Endoscopic portal protective shield assembly

Abstract

An endoscopic portal protective shield assembly has an elongate portal shaft and an elongated protective shield. The elongate portal shaft has a viewing portal. The shaft has a slotted tubular body with interior surfaces. The shaft has a distal end and a proximal end and a slotted opening at the distal end extending partially along the slotted tubular body toward the proximal end. The elongated protective shield has a longitudinal shield body, a proximal end and a distal end. The protective shield is configured to be slid into the slotted opening of the tubular body with an interior portion of the longitudinal shield body being inserted inside the tubular body while maintaining the viewing portal open.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of treating a spinal injury or defect using an endoscopic portal protective shield assembly comprising the steps of:
 making a small incision anteriorly or posteriorly for receiving an endoscopic portal protective shield assembly;   inserting the shield assembly;   viewing the nerve root, blood vessel or tissue to be shielded;   rotating a distal end of the shield to align with the nerve root, blood vessel or tissue;   detaching the protective shield from a tubular body of the endoscopic portal;   removing the tubular body leaving the protective shield in aligned position with and shielding the nerve root, blood vessel or tissue; and   completing the surgical repair removing the protective shield and closing the incision.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprises the step of passing a spinal implant device along the protective shield as a guide to insertion between two adjacent vertebrae.