Slidable sheaths for tissue removal devices

• US 20060004369A1
• Filed: 06/17/2004
• Published: 01/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Scimed Life Systems Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Carrison, Harold F., Patel, Mukund
• Granted Patent: US 8,328,810 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/79
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1633 Sleeves, i.e. non-rotating parts surrounding the bit shaft, e.g. the sleeve forming a single unit with the bit shaft A61B17/1644 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1671 for the spine
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/32002 with continuously rotating, oscillating or reciprocating cutting instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/320783 through side-hole, e.g. sliding or rotating cutter inside catheter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3496 Protecting sleeves or inner probes; Retractable tips for protecting body piercing guide needles A61M25/0612
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00261 Discectomy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320004 abrasive
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0801 Prevention of accidental cutting or pricking
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/08021 of the patient or his organs

Abstract

A tissue removal device and method of using the device to remove tissue from a patient is provided. The tissue removal device comprises a tissue removal probe and a sheath slidable relative to the probe. The probe has a tissue removal element, and the sheath has a portion that exposes the tissue removal element. The sheath distal end may be pre-shaped to bend when slid distal to the probe. The probe may have a window through which the tissue removal element is exposed.

Claims

1. A tissue removal device, comprising:

a tissue probe;

a drive shaft disposed within probe;

a tissue removal element mounted to the drive shaft; and

a sheath slidably disposed over the probe, the sheath having a portion that exposes the tissue removal element.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising a mechanism for preventing circumferential movement of the window relative to the probe.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the mechanism comprises a key and a slot that slidably engage each other, and the key is disposed on one of the probe and sheath, and the slot is disposed on the other of the probe and sheath.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the slot extends through a distal end of the sheath, through a proximal end of the sheath, or through the distal and the proximal ends of the sheath.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the tissue removal element extends distally of the probe.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the probe comprises a window through which the tissue removal element is exposed.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the tissue removal element is slidable within the probe window.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the tissue probe is rigid.

9. A tissue removal device, comprising:

a tubular member having a lumen;

a drive shaft disposed within the lumen;

a tissue removal element secured to the drive shaft; and

a sheath slidably disposed over the tubular member, the sheath having a portion that exposes the tissue removal element, the sheath distal end configured to be bent without the application of an external force.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the sheath distal end is pre-shaped to bend when slid distal of the tubular member.

11. The device of claim 9, further comprising a mechanism for preventing circumferential movement of the sheath relative to the tubular member.

12. The device of claim 10, wherein the mechanism comprises a key and a slot that slidably engage each other, and the key is disposed on one of the tubular member and sheath, and the slot is disposed on the other of the tubular member and sheath.

13. The device of claim 9, wherein the tissue removal element extends distally of the tubular member.

14. The device of claim 9, wherein the tubular member comprises a window through which the tissue removal element is exposed.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the tissue removal element is slidable within the window.

16. The device of claim 9, wherein the tissue removal element is rotatable.

17. The device of claim 9, wherein the tubular member is rigid.

18. A tissue removal device, comprising:

a tubular member having a lumen and a window;

a drive shaft disposed within the lumen;

a tissue removal element secured to the drive shaft, the tissue removal element being exposed through the window; and

a sheath slidably disposed over the tubular member, the sheath having a portion that exposes the tissue removal element.

19. The device of claim 18, further comprising a mechanism for preventing circumferential movement of the sheath relative to the tubular member.

20. The device of claim 19, wherein the mechanism comprises a key and a slot that slidably engage each other, and the key is disposed on one of the tubular member and sheath, and the slot is disposed on the other of the tubular member and sheath.

21. The device of claim 18, wherein the tissue removal element is slidable within the window.

22. The device of claim 18, wherein the tissue removal element is rotatable.

23. The device of claim 18, wherein the tubular member is rigid.

24. A method of removing tissue from a patient, comprising:

placing a sheath between target tissue and non-target tissue;

sliding the sheath and a tissue removal probe relative to each other, wherein the probe has a tissue removal element;

exposing the tissue removal element through one side of the sheath, wherein the tissue removal element is placed in contact with the target tissue; and

moving the tissue removal element to remove the target tissue.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising preventing the sheath from circumferentially moving relative to the probe.

26. The method of claim 24, further comprising axially displacing the tissue removal element relative to the tissue probe.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein the sheath is placed between the target tissue and the non-target tissue, and then the probe is slid distally within the sheath until the tissue removal element is in contact with the target tissue.

28. The method of claim 24, wherein the tissue removal element is rotated to remove the target tissue.

29. The method of claim 24, wherein the non-target tissue is nerve tissue.

30. The method of claim 24, wherein the target tissue is bone tissue.

31. The method of claim 24, wherein the bone tissue is vertebral lamina tissue.

32. A method of removing tissue from a patient, comprising:

advancing a probe with a tissue removal element into the patient;

sliding a sheath over the probe until the distal end of the sheath resides distally of the probe;

bending the sheath distal end to place the sheath distal end between target tissue and non-target tissue;

sliding the probe distally relative to the sheath until the tissue removal element resides within the bent distal end of the sheath;

exposing the tissue removal element through one side of the sheath distal end, wherein the tissue removal element is placed in contact with the target tissue; and

moving the tissue removal element to remove the target tissue.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the probe is advanced into the patient along an axis, and the target tissue and non-target tissue reside in planes that form an angle with the axis.

34. The method of claim 32, wherein the sheath distal end bends as the sheath distal end is slide over the probe.

35. The method of claim 32, wherein the bent distal end of the sheath guides the probe as the probe is slid distally relative to the sheath.

36. The method of claim 32, wherein the non-target tissue is nerve tissue.

37. The method of claim 32, wherein the target tissue is bone tissue.

38. The method of claim 32, wherein the bone tissue is vertebral lamina tissue.

39. A tissue removal device, comprising:

a tissue probe;

a drive shaft disposed within probe;

a tissue removal element mounted to the drive shaft; and

a sheath slidably disposed within the probe.

40. The device of claim 39, further comprising a mechanism for preventing circumferential movement of the sheath relative to the probe.

41. The device of claim 40, wherein the mechanism comprises a key and a slot that slidably engage each other, and the key is disposed on one of the probe and sheath, and the slot is disposed on the other of the probe and sheath.

42. The device of claim 39, wherein the tissue removal element extends distally of the probe.

43. The device of claim 39, wherein the probe comprises a window through which the tissue removal element is exposed.

44. The device of claim 43, wherein the tissue removal element is slidable within the probe window.