Spinal ligament modification devices

• US 20070198019A1
• Filed: 07/29/2005
• Published: 08/23/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Vertos Medical, Inc.
• Original Assignee: X-Sten Incorporated
• Inventors: Schomer, Donald, Way, Bryce, Solsberg, Murray
• Application Number:
  US10/595,536
• Publication Number:
  US 20070198019A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/79
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/0233 Pointed or sharp biopsy instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/0275 with sample notch, e.g. on the side of inner stylet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/0283 with vacuum aspiration, e.g. caused by retractable plunger or by connected syringe A61B10/025, A61B10/0266 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0401 Suture anchors, buttons or pledgets, i.e. means for attaching sutures to bone, cartilage or soft tissue; Instruments for applying or removing suture anchors A61B17/0642 takes precedence; fixation devices for tendons or ligaments A61F2/0811
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0482 Needle or suture guides guides for drills, pins or wire A61B17/17; for puncturing needles A61B17/3403
• 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 17/32002 with continuously rotating, oscillating or reciprocating cutting instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/32053 Punch like cutting instruments, e.g. using a cylindrical or oval knife A61B17/326 takes precedence; trepans A61B17/1695; for use on the cornea A61F9/007
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/320783 through side-hole, e.g. sliding or rotating cutter inside catheter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3401 Puncturing needles for the peridural or subarachnoid space or the plexus, e.g. for anaesthesia local anaesthesia A61M19/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3478 Endoscopic needles, e.g. for infusion biopsy needles A61B10/0233; catheters with injection needles A61M25/0067
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2010/045 Needles pointed biopsy devices with vacuum aspiration A61B10/0283
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00261 Discectomy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00349 Needle-like instruments having hook or barb-like gripping means, e.g. for grasping suture or tissue A61B17/06066 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0412 having anchoring barbs or pins extending outwardly from suture anchor body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0419 H-fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0427 having anchoring barbs or pins extending outwardly from the anchor body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0437 the barbs being resilient or spring-like
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/06052 Needle-suture combinations in which a suture is extending inside a hollow tubular needle, e.g. over the entire length of the needle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/06176 : with protrusions, e.g. barbs
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320008 : Scrapers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/32004 : having a laterally movable cutting member at its most distal end which remains within the contours of said end
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320064 : with tissue or sample retaining means

Abstract

A method for treating stenosis in a spine comprises percutaneously accessing the epidural space in a stenotic region of interest, compressing the thecal sac in the region of interest to form a safety zonem, inserting a tissue removal tool into tissue in the working zone, using the tool to percutaneously reduce the stenosis; and utilizing imaging to visualize the position of the tool during at least a part of the reduction step. A tissue excision system for performing percutaneous surgery, comprises a cannula comprising a tissue-penetrating member having a distal end defining an aperture on one side thereof, an occluding member slidably received on or in the cannula and closing the aperture when the occluding member is adjacent the cannula distal end, means for engaging adjacent tissue via the aperture, and cutting means for resecting a section of the engaged tissue.

Claims

1-28. -28. (canceled)

34. (canceled)

36. A kit for performing a procedure on a spine, the spine including an epidural space containing a thecal sac, the kit comprising:

an insertion member for accessing the epidural space;

an expandable device adapted to be inserted into the epidural space by the insertion member and expanded so as to compress a portion of the thecal sac and provide a safety zone within the epidural space; and

a tool including means for engaging the ligamentum flavum and means for resecting a section of the ligamentum flavum.

29. The kit according to claim 36 wherein said expandable device comprises a volume of a contrast medium.

30. The kit according to claim 29 wherein the contrast medium comprises a radio-opaque non-ionic myelographic contrast medium.

31. The kit according to claim 36 wherein said expandable device comprises a volume of a medium that is injectable at ambient temperatures and more viscous at body temperature.

32. The method according to claim 36 wherein said expandable device includes a bioactive agent.

33. The method according to claim 36 wherein the contrast medium includes a steroid.

35. The kit according to claim 36 wherein said tool comprises:

a cannulated scalpel having a side aperture proximal its distal end;

an elongate body housed within said cannulated scalpel and comprising two radially extendable arms constructed such that radially extending said arms causes them to extend outward through said side aperture and retracting said arms causes them to close.

37. The kit according to claim 36 wherein said tool comprises:

a cannula having a side aperture proximal its distal end;

a barbed member coaxially received within said cannula; and

a cutting member received on said cannula.

38. The kit according to claim 36 wherein said kit further includes means for engaging a first anatomical structure and means for affixing said first anatomical structure to a second anatomical structure.

39. The kit according to claim 36 wherein said kit further includes means for engaging and retracting the ligamentum flavum and means for anchoring the retracted ligamentum flavum.