Patent ID: 9345464
Filing Date: 2016-05-24
CPC Classification: A61B,A61F

Claim Text:
1. A method to access a target facet joint positioned between a first vertebral bone and an adjacent second vertebral bone of a subject, comprising: identifying a pedicle of each of said first and said second vertebral bones, each of said pedicles being ipsilateral to said target facet joint; coupling a cylindrical member to a first bone fastener assembly, said first bone fastener assembly comprising a bone screw seated within a housing member and being movable therein, said cylindrical member extending from a first end seated within said housing to an opposing second end along a longitudinal axis; immobilizing said bone screw relative to said housing member via full advancement of said first end of said cylindrical member into said housing member prior to implantation thereof into said subject; advancing said bone screw of said first bone fastener assembly into a posterior aspect of said pedicle of said first vertebral bone and positioning said opposing second end of said cylindrical member outside of said subject; advancing a second bone screw of a second bone fastener assembly into a posterior aspect of said pedicle of the second vertebral bone; advancing said second end of said cylindrical member through a bore of a first arm of a distraction platform, said bore comprising a central axis configured to align with said longitudinal axis of said cylindrical member; coupling said second bone fastener assembly to a second arm of said distraction platform; coupling a proximal segment of a tissue retractor member to a third arm of said distraction platform, said tissue retractor member extending from a proximal end to a distal end along a long axis and being further positioned between said first and second arms; actuating a distraction feature of said distraction platform, said feature distracting said first arm and said second arm away from one another; and accessing said target facet joint through a tissue corridor that is at least partially contained between said first bone fastener assembly, said second bone fastener assembly, and said tissue retractor member.