Method and apparatus for computerized surgery

摘要

An implant for use in spinal surgery comprises a resilient element having an inflatable cavity. It is formed of a biologically compatible material and is arranged for placement between end plates of adjacent vertebra. The implant may also include a wound disc replacement element. A method of performing spinal surgery on a patient comprises securely mounting a patient onto a patient support table; imaging a spinal region of the patient; building up a three-dimensional image file of the spinal region of the patient; storing the image file; and utilizing the image file for planning and carrying out computer controlled spinal surgery on the patient utilizing the implant. A computer-controlled surgical implant system comprises a steerable endosurgical implanting assembly operative to install the implant at a desired location in a patient; and a computerized controlled, which operates the steerable endosurgical implanting assembly.

主权项

1. A self-propelled surgical vehicle for traveling through an access corridor from the surface of the skin to an outer aspect of the spine of a patient, said surgical vehicle comprising: a body of uniform cross-section and defining forward and rearward faces and opposing first and second edges; at least one freely rolling roller mounted along said first edge; and at least one driving roller mounted along said second edge, powerable by an electric motor, and disposed within said body; and a surgical tool engagement element extendable distally from said body, and a surgical tool mounted on said surgical tool engagement element, wherein said surgical tool comprises at least one of a milling head, a forceps tool, a forceps finger, a fluid dispenser tool, a pick and place tool, an articulated element, an inflation tool, a gauging tool, and a cutting tool.