A surgical device controllable by a surgical robotic system is provided. The surgical device includes a housing capable of being coupled to the surgical robotic system; a drive system at least partially mounted in the housing; and a shaft rotatably coupled to the drive system at a first end of the shaft. The surgical device further includes a tissue-removal assembly coupled to the second end of the shaft. The tissue-removal assembly includes a first cutting member having a plurality of rotatable blades. The first cutting member is coupled to a second end of the shaft. The tissue-removal assembly further includes a second cutting member, one or more support elements slidably or fixedly coupled to the second cutting member, and one or more extendable elements slidably or fixedly coupled to the second cutting member.

A dilation introducer for orthopedic surgery is provided for minimally invasive access for insertion of an intervertebral implant. The dilation introducer may be used to provide an access position through Kambin's triangle from a posterolateral approach. A first dilator tube with a first longitudinal axis is provided. A second dilator tube may be introduced over the first, advanced along a second longitudinal axis parallel to but offset from the first. A third dilator tube may be introduced over the second, advanced along a third longitudinal axis parallel to but offset from both the first and the second. An access cannula may be introduced over the third dilator tube. With the first, second, and third dilator tubes removed, surgical instruments may pass through the access cannula to operate on an intervertebral disc and/or insert an intervertebral implant.

Methods and systems for modulating intraosseous nerves (e.g., nerves within bone) are provided. For example, the methods and systems described herein may be used to modulate (e.g., denervate, ablate) basivertebral nerves within vertebrae. The modulation of the basivertebral nerves may facilitate treatment of chronic back pain. The modulation may be performed by a neuromodulation device (e.g., an energy delivery device).

An intraoperative ultrasound imaging system and method capable of using ultrasound imaging to safely place a surgical access instrument (e.g. guide wire, dilator, cannula, etc.) through a tissue (e.g., muscle, fat, brain, liver, lung, etc.) without damaging nearby neurovascular structure is described herein. The intraoperative ultrasound system includes an ultrasound probe assembly configured for emitting and receiving ultrasound waves and a computer system including a processor and a display unit. Once the probe is in position, ultrasound imaging is performed wherein the computer receives RF data from the probe and causes a B-mode image of the visible anatomical structures (e.g. muscle, bone, etc.) to be displayed on the display unit.

A serial dilation system includes a plurality of serial dilators that can be advanced over each other so as to dilate anatomical soft tissue along a trajectory toward a target anatomical site. An access cannula can then be introduced over the serial dilators. The serial dilators can be coupled to each other, such that once the access cannula is in place, removal of one of the serial dilators from the access cannula causes all of the serial dilators to be removed from the access cannula.

The present invention is directed to material removal instrument for forming cavities in interior body regions, particularly cavities in intervertebral discs and vertebrae. The instrument includes a cannula and a rotation mechanism disposed at least partially within the cannula. A cutting element extends from the rotation mechanism and impacts and dislocates tissue as the rotation mechanism is rotated within the body. Dislocated tissue with withdrawn from the body via the cannula.

In one embodiment, an access instrument for creating a surgical working portal includes a body having a first end and a body length, a first slot having a first slot length running along the length of the body from the first end, and a second slot having a second slot length running along the length of the body from the first end, wherein the first slot length and the second slot length are less than the body length.

A method for performing an efficient and thorough percutaneous discectomy includes making into the patient a percutaneous incision, which is a small stab wound, no more than approximately 10 mm in length. A stimulated combination neuro-monitoring dilating probe is passed through an approximately 10 mm or less skin incision and into a patient's disc space to establish a safe path and trajectory through Kambin's Triangle. Once a neuro-monitoring dilating probe is in the disc space, a second dilator is placed over the neuro-monitoring dilating probe and impacted into the disc space. Neuro-monitoring dilating probe may then be removed. An access portal optionally combined with a force dissipation device may then be placed over the second dilator and into the disc space. The second dilator is removed and then discectomy instruments may be placed through the access portal to perform the discectomy.

Connectors for connecting or linking one instrument or object to one or more other instruments or objects are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a connector can include a first arm with a first attachment feature for attaching to a first object, such as a surgical access device, and a second arm with a second attachment feature for attaching to a second object, such as a support. The connector can have an unlocked state, in which the position and orientation of the access device can be adjusted relative to the support, and a locked state in which movement of the access device relative to the support is prevented or limited. Locking the connector can also be effective to clamp or otherwise attach the connector to the access device and the support, or said attachment can be independent of the locking of the connector.

A dilation introducer for orthopedic surgery is provided for minimally invasive access for insertion of an intervertebral implant. The dilation introducer may be used to provide an access position through Kambin's triangle from a posterolateral approach. A first dilator tube with a first longitudinal axis is provided. An access cannula may be introduced over the first dilator tube. A drill may be inserted through the access cannula and used to perform a foraminoplasty. Surgical instruments may pass through the access cannula to operate on an intervertebral disc and/or insert an intervertebral implant.