Patent ID: 8323320
Filing Date: 2012-12-04
Classification: A61B,A61F

Abstract:
1. A method for performing a procedure through a vertebral body overlaying a site in need of a medical procedure comprising: attaching an integrated device comprising a bone plate portion and trajectory control sleeve portion on an anterior surface of the vertebral body; inserting at least a portion of a bone cutting tool through the trajectory control sleeve; forming an access channel through the vertebral body by removing bone with the bone cutting tool, the access channel following a prescribed trajectory from an anterior entry point to a prescribed opening on a posterior surface of the vertebral body in the locale of the site in need of the medical procedure; disengaging the integrated device from the vertebral body; and performing the medical procedure through the access channel and the opening on the posterior surface of the vertebral body, wherein the bone plate portion of the attached integrated device comprises a curved surface configured to contact the anterior surface of the single vertebral body and is temporarily secured to the anterior surface of the vertebral body, wherein the trajectory control sleeve portion of the attached integrated device comprises a cylinder configured to receive at least a portion of the bone cutting tool, wherein only a single access channel with a prescribed trajectory from the anterior entry to a prescribed posterior opening adjacent a spinal cord is formed in the forming step, the anterior entry of the single access channel having a center that is generally at a mid-point on a cranio-caudal length of the vertebral body and generally offset from a medio-lateral mid-point of the vertebral body, the single access channel proceeding with a circular cross-section along a single, straight axis from the anterior entry in a posterior, caudal and lateral direction to the prescribed posterior opening, the prescribed posterior opening being located at or adjacent to the base of the posterior surface of the single vertebral body, the single access channel having an angle in the cranio-caudal direction of between about 1 degree and about 30 degrees from perpendicular to the anterior surface at the anterior entry, the single access channel having an angle in the medio-lateral direction of between about 1 degree and about 30 degrees from perpendicular to the anterior surface at the anterior entry, the single access channel having a diameter of between about 5 mm and about 8 mm, wherein the penetration of the cutting tool into the vertebral body is precisely limited to a prescribed depth in the forming step by a portion of the cutting tool contacting a portion of the attached integrated device.