What is claimed is:
1. A net-shape molded heat spreader construction, comprising:
a heat pipe charged with phase change media having a top surface and a bottom surface;
a top plate positioned in thermal communication with said top surface of said heat pipe;
a bottom plate positioned in thermal communication with said bottom surface of said heat pipe; and
thermally conductive moldable composition positioned about said heat pipe and between said top plate and said bottom plate.
2. The net-shape molded heat spreader construction of claim 1, wherein said thermally conductive moldable composition is a polymer composite material loaded with thermally conductive filler.
3. The net-shape molded heat spreader construction of claim 1, wherein said polymer composite material is a liquid crystal polymer.
4. The net-shape molded heat spreader construction of claim 1, wherein said thermally conductive filler is carbon fiber.
5. The net-shape molded heat spreader construction of claim 1, wherein said thermally conductive filler is copper flakes.
6. The net-shape molded heat spreader construction of claim 1, wherein said thermally conductive filler is boron nitride grains.
7. The net-shape molded heat spreader construction of claim 1, wherein said thermally conductive filler is aluminum flakes.
8. A method of forming a net-shape molded heat spreader construction, comprising the steps of:
providing a heat pipe charged with phase change media having a top surface and a bottom surface;
positioning a top thermally conductive plate in thermal communication with said top surface of said heat pipe;
positioning a bottom thermally conductive plate in thermal communication with said bottom surface of said heat pipe; and
molding a thermally conductive composition about said heat pipe and between said top thermally conductive plate and said bottom thermally conductive plate.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of molding a thermally conductive composition comprises molding a thermally conductive polymer composition.
10. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of molding a thermally conductive composition comprises molding a thermally conductive liquid crystal polymer composition.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A method of creating a working channel from a skin incision to proximate a vertebra, comprising:
making a skin incision;
inserting a distal end of a first dilator into the skin incision;
advancing the distal end of the first dilator into proximity to a vertebra, the first dilator forming a minimally invasive pathway extending from the skin incision to proximate the vertebra;
inserting a cannula through the minimally invasive pathway, a lumen of the cannula defining a working channel from the skin incision to proximate the vertebra, and the cannula having a cut-out formed in a sidewall of the cannula at a distal end of the cannula;
introducing an implant into a proximal end of the cannula; and
passing the implant through the cut-out in the sidewall of the cannula.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the implant comprises a spinal rod.
3. The method of claim 1, further comprising advancing at least one additional dilator over the first dilator to sequentially dilate the minimally invasive pathway.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the cannula is inserted over the first dilator.
5. The method of claim 4, further comprising removing the first dilator prior to introducing the implant into the proximal end of the cannula.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the distal end of the cannula includes a second cut-out formed in the sidewall of the cannula, the second cut-out diametrically opposed to the cut-out, the cut-outs providing diametrically opposed lateral passages through the sidewall of the cannula at the distal end of the cannula.
7. A method of positioning an implant relative to a bone anchor, the method comprising:
advancing an implant through a proximal end of a cannula, the cannula defining a working channel extending from a skin incision to a bone anchor implanted in the vertebra; and
passing the implant through a cut-out formed in a sidewall of the cannula at a distal end of the cannula to position the implant relative to the bone anchor.
8. The method of claim 8, wherein the implant is a rod.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein the bone anchor is a pedicle screw.
10. A method of creating a working channel from a skin incision to proximate a vertebra, comprising:
inserting a series of dilators of increasing diameter through a skin incision to form a minimally invasive pathway extending from the skin incision to a vertebra;
inserting a cannula through the minimally invasive pathway such that the cannula defines a working channel extending from the skin incision to the vertebra, the cannula having a cut-out formed in a sidewall thereof; and
wherein, when the distal end of the cannula is positioned adjacent the vertebra, the cut-out formed in the sidewall of the cannula provides a lateral passage through the sidewall of the cannula for passing implants therethrough.
11. The method of claim 10, further comprising passing an implant through the cut-out in the sidewall.
12. The method of claim 10, wherein the distal end of the cannula includes diametrically opposed lateral cut-outs formed in the sidewall thereof that provide diametrically opposed lateral passages.
13. A method of creating a minimally invasive working channel from a skin incision to proximate a vertebra, comprising:
creating a minimally invasive pathway extending from the skin incision to proximate the vertebra;
inserting an instrument through the minimally invasive pathway, the instrument defining a working channel from the skin incision to proximate the vertebra;
introducing an implant into a proximal end of the instrument; and
passing the implant through a cut-out formed in a sidewall of the instrument at a distal end of the instrument.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein the implant comprises a spinal rod.
15. The method of claim 13, wherein creating the minimally invasive pathway comprises inserting a dilator through the skin incision and positioning a distal end of the dilator into proximity to a vertebra.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein creating the minimally invasive pathway comprises inserting a second dilator over the dilator and positioning a distal end of the second dilator into proximity to the vertebra.
17. The method of claim 13, wherein the instrument is a cannula.
18. The method of claim 17, further comprising advancing the cannula over the dilator.
19. The method of claim 13, wherein the distal end of the cannula includes a second cut-out formed in the sidewall of the cannula, the second cut-out diametrically opposed to the cut-out, the cut-outs providing diametrically opposed lateral passages through the sidewall of the cannula at the distal end of the cannula.