Surgical visualization systems and related methods are disclosed herein, e.g., for providing visualization during surgical procedures. Systems and methods herein can be used in a wide range of surgical procedures, including spinal surgeries such as minimally-invasive fusion or discectomy procedures. Systems and methods herein can include various features for enhancing end user experience, improving clinical outcomes, or reducing the invasiveness of a surgery. Exemplary features can include access port integration, hands-free operation, active and/or passive lens cleaning, adjustable camera depth, and many others.

The Pedicle Endoscope represents a new way to image the insertion of screws in vertebrae with the aid of fiber optics. The endoscope can operate in the visible and infrared spectra and is used in conjunction with a polyaxial or multiaxial screwdriver assembly. The mechanical assembly is comprised of a screwdriver, a polyaxial or multiaxial shaft, and a pedicle screw. The polyaxial shaft is inserted in the screwdriver and this assembly couples with the pedicle screw. Once this mechanical assembly is integrated, the endoscope is inserted through a bore that runs along the polyaxial shaft and the pedicle screw and it comes out of the screw tip, imaging the progression of the screw as it penetrates the incision in the vertebra. The endoscope consists of three fiber cores, one for imaging and two for illumination and a conduit for irrigation and air suction. Externally, the fiber cores and the conduit terminate in a fiber bundle that connects the imaging fibers to an imaging device, the illumination fibers to an illumination source and the conduit to an irrigation or suction device.

An access device for accessing an intervertebral disc having an outer shield comprising an access shield with a larger diameter (˜16-30 mm) that reaches from the skin down to the facet line, with an inner shield having a second smaller diameter (˜5-12 mm) extending past the access shield and reaches down to the disc level. This combines the benefits of the direct visual microsurgical/mini open approaches and the percutaneous, “ultra-MIS” techniques.

A trajectory guiding apparatus and one or more methods associated therewith for facilitating precision-guided alignment and implantation of a DBS therapy device in a patient. Orthogonally disposed first and second arcuate racks are independently actuatable by respective pinion drives, wherein the first arcuate rack is coupled to a base support and the second arcuate rack is operative to support a slider assembly arranged to accommodate an instrumentation column (IC) containing the therapy device. The first pinion drive is actuatable to cause a first curvilinear motion of the second arcuate rack including the slider assembly, the first curvilinear motion defined along a first arcuate path on a first perpendicular plane. The second pinion drive is actuatable to cause a second curvilinear motion associated with the slider assembly including the IC, the second curvilinear motion defined along a second arcuate path congruent with the second arcuate rack's curvature and disposed on a second perpendicular plane orthogonal to the first perpendicular plane.

A method for treating spinal nerve compression includes sequential dilation to position an instrument cannula along a patient's spine. Instruments can be delivered through the instrument cannula to remove targeted tissue for a decompression procedure. One of the instruments can be a reamer instrument configured to abrade, cut, or otherwise affect tissue along the patient's spine.

Surgical visualization systems and related methods are disclosed herein, e.g., for providing visualization during surgical procedures. Systems and methods herein can be used in a wide range of surgical procedures, including spinal surgeries such as minimally-invasive fusion or discectomy procedures. Systems and methods herein can include various features for enhancing end user experience, improving clinical outcomes, or reducing the invasiveness of a surgery. Exemplary features can include access port integration, hands-free operation, active and/or passive lens cleaning, adjustable camera depth, and many others.

An automatic detection of surgical instruments with respect to a type and a location thereof is provided with a detection system, which includes at least two surgical instruments, which each include at least one cavity extending along a longitudinal axis of the instrument and a proximal entry region to the cavity. An angle of the proximal entry region in relation to the longitudinal extension of the cavity is different in the two instruments. A sensor unit includes two electromagnetic sensors and is insertable into the cavity. One of the sensors extends axially in the cavity, and the other sensor is arranged in the entry region. A field generator generates an electromagnetic field. An analysis unit analyzes signals transmitted by the sensors to the analysis unit in accordance with the location thereof in the field of the field generator.

The present invention is directed at minimally invasive systems in which the proximal end portion of the working channel has either zero or a limited range of movement in the lateral direction. A first embodiment has a slidable collar attached to a pair of flanges, wherein movement of the collar is bounded by an annular frame. A second embodiment has a substantially spherical element attached to the tube. A third embodiment has a plurality of caps. A fourth embodiment is adapted for a larger working channel.

Disclosed are instruments, implants and methods of accessing the spine from an Anterior to the Psoas (ATP) approach, performing a discectomy through an ATP approach and then placing an intervertebral implant via an ATP approach for spinal fusion.

Disclosed are instruments, implants and methods of accessing the spine from an Anterior to the Psoas (ATP) approach, performing a discectomy through an ATP approach and then placing an intervertebral implant via an ATP approach for spinal fusion.