Diskectomy instrument with disposable blade head

• US 20050216019A1
• Filed: 05/23/2005
• Published: 09/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Spinal Elements, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Concept Matrix, LLC
• Inventors: Eckman, Walter W.
• Granted Patent: US 7,699,849 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/79
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1622 Drill handpieces A61B17/1626, A61B17/1628 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1659 Surgical rasps, files, planes, or scrapers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1671 for the spine
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/320016 Endoscopic cutting instruments, e.g. arthroscopes, resectoscopes A61B10/0233, A61B17/29, A61B17/3207 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/320725 with radially expandable cutting or abrading elements A61B17/32075 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00261 Discectomy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2929 with a head rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the shaft

Abstract

A diskectomy instrument includes a blade housing assembly having a first housing portion and a second housing portion. The second portion is fixedly attached to a probe body, and the first portion is releasably connectable to the second portion. At least one blade opening is provided, and at least one blade is movably mounted at least partially within the blade housing for movement through the at least one blade opening between an extended position and a retracted position. A drive stem is movably mounted for linear movement within the probe body and is operatively connected to an actuator. The drive stem engages the at least one blade to move the blade between the extended position and the retracted position. A removal tool is provided to permit the first housing portion to be removed from the second housing portion.

Claims

1. A diskectomy instrument comprising:

a probe body;

a blade housing assembly including;

a first housing portion and a second housing portion, wherein the second housing portion is fixedly attached to the probe body, and the first housing portion is releasably connectable to the second housing portion; and

at least one blade opening;

at least one blade movably mounted at least partially within the blade housing for movement through the at least one blade opening between an extended position and a retracted position; and

a drive stem movably mounted for linear movement within the probe body and operatively connected to an actuator for movement between a first position and a second position, wherein with the drive stem in the first position, the at least one blade is in the blade extended position and with the drive stem in the second position, the at least one blade is in the blade retracted position.

2. The diskectomy instrument of claim 1, wherein a first portion of the blade opening is formed in the first housing portion and a second portion of the blade opening is formed in the second housing portion.

3. The diskectomy instrument of claim 1, the first and second housing portions each having at least one latching member, wherein the first housing portion latching member is releasably engageable with the second housing portion latching member to releasably connect the first housing portion to the second housing portion.

4. The diskectomy instrument of claim 3, wherein the first housing portion latching member and the second housing portion latching member are circumferentially-extending lips, and a gap is formed in the lips at the at least one blade opening.

5. The diskectomy instrument of claim 3, the blade housing assembly including at least one removal tool alignment recess formed in an exterior surface of the blade housing assembly.

6. The diskectomy instrument of claim 5 in combination with a removal tool having an alignment protrusion sized, shaped, and positioned on the removal tool to mate with the at least one alignment recess, wherein with the removal tool closed around the blade housing assembly and the alignment protrusion positioned in the alignment recess, the first housing and second housing portion latching members are forced at least substantially out of engagement to release the first housing portion from the second housing portion.

7. The diskectomy instrument of claim 1, the first housing portion further including a blade stop to limit movement of the at least one blade in the retracted position.

8. The diskectomy instrument of claim 1, wherein the drive stem is releasably connectable to the actuator.

9. The diskectomy instrument of claim 1, wherein the blade housing assembly has a convex exterior profile.

10. The diskectomy instrument of claim 1, wherein the blade opening has a lateral spacing closely toleranced relative to a lateral thickness of the at least one blade proximate edges of the blade opening with the blade in the extended position.

11. The diskectomy instrument of claim 1, wherein the first housing portion is fabricated from a polymeric material.

12. The diskectomy instrument of claim 11, wherein the polymeric material is transparent.

13. The diskectomy instrument of claim 1, wherein the second housing portion is fabricated from an oxidation-resistant metal.

14. The diskectomy instrument of claim 1, wherein the at least one blade includes an edge having a central plane and a plurality of cutting elements arranged along the edge, each cutting element having a sharpened cutting edge, wherein the cutting edges of a first set of the plurality of cutting elements are substantially parallel to the central plane and are offset by a predetermined distance to a first side of the central plane and cutting edges of a second set of the plurality of cutting elements are substantially parallel to the central plane and are offset by a predetermined distance to a second side of the central plane.

15. The diskectomy instrument of claim 14, wherein cutting elements of the first set of the plurality of cutting elements are positioned along the edge in an alternating pattern with the cutting elements of the second set of the plurality of cutting elements, and wherein adjacent cutting elements are separated by blunt spacer elements.

16. A removal tool in combination with a diskectomy instrument, the combination comprising:

a diskectomy instrument having a blade housing with a removable portion and at least one blade at least partially contained within the blade housing; and

a removal tool including a pair of opposing handles movably connected, each handle having a clamping section provided with at least one protruding element sized, shaped, and positioned such that with the removal tool in a closed position, the protruding elements each engage an exterior surface of the blade housing to compress an outer wall of the blade housing and release the removable portion from engagement with a remainder of the blade housing.

17. The removal tool of claim 16, wherein with the removal tool in the closed position, a gap is provided between the protruding elements to prevent engagement of the protruding elements with the blade.

18. The removal tool of claim 16, wherein the exterior surface of the blade housing assembly is provided with recesses sized, shaped, and positioned to receive the removal tool protruding elements with the removal tool closed around the blade housing assembly.

19. A bi-directional blade in combination with a diskectomy instrument including a body and a drive stem having a blade mating portion, the bi-directional blade comprising an edge having a central plane and a plurality of cutting elements arranged along the edge, each cutting element having a sharpened cutting edge, wherein adjacent cutting elements are separated by blunt spacer elements.

20. The combination of a bi-directional blade and diskectomy instrument of claim 19, the blade further comprising a notch including a ramped portion and a retracting ledge configured to engage with the blade mating portion of the drive stem of the diskectomy instrument to extend and retract the blade.

21. The combination of a bi-directional blade and diskectomy instrument of claim 19, wherein the cutting edges of a first set of the plurality of cutting elements are substantially parallel to the central plane and are offset by a predetermined distance to a first side of the central plane and cutting edges of a second set of the plurality of cutting elements are substantially parallel to the central plane and are offset by a predetermined distance to a second side of the central plane, cutting elements of the first set being positioned along the edge in an alternating pattern with cutting elements of the second set.