Patent ID: 11918260
Assignee: HOWMEDICA OSTEONICS CORP.
Field: Medical technology (Instruments)
Classification: CPC A | IPC A

Claim 0:
1. A method of spinal surgery, comprising:
inserting a pedicle screw into a first pedicle of a first vertebra of a patient's anatomy;
mounting a targeting system to the pedicle screw and only to the pedicle screw so that a first end of the targeting system is secured to the pedicle screw in a fixed relationship;
adjusting the targeting system via at least one joint positioned between the first end and a second end of the targeting system so that a retractor connected to the second end of the targeting system is positioned above a first location of the patient's anatomy remote from the first pedicle, wherein the targeting system and retractor are entirely supported by the pedicle screw;
retracting soft tissue with the retractor; and
performing surgery on the patient's anatomy through the retractor while the retractor remains positioned above the first location.