(19)
(11) EP 1 691 668 A2

(12)

(88) Date of publication A3:
21.07.2005

(43) Date of publication:
23.08.2006 Bulletin 2006/34

(21) Application number: 04794435.0

(22) Date of filing: 04.10.2004
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC): 
A61B 1/313(2006.01)
A61B 17/32(2006.01)
A61F 2/44(2006.01)
 A61B 17/34(2006.01)
A61B 17/70(2006.01)
A61F 2/46(2006.01)
(86) International application number:
PCT/US2004/033088
(87) International publication number:
WO 2005/032358 (14.04.2005 Gazette 2005/15)
(84) Designated Contracting States:
AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IT LI LU MC NL PL PT RO SE SI SK TR

(30) Priority: 02.10.2003 US 508784 P
24.10.2003 US 693815
24.10.2003 US 693250
24.10.2003 US 693663
10.05.2004 US 842651

(71) Applicant: Endius Incorporated
Plainville, Massachusetts 92762 (US)

(72) Inventors:
  • DIPOTO, Gene
    Upton, Massachusetts 01568 (US)
  • SHLUZAS, Alan
    Millis, Massachusetts 02054 (US)
  • ROSSIN, Victor
    Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139 (US)
  • ANDERSON, Stephen
    Holliston, Massachusetts 01746 (US)
  • BAKER, Daniel
    Seattle, Washington 98125-4615 (US)

(74) Representative: Brand, Thomas Louis 
W.P. Thompson & Co., 55 Drury Lane
London WC2B 5SQ
London WC2B 5SQ (GB)

   


(54) METHODS, SYSTEMS AND APPARATUSES FOR PERFORMING MINIMALLY INVASIVE SPINAL PROCEDURES