Claims
- 1. A method of fixing vertebrae of a patient together at a surgical site, the method comprising the steps of:
inserting a cannula into the patient; inserting a first fixation element through the cannula and securing the first fixation element to a first vertebra; inserting a second fixation element through the cannula and securing the second fixation element to a second vertebra; and inserting a third fixation element through the cannula and securing the third fixation element to the first and second fixation elements.
- 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of positioning an endoscope in the cannula to provide a view of the activity at the surgical site.
- 3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:
removing a disk from between the first and second vertebrae; cleaning the area of the surgical site; positioning a fusion device between the first and second vertebrae by moving the fusion device through the cannula; and positioning bone graft tissue in and around the surgical site by moving bone graft tissue through the cannula.
- 4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of cutting away tissue at the surgical site using a cutting instrument.
- 5. A method of fixing vertebrae of a patient together at a surgical site, the method comprising the steps of:
inserting a cannula into the patient; moving a fusion device through the cannula and inserting the fusion device between first and second vertebrae of the patient; inserting a first fixation element through the cannula and securing the first fixation element to a first vertebra; inserting a second fixation element through the cannula and securing the second fixation element to a second vertebra; and inserting a third fixation element through the cannula and securing the third fixation element to the first and second fixation elements.
- 6. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of inserting a tissue retractor into the cannula and shielding tissue at the surgical site.
- 7. A method of fixing vertebrae of a patient together at a surgical site, the method comprising the steps of:
inserting a cannula into the patient; expanding the cannula; inserting a first fixation element through the cannula and securing the first fixation element to a first vertebra; inserting a second fixation element through the cannula and securing the second fixation element to a second vertebra; inserting a third fixation element through the cannula and securing the third fixation element to the first and second fixation elements.
- 8. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of shifting the cannula in the body to position the cannula at a desired location in the body.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/359,996, filed Feb. 6, 2003, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/449,647, filed Nov. 30, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,520,907, which is a division of U.S. application Ser. No. 08/920,991, filed Aug. 29, 1997, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,007,487, which is a division of U.S. application Ser. No. 08/620,933, filed Mar. 22, 1996, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,792,044. The present application is also a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/815,693, filed Mar. 23, 2001 (“the '693 application”). The '693 application is a continuation-in-part of International Application No. PCT/US99/21866, filed Sep. 21, 1999, which claims priority to U.S. application Ser. No. 09/160,882, filed Sep. 25, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,152,871, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 08/736,626, filed Oct. 24, 1996, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,902,231, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 08/620,933, filed Mar. 22, 1996, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,792,044. The '693 application is also a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/233,879, filed Jan. 20, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,217,509, which is a division of U.S. Pat. No. 08/736,626, filed Oct. 24, 1996, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,902,231, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 08/620,933, filed Mar. 22, 1996, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,792,044. All of the foregoing patents and applications are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.
Divisions (3)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
08920991 |
Aug 1997 |
US |
Child |
09449647 |
Nov 1999 |
US |
Parent |
08620933 |
Mar 1996 |
US |
Child |
08920991 |
Aug 1997 |
US |
Parent |
08736626 |
Oct 1996 |
US |
Child |
09233879 |
Jan 1999 |
US |
Continuations (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09449647 |
Nov 1999 |
US |
Child |
10359996 |
Feb 2003 |
US |
Continuation in Parts (5)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
10359996 |
Feb 2003 |
US |
Child |
10734161 |
Dec 2003 |
US |
Parent |
09815693 |
Mar 2001 |
US |
Child |
10734161 |
Dec 2003 |
US |
Parent |
PCT/US99/21866 |
Sep 1999 |
US |
Child |
09815693 |
Mar 2001 |
US |
Parent |
09233879 |
Jan 1999 |
US |
Child |
09815693 |
Mar 2001 |
US |
Parent |
08620933 |
Mar 1996 |
US |
Child |
08736626 |
Oct 1996 |
US |