Zimmer Spine, Inc.

Endius, Inc.

Adam Sher

Thomas W Davison

Timothy E Taylor

John Peter Unger

Gene P DiPoto

James J Pagliuca

James E Robbins

A cannula () receives surgical instruments () for performing a surgical procedure on a body (). The cannula () comprises a tube structure () defining a passage () through which the surgical instruments () are inserted into the body (). The tube structure () has a proximal end () and a distal end (). The tube structure () includes an expandable portion () for enabling an increase in the cross-sectional area of the passage () at the distal end (). The expandable portion () of the tube structure (), when expanded, has a conical configuration.

Cannula for receiving surgical instruments

A method of fixing vertebrae of a patient together at a surgical site includes the following steps: inserting a first cannula () into the body () of the patient; moving a first fastener () through the cannula () and securing the first fastener () through the cannula () and securing the first fastener () to a first vertebrae (or); moving a second fastener () through the cannula () and securing the second fastener () to a second vertebrae (or); moving a first fixation element () through the cannula (); and fixing the first fixation element () to the first and second fasteners ().

Method and apparatus for securing vertebrae

A surgical tool for use in expanding a tubular structure having an inner surface defining a passage through the tubular structure for receiving surgical instruments includes a first leg having a first end engageable with the inner surface of the tubular structure. A second leg has a second end engageable with the inner surface of the tubular structure. The first and second ends are movable away from each other to apply a radially outwardly directed force to the inner surface of the tubular structure and cause expansion of the tubular structure to increase a cross-sectional area of the passage along a portion of the passage.

Surgical tool for use in expanding a cannula

A method of performing a surgical procedure on a body includes providing a cannula having a tubular structure with first and second tubular portions defining first and second passages for receiving surgical instruments. The second tubular portion is inserted inside the body and the first tubular portion is inserted so that the first tubular portion extends from an exterior of the body to inside the body. The second tubular portion expands to increase the cross-sectional area of the second passage in the second tubular portion while the second tubular portion is inside the body. The cross-sectional area of the first passage in the first tubular portion is maintained. The first tubular portion has a first thickness and the second tubular portion has a second thickness different than the first thickness.

Method for performing a surgical procedure and a cannula for use in performing the surgical procedure

Methods and cannulae for providing access to a surgical location within a patient are described. A cannula () receives surgical instruments () for performing a surgical procedure on a body (). The cannula () comprises a tube structure () defining a passage () through which the surgical instruments () are inserted into the body (). The tube structure () has a proximal end () and a distal end (). The tube structure () includes an expandable portion () for enabling an increase in the cross-sectional area of the passage () at the distal end (). The expandable portion () of the tube structure (), when expanded, has a conical configuration.

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North Attleboro, MA, United States of America

Adam Sher