The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University

Xiaojian Cao

Haijun Li

Jian Tang

Hao Xie

Lei Yang

Lipeng Yu

Sui Tao

Ge Dawei

Yang Lei

A guiding apparatus for x-ray-free screw placement by a spinal posterior approach, comprising an interspinous spacer, a slide scale (), and an angle-changing rod. The apparatus is simple to operate, easy to grasp, and well accepted by physicians. A reliable effect is provided in screw placement. Significantly reduced X-ray exposure is allowed for patients and medical staff. In a small-incision minimally invasive screw placement operation, even without exposing the spinal ligament, a small spike-like protrusion of a base () of the interspinous spacer can ensure accurate interspinous positioning across the skin. This is applicable for both minimally invasive and incision surgeries and has a wide range of uses.

Guiding apparatus for X-ray-free screw placement by spinal posterior approach

An exposure apparatus for a paraspinal muscle clearance approach with a posterior spinal small incision includes a spinous process side vertebral plate retractor and a cooperating vertebral arch outer side retractor is provided. The apparatus can be used to separate a clearance between a multifidus muscle and a longissimus muscle under direct view, easily and atraumatically reach a screw fixation position on a vertebral arch pedicle, expose a facet joint, bluntly separate the multifidus muscle from the vertebral arch, accurately place the retractors, and thereafter locally form a surgical operation tunnel space that externally extends 10 degrees to 15 degrees. A design of angles and structures of retractors effectively protects local soft tissues and prevents a tissue damage while executing traction on local muscles and ensuring an adequate surgical space.

Exposure apparatus for paraspinal muscle clearance approach with posteriorspinal small incision

An exposure apparatus for posterior spinal minimally invasive screw placement surgery includes a transverse process refractor and a facet joint retractor, is provided. The apparatus separates a gap between a multifidus muscle and a longissimus muscle, easily and atraumatically reach a screw placement position on a pedicle, accurately place the retractors, and thereafter locally form a screw placement tunnel space that externally extends 10 to 15 degrees. During a screw placement operation, the distal end of the transverse process refractor can straddle above the transverse process and is antagonistically tractive with the facet joint retractor so as to leave a sufficient space for the screw placement operation and to prompt a needle inlet point and direction for placing a pedicle screw. The distal end of the refractor employs a design of a recessed crescent type, protects local soft tissues during traction, and prevents the tissues from damage.

Exposure apparatus for posterior spinal minimally invasive screw placement surgery

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Jiangsu, China

Xiaojian Cao