SURGICAL CUTTING TOOL AND METHOD
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A surgical cutting tool comprising:
- a tubular shaft with an expandable blade comprising one or more cuts in the tubular shaft, wherein the expandable blade is near a distal end of the tubular shaft, and wherein the expandable blade deploys substantially radially from the tubular shaft; and
an actuator member that extends beyond the distal end of the tubular shaft and includes a bearing surface configured to press against the distal end of the tubular shaft when the actuator member is moved relative to the tubular shaft in a first direction to deploy the expandable blade;
wherein the bearing surface is not connected to the tubular shaft such that substantially any tensile resistance exists between the tubular shaft and the actuator member when the actuator member is moved relative to the tubular shaft in a second direction that is substantially opposite from the first direction.
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Abstract
Embodiments of the invention include surgical cutting tools with expandable blade portions configured to be inserted through a relatively small opening and expanded in place to manipulate tissue. Some embodiments include expandable blades that may be used to one or more of cut, detach, and remove tissue of or associated with skeletal structures such as one or more vertebrae or portions of the spine or vertebrae. Some embodiments may include use in related methods.
56 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A surgical cutting tool comprising:
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a tubular shaft with an expandable blade comprising one or more cuts in the tubular shaft, wherein the expandable blade is near a distal end of the tubular shaft, and wherein the expandable blade deploys substantially radially from the tubular shaft; and an actuator member that extends beyond the distal end of the tubular shaft and includes a bearing surface configured to press against the distal end of the tubular shaft when the actuator member is moved relative to the tubular shaft in a first direction to deploy the expandable blade; wherein the bearing surface is not connected to the tubular shaft such that substantially any tensile resistance exists between the tubular shaft and the actuator member when the actuator member is moved relative to the tubular shaft in a second direction that is substantially opposite from the first direction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A surgical cutting tool comprising:
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a tubular shaft with an expandable blade comprising one or more cuts in the tubular shaft, wherein the expandable blade is near a distal end of the tubular shaft, and wherein the expandable blade deploys substantially radially from the tubular shaft with one or more substantially radially extending elements, each substantially radially extending element comprising; two substantially opposite end portions that couple with a main body of the tubular shaft, and a central portion between the two substantially opposite end portions that includes elements for cutting tissue, wherein the central portion is offset from at least portions of the two substantially opposite ends; and an actuator member configured to apply force to the tubular shaft when the actuator member is moved relative to the tubular shaft in a first direction to deploy the expandable blade. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A surgical cutting tool comprising:
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a tubular shaft with an expandable blade comprising one or more cuts in the tubular shaft, wherein the expandable blade is near a distal end of the tubular shaft, and wherein the expandable blade deploys substantially radially from the tubular shaft; and an actuator member that extends beyond the distal end of the tubular shaft and includes a bearing surface configured to press against the distal end of the tubular shaft when the actuator member is moved relative to the tubular shaft in a first direction to deploy the expandable blade; wherein the actuator member includes a plunger configured to push material through the expandable blade and out of the distal end of the tubular shaft. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification