Patent ID: 8568331
Filing Date: 2013-10-29
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A surgical system for assessing disc space preparation during spine surgery, the disc space preparation including excising disc material from an interior of the disc space to make a cavity for receipt of an implant and leaving a layer of annulus tissue to insulate the prepared disc space from neural structures adjacent the annulus tissue, comprising: a probe insertable into the cavity of the prepared disc space and configured to transmit a stimulation signal within said disc space to said annulus tissue, wherein said probe includes a handle and a probe member having at least two conductive pins aligned in a nonconductive housing, said conductive pins extending through the nonconductive housing and protruding for a portion from a distal end of the nonconductive housing, the probe member being configured such that the nonconductive pins contact an interior face of the annulus layer when the probe is inserted into the prepared disc space.