Embodiments of the present disclosure includes method and devices for minimally invasive spinal fusion surgery. A method for minimally invasive spinal fusion surgery can include accessing a spinal column through a working channel device, wherein the working channel has a proximal end and a distal end, advancing the working channel so that the distal end pierces an outer layer of a vertebral disc, inserting a disc extractor through the working channel device and into the vertebral disc to cut the vertebral disc into pieces, inserting a disc blade through the working channel device and into the vertebral disc to cut the vertebral disc into pieces, using a disc rake to remove the pieces of the vertebral disc, inserting a disc shaver to clean a number of surfaces of vertebra adjacent to the vertebral disc, and inserting and implanting a disc implant in a space from where the vertebral disc was removed.

A multi-portal method for treating a subject's spine includes distracting adjacent vertebrae using a distraction instrument positioned at a first entrance along the subject to enlarge an intervertebral space between the adjacent vertebrae. An interbody fusion implant can be delivered into the enlarged intervertebral space. The interbody fusion implant can be positioned directly between vertebral bodies of the adjacent vertebrae while endoscopically viewing the interbody fusion implant using an endoscopic instrument. The patient's spine can be visualized using endoscopic techniques to view, for example, the spine, tissue, instruments and implants before, during, and after implantation, or the like. The visualization can help a physician throughout the surgical procedure to improve patient outcome.

An improved method of fusing the sacroiliac joint and tools for accomplishing the same is disclosed. In one embodiment, the present invention is a method that uses an intra-articular joint fusion device for connecting the sacrum and ilium that includes creating a first incision in the patient's skin proximal to the patient's sacroiliac joint, inserting a surgical channel tool into the incision from the patient's posterior, creating a void in the sacroiliac joint, inserting a fusion implant into the void, the fusion implant having at least one fixation element for engagement with bone tissue in the articular surfaces of the sacrum and the ilium, and driving the fusion implant into the void such that the at least one fixation element engages with bone tissue in an articular surface of at least one of the sacrum and ilium, and the fusion implant fixes relative positions of the sacrum and ilium.

A multi-portal method for treating a subject's spine includes distracting adjacent vertebrae using a distraction instrument positioned at a first entrance along the subject to enlarge an intervertebral space between the adjacent vertebrae. An interbody fusion implant can be delivered into the enlarged intervertebral space. The interbody fusion implant can be positioned directly between vertebral bodies of the adjacent vertebrae while endoscopically viewing the interbody fusion implant using an endoscopic instrument. The patient's spine can be visualized using endoscopic techniques to view, for example, the spine, tissue, instruments and implants before, during, and after implantation, or the like. The visualization can help a physician throughout the surgical procedure to improve patient outcome.

Tool assemblies and methods are disclosed, such as for robotic-assisted surgery with a robot. The tool assembly includes a working tool (44) sized to be coaxially movable within the dilator (60). A locking mechanism (70) releasably couples the working tool (44) and the dilator (60) to one another such that, in a locked configuration, the robot supports the tool assembly. An actuator (86) is configured to receive an input to move the locking mechanism to an unlocked configuration and permit axial movement of the working tool within the dilator. The dilator (60) may include at least one spike (104) disposed within the grooves (128) to penetrate bone. The dilator (60) may include an inner sleeve and outer sleeve coaxially movable relative to one another to move the tool assembly from an initial configuration to a deployed configuration in which the spikes are exposed beyond the sleeve(s). Methods of preparing a pedicle of the spine with the tool assembly with robotic assistance are also disclosed.

A system and related methods for performing nerve detection during surgical access using ultrasound testing during surgery.

Disclosed is a system for delivering a facet screw assembly to a facet joint. The system includes a facet screw assembly and a delivery device. The distal end of the delivery device includes a facet screw engagement feature, which is keyed to a corresponding delivery device engagement feature. In other embodiments, the system may include a facet screw assembly, a facet access guide, a washer sizer tool removably engaged with the facet access guide, a lateral mass decorticator guide slidably and removably engaged with the washer size tool, a washer implant delivery tool removably engaged with the facet access guide and detachably coupled to the facet screw assembly, and optionally an impact handle detachably coupled to the facet access guide, washer sizer tool, and washer implant delivery tool.

Various surgical tools having a movable handle mechanism including a positioning handle are disclosed. The movable handle mechanism may be configured to move forward and backward in a longitudinal direction along the housing and rotate clockwise and counterclockwise around the housing. In various embodiments, the housing may include a plurality of channels and each channel may have at least one detent. The movable handle mechanism may be configured to securely couple to the housing via one channel of the plurality of channels and one detent of the plurality of detents. At least one surgical tool may include a drill having an angled tip portion and a sleeve configured to protect adjacent structures from lateral edges of the drill bit when the drill bit is rotating. Another surgical tool may include a screwdriver having an elastic retaining clip configured to progressively release a bone screw therein at an extraction force.

A surgical drill bit for bone drilling and for determining a characteristic of a drilling medium from a characteristic of fluid flow. The surgical drill bit includes a shank portion for coupling to a drill chuck. The shank portion defines a proximal opening. The surgical drill bit also includes a drilling portion for drilling through bone. A distal cutting region (62) of the drilling portion includes a rake surface (66), a clearance surface (68), and a flank surface (70). The flank surface (70) defines a distal opening (72) and is configured to abut the bone such that the distal opening is occluded by the bone while the rake surface is cutting into the bone. The shank and drilling portions collectively define an inner channel in fluid communication with the proximal and distal openings. The distal opening is occluded by the bone during drilling to establish fluid pressure within the inner channel.

A medical apparatus includes a treatment mechanism, a slave actuator, an operation control unit, and a parameter acquisition unit. The treatment mechanism is used for treating a patient. The slave actuator causes the treatment mechanism to perform the treatment. The operation control unit calculates the control parameters related to the force tactile sensation, based on the information about the position that is detected along with the treatment and controls the operation of the slave actuator for causing the treatment mechanism to perform the treatment, based on the control parameters related to the force tactile sensation. The parameter acquisition unit acquires the control parameters related to the force tactile sensation.