Our project aims to redefine how you realign your spine. Traditional Transforaminal Lumbar
Interbody Fusion procedures involve cutting open the patient’s back to access the spine,
resulting in long surgeries and recovery times of up to 6 weeks. In the minimally invasive form of
this surgery, the patient’s back only needs a small 20mm incision, allowing patients to go home
the same day! However, current tools are unable to reach and clear the far side of the disc
through this small incision, leading to increased surgical times and risk as well as inadequate
preparation for spinal cage insertion.
To address this problem, our tool is designed to articulate and completely remove disc material.
The tool features a thin, robust linkage mechanism with a ringed curette tool tip to break up
material. The surgeon controls a dial on the handle to articulate and clear the disc space,
allowing for faster, more thorough procedures and quicker recoveries!