Note : Les revendications sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:
1. A method of providing a surgical access portal
through a patient's ilium, comprising:
positioning a distal end of a cannulated obturator
against the patient's ilium;
advancing a fastening element through the cannula
of the obturator so that the fastening element reaches the
patient's ilium;
securing the fastening element to the patient's
ilium;
advancing a cannulated bone cutting drill over the
fastening element such that a distal end of the cannulated
bone cutting drill contacts the patient's ilium;
drilling a hole through the patient's ilium with
the bone cutting drill;
removing a circular cut portion of the ilium
attached to the fastening element, thereby providing an
access portal through the patient's ilium.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
introducing the cannulated obturator into the
patient through a percutaneously inserted first cannula.
3. The method of claim 1, further comprising
accessing a patient's intervertebral space by:
inserting a second cannula through the first
cannula; and
advancing a distal end of the second cannula through the
access portal in the ilium and into the patient's
intervertebral space.
4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:
advancing a surgical instrument through the access
portal and into the intervertebral space.
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5. The method of claim 2, wherein the first
cannula is introduced in a posterolateral approach.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein,
the posterolateral approach is at an angle of
in the range of 40 to 90 degrees to an anterior-posterior
axis through the patient.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein,
the first cannula has a longitudinal axis
extending therethrough and the distal end of the first
cannula is angled with respect to the longitudinal axis,
wherein positioning the distal end of the first cannula
comprises rotating the first cannula about the longitudinal
axis such that the angled end substantially fully contacts
the ilium.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein, securing the
fastening element to the ilium comprises screw-fastening a
distal end of the fastening element into the ilium.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein, the bone
cutting drill and the fastening element are removed
simultaneously from the first cannula with the circular cut
portion of the ilium held within the bone cutting drill.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein, the circular
cut portion of the ilium is removed from the bone cutting
drill by displacing an axially-adjustable plug in the bone
cutting drill.
11. The method of claim 20, wherein, the axially-
adjustable plug is received over the fastening element and
within the bone cutting drill.
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12. The method of claim 4, wherein advancing a
surgical instrument comprises advancing an intervertebral
insert, bone decorticator, camera, articulating forceps,
intervertebral insert positioning systems, bone-graft
introducer, electrocoagulator, bone wax applicator, shaver
or curette into the intervertebral space.
13. The method of claim 1, further comprising,
depositing bone wax around the surface of the hole
as the hole is drilled through the ilium.
14. A kit for providing a surgical access portal
through a patient's ilium, comprising:
a cannula;
a bone cutting drill dimensioned to be received
within the cannula;
a fastening element dimensioned to be received
within the bone cutting drill; and
instructions for use setting forth the method of
claim 1.
15. A system for providing a surgical access
portal through a patient's ilium, comprising:
a first cannula;
a bone cutting drill dimensioned to be received
within the first cannula; and
a fastening element dimensioned to be received
within the bone cutting drill.
16. The system of claim 15, wherein, the first
cannula has an annular cross-section.
17. The system of claim 15, wherein, the bone
cutting drill is an oscillating drill.
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18. The system of claim 15, wherein, the
fastening element has a distal end shaped to be screw-fit
into the ilium.
19. The system of claim 15, wherein, the bone
cutting drill has a grooved exterior surface adapted to hold
bone wax or paraffin therein.
20. The system of claim 15, wherein, the first
cannula has an angled distal end.
21. The system of claim 15, wherein, the first
cannula has a round or oval-shaped cross section.
22. The system of claim 15, further comprising, a
second cannula dimensioned to be received within the first
cannula.
23. The system of claim 22, wherein, the second
cannula has a round or oval-shaped cross section.
24. The system of claim 23, further comprising,
an expandable trocar dimensioned to be received within the
first and second cannulae.
25. The system of claim 22, further comprising, a
surgical instrument dimensioned to be received within the
second cannula.
26. The system of claim 25, wherein, the surgical
instrument is an intervertebral insert, bone decorticator,
endoscope, articulating forceps, intervertebral insert
positioning systems, bone-graft introduces,
electrocoagulator, bone wax applicator, shaver or curette.
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27. The system of claim 15, further comprising,
an intervertebral implant dimensioned to be received within
the first and second cannulae.