Patent ID: 8092495

Claim:
A spinal platform for delivering a therapeutic agent to a spinal cord target, said spinal platform comprising: a brace member for attachment to a plurality of bony structures surrounding at least a portion of the spinal cord target, said brace member comprising oppositely disposed first and second longitudinal rails and a plurality of attachment members operably connected to and extending between said first and second longitudinal rails, said plurality of attachment members for securing said brace member to the plurality of bony structures, each of said first and second longitudinal rails including a proximal end portion, a distal end portion, and a middle portion extending between said proximal and distal end portions; a carriage member operatively coupled to and movable along said brace member; and a universal joint for adjusting the coronal or sagittal angle of a surgical instrument, said universal joint being seated within a portion of said carriage member and being capable of delivering the therapeutic agent to the spinal cord target; wherein said plurality of attachment members further comprises: a first base member operably secured to said proximal end portion of each of said first and second longitudinal rails; and a second base member operably secured to said distal end portion of each of said first and second longitudinal rails; wherein each of said first and second base members comprises a cross bar, said cross bar comprising first and second screw mounts integrally formed with and situated between a rod-shaped center section, a first rod-shaped outer section, and a second rod-shaped outer section.