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 tissue removal device including customizable tips and method of use thereof. The tissue removal device may include an outer shaft having a removable tip attached to the outer shaft and a rotatable inner shaft extending through the outer shaft and having a rotatable cutting portion extending from the inner shaft. Disc material may be cut and removed from a surgical area using an auger-like and/or suction mechanism to facilitate the transfer of removed tissue away from the surgical area.

The present disclosure is directed to devices, kits, and methods for treating lumbar spinal stenosis by at least partially decompressing a compressed nerve root. The method can include identifying the compressed nerve root and percutaneously accessing a region of a lamina located adjacent to the compressed nerve root. The method can also include forming a channel through the region of the lamina, wherein the channel can be formed medial to a lateral border of the lamina. Further, the method can include expanding the channel in a lateral direction.

Systems and methods are provided for determining acceptable ranges of pressures for use by a robotic arm on a surgical instrument, robotic systems and methods that are limited to using the acceptable ranges of pressures, and the medical devices for use in the robotic surgery. Learning software is included in the methods and systems for correlating manually-performed procedures with pressure sensors as a tactile gauge for qualifying the acceptable ranges of pressures for use by a robotic system.

A needle assembly 10 compromising an infusion needle 11 that includes a needle cannula 13 made of a superelastic material such as Nitinol. The needle cannula is cold-worked or heat annealed to produce a preformed bend 16 that can be straightened within passageway 21 of a coaxial outer cannula 12 for introduction into the body of a patient. Upon deployment from the outer cannula, the needle cannula substantially returns to the preformed configuration for the introduction or extraction of materials at areas lateral to the entry path of the needle assembly. The needle assembly can compromise a plurality of needle cannulae than can be variably arranged or configured for attaining a desired infusion pattern.

A bone graft delivery system includes a bone graft injector and an access portal. The access portal may include a handle having a first arm pivotably connected to, and biased away from, a second arm. A ratchet including a pawl may extend from the second arm. A delivery tube may be configured to mate with the first arm and be configured to store a bone graft material therein. A plunger including a shaft and a plunger tip at the distal end thereof may be configured to move through the delivery tube. At least a portion of the shaft may include teeth, the pawl of the ratchet being configured to iteratively contact the teeth. A user may hold the access portal with a first hand and the bone graft injector with a second hand, iteratively squeezing the handle to iteratively eject amounts of bone graft material into a patient.

Methods and surgical tools for treating back pain use a spinal facet debridement tool with cautery and denuding action and minimally invasive protocol that can denude and cauterize soft tissue associated with a synovial capsule of the spinal facet joint.

An aspiration control device may include a conduit having a distal end and a proximal end and defining a conduit lumen, wherein the conduit defines a vent that is open to the conduit lumen, a coupling configured to couple the proximal end of the conduit with a vacuum source and an inner cannula such that a vacuum is supplied to each of the conduit lumen and the inner cannula, a sleeve movably disposed about the conduit and configured to move relative to the vent to achieve a desired level of vacuum delivered to the inner cannula.

System and methods for channeling a path into bone include a trocar having a proximal end, distal end and a central channel disposed along a central axis of the trocar. The trocar includes a distal opening at or near the distal end of the trocar. The system includes a curved cannula sized to be received in the central channel, and having a curved distal end configured to be extended laterally outward from the distal opening in a curved path extending away from the trocar. The curved cannula has a central passageway having a diameter configured allow a probe to be delivered through the central passageway to a location beyond the curved path.

A surgical system includes a surgical robot with an end effector that supports a drive assembly, a manual interface, and a trigger assembly. A cutting tool is attached to the drive assembly and rotatable about a cutting axis. A method includes positioning, with the surgical robot, the cutting tool relative to a surgical site to align the cutting axis with a predetermined trajectory. A user engages the trigger assembly for rotating the cutting tool about the cutting axis with the drive assembly and advancing the cutting tool along the predetermined trajectory at the surgical site to a first depth. A user applies force to the manual interface for rotating the cutting tool about the cutting axis and advancing the cutting tool along the predetermined trajectory to a second depth greater than the first depth.