Patent ID: 8165653
Filing Date: 2012-04-24
Classification: A61B,A61N

Abstract:
1. A method of performing spine surgery, comprising: minimally invasively advancing a nerve surveillance instrument and a surgical access instrument towards a spinal target site, wherein the nerve surveillance instrument is dimensioned to be slidably received within the surgical access instrument and the surgical access instrument defines a passageway through which an implant can be passed for introduction into said spinal target site, the nerve surveillance instrument having at least one nerve stimulation electrode disposed proximate a distal end thereof; energizing at least one nerve stimulation electrode disposed proximate a distal end of the nerve surveillance instrument while advancing the nerve surveillance instrument towards the surgical target site to detect the presence of nerves adjacent said nerve surveillance instrument; removing said nerve surveillance instrument from said passageway after said surgical access instrument has been advanced to said spinal target site; separating tissue displacement members of said surgical access instrument; and introducing said implant into said spinal target site through said separated tissue displacement members.