The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 12, 2016
Filed:
Oct. 06, 2008
Peter Fatone, Exton, PA (US);
Brandon Randall, Chester Springs, PA (US);
Peter Fatone, Exton, PA (US);
Brandon Randall, Chester Springs, PA (US);
DePuy Synthes Products, Inc., Raynham, MA (US);
Abstract
Directional sequential and blunt stimulating dilation systems () and related methods for accessing a patient's spine () though the patient's psoas muscle () include sequential directional dilators () or a blunt stimulating dilator (') with at least one channel formed therein. Neural elements or nerves () of the psoas muscle are preferably mapped using a stimulating probe (). The stimulating probe is inserted through the psoas muscle toward the patient's spine. The directional sequential dilators may be inserted to dilate the tissue on any side of the stimulating probe without significantly impacting tissue on the opposite side of the stimulating probe, which may be located, proximate the neural elements. The dilators are rendered directional by having bores (), by means of which they can be inserted over each other and over the probe, which are offset from their longitudinal axes ().