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30556 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30579 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30601 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30827 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30841 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30878 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30904 (2013.01); A61F 2/4603 (2013.01); A61F 2002/4627 (2013.01)] 13 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for accessing a patient's intervertebral disc to be treated in orthopedic surgery, the method comprising the steps of:
introducing a guiding element along a posterolateral trajectory towards the intervertebral disc;
passing at least one dilator over the guiding element;
passing an outer cannula over the guiding element, wherein a distal end of the outer cannula is positioned to allow direct visualization of an exiting nerve root of a Kambin's triangle with a camera; and
directly visualizing the exiting nerve root of the Kambin's triangle with the camera through the outer cannula.