Patent ID: 8114085

Claim:
A percutaneous spinal registration-and-access tool for minimally invasive spinal surgery comprising: a conically shaped tubular body having a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis extending there between, wherein both the proximal end and the distal end are open; and at least two flexible lateral flanges positioned opposite each other and spaced apart from each other, where when viewed in a cross sectional plane taken along the longitudinal axis, the at least two flexible lateral flanges extend downwardly and inwardly from the distal end of the conically shaped tubular body towards each other forming an open gripping area therebetween; wherein the at least two flexible lateral flanges form a circular cavity at the distal end of the conically shaped tubular body for receiving a bulbous end of a spinous process of a vertebra therein; wherein the at least two flexible lateral flanges have spaced-apart distal ends that flare outwardly and upwardly away from each other forming a smooth rounded opening between the spaced-apart distal ends; and wherein the circular cavity at the distal end of the conically shaped tubular body is larger than the smooth rounded opening between the spaced-apart distal ends of the at least two flexible lateral flanges.