Patent ID: 8025664
Filing Date: 2011-09-27
Classification: A61B,A61F

Abstract:
1. A system comprising: a targeting post, with a distal end for insertion within a patient to a reference location near a spine, a proximal end of the targeting post connected to an instrument support arm; a curved penetrating guide member with a proximal end and a distal end; a guide arm having a distal end with a latching assembly configured for detachably attaching to the proximal end of the curved penetrating guide member; a proximal end configured for connection via a rotatable attachment to the proximal end of the targeting post such that the guide arm and attached curved penetrating guide member may rotate relative to the proximal end of the targeting post to move the distal end of the curved penetrating guide member in a curved path to a target location at a known position relative to the reference location occupied by the distal end of the targeting post; thus occupying a curved path from outside the patient to the target location; and a curved cannula, wherein the curved penetrating guide member and the curved cannula are configured such that the curved cannula can be inserted over the proximal end of the curved penetrating guide member toward the distal end of the curved penetrating guide member.