Method for removing material from a patient's body
First Claim
1. A method for removing tissue from an intervertebral disc of a patient'"'"'s body, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing an apparatus comprising an elongate member for receiving said tissue, said elongate member defining a lumen and comprising a distal end defining an aperture and a proximal end, the apparatus further comprising an elongate tissue removal member for conveying tissue through said lumen, said tissue removal member being rotatably disposed within said lumen, said tissue removal member having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end of the tissue removal member being recessed proximally relative to said aperture when said tissue removal member is fully disposed within said lumen;
gathering a sample of said tissue into said lumen; and
conveying with said tissue removal member at least a portion of the tissue sample proximally along said lumen.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method is disclosed for removal of intervertebral disc tissue from a body. The method generally comprises the steps of providing an apparatus comprising an elongate member for receiving tissue. The elongate member defines a lumen and comprises a distal end defining an aperture and a proximal end. The apparatus further comprises an elongate tissue removal member for conveying tissue through the lumen. The tissue removal member is rotatably disposed within the lumen. The method further comprises gathering a sample of tissue into the lumen; and conveying with the tissue removal member at least a portion of the tissue sample proximally along the lumen. The step of gathering may be accomplished by advancing the apparatus through the tissue.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method for removing tissue from an intervertebral disc of a patient'"'"'s body, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing an apparatus comprising an elongate member for receiving said tissue, said elongate member defining a lumen and comprising a distal end defining an aperture and a proximal end, the apparatus further comprising an elongate tissue removal member for conveying tissue through said lumen, said tissue removal member being rotatably disposed within said lumen, said tissue removal member having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end of the tissue removal member being recessed proximally relative to said aperture when said tissue removal member is fully disposed within said lumen;
gathering a sample of said tissue into said lumen; and
conveying with said tissue removal member at least a portion of the tissue sample proximally along said lumen. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for removing nucleus pulposus tissue from an intervertebral disc of a patient'"'"'s body, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing an introducer apparatus comprising a cannula defining a cannula lumen and an obturator disposed within said cannula lumen;
inserting said introducer apparatus into a patient'"'"'s body such that a distal end of said cannula is positioned at a nucleus pulposus of an intervertebral disc of said patient'"'"'s body;
withdrawing said obturator from said cannula lumen;
providing a tissue removal apparatus comprising an elongate member for receiving said nucleus pulposus tissue, said elongate member defining a lumen and comprising a distal end defining an aperture and a proximal end, the apparatus further comprising an elongate tissue removal member for conveying tissue through said lumen, said tissue removal member being rotatably disposed within said lumen, said tissue removal member having a proximal end and a distal end;
inserting the elongate member into said cannula lumen; and
engaging the tissue removal member in order to convey the nucleus pulposus tissue through the lumen of the elongate member. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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22. A method for removing nucleus pulposus tissue from an intervertebral disc of a patient'"'"'s body, comprising the steps of:
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providing a tissue removal apparatus comprising an elongate member for receiving said nucleus pulposus tissue, said elongate member defining a lumen and comprising a distal end defining an aperture and a proximal end, the apparatus further comprising an elongate tissue removal member for conveying tissue through said lumen, said tissue removal member being rotatably disposed within said lumen, said tissue removal member having a proximal end and a distal end;
advancing the elongate member through a nucleus pulposus of an intervertebral disc of a patient'"'"'s body, so that nucleus pulposus tissue is at least substantially gathered into said lumen; and
conveying at least a portion of the tissue at least substantially gathered into said lumen away from the nucleus pulposus.
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Specification