US Patent 8983567 Systems and methods for vessel avoidance during spine surgery

Systems and methods are disclosed for accessing and forming an operative corridor to targeted spinal sites using optical imaging to detect and avoid vascular tissue. The optical imaging may include tissue oximetry to measure the oxygen saturation of tissue proximate to surgical access instruments utilized during surgery. Sensors may be situated near the distal end of the surgical access instruments and monitoring for vessel proximity may be performed during advancement of the instrument.