TISSUE MODIFICATION DEVICES
First Claim
1. A flexible tissue-modification device for removing tissue from a patient, the device comprising:
- a flexible elongate body having an axial length, a width and a thickness, wherein the axial length is greater than the width, and the width is greater than the thickness;
wherein the elongate body includes a plurality of rungs that are flexibly connected, wherein each rung extends at least partially across the width of the body; and
at least one cutting edge on two or more of the rungs.
11 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Described herein are elongate devices for modifying tissue having a plurality of flexibly connected rungs or links, and methods of using them, including methods of using them to decompress stenotic spinal tissue. These devices may be included as part of a system for modifying tissue. In general, these devices include a plurality of blades positioned on (or formed from) rungs that are flexibly connected. The rungs are typically rigid, somewhat flat and wider than they are long (e.g., rectangular). The rungs may be arranged, ladder like, and may be connected by a flexible connector substrate or between two or more cables. Different sized rungs may be used. The blades (on the rungs) may be arranged in a staggered arrangement. A tissue-collection or tissue capture element may be used to collect the cut or modified tissue.
46 Citations
66 Claims
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1. A flexible tissue-modification device for removing tissue from a patient, the device comprising:
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a flexible elongate body having an axial length, a width and a thickness, wherein the axial length is greater than the width, and the width is greater than the thickness; wherein the elongate body includes a plurality of rungs that are flexibly connected, wherein each rung extends at least partially across the width of the body; and at least one cutting edge on two or more of the rungs. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of modifying tissue, the method comprising:
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passing a flexible tissue-modification device at least partially around a target tissue, wherein the flexible tissue-modification device comprises; a flexible elongate body having a width and a thickness, a plurality of rungs that are flexibly connected, wherein each rung at least partially extends across the width of the body, and at least one cutting edge on two or more of the rungs; moving the tissue-modification device against the target tissue by pulling the tissue-modification device from at least one end of the device; and cutting the target tissue with the cutting edges on the rungs of the tissue-modification device. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 50, 55)
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23. A flexible tissue-modification device for removing tissue from a patient, the device comprising:
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a flexible elongate body extending proximally and distally along a length, further having an anterior surface, wherein the anterior surface extends at least partially proximally and partially distally; a plurality of cutting edges communicating with the anterior surface; and a tissue collection region configured to store tissue cut by the plurality of cutting edges, the tissue collection region having a fixed minimum open space and one or more vias configured to pass tissue cut from the cutting edge into the open space, wherein the open space of the tissue collection region is formed between the anterior surface and a posterior substrate separated from the anterior surface by a thickness. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A flexible elongate tissue-modification device, comprising:
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a flexible elongate body having a length and a width, the body extending distally and proximally along the length, wherein the length is greater than the width; a plurality of rungs that are flexibly connected, wherein each rung extends across the width of the body; at least one cutting edge on two or more of the rungs; and a tissue collection region adjacent to the rungs, wherein the tissue collection region has a minimum open space defined by the space between the rungs and a tissue collection substrate that extends at least partially proximally and distally. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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43. A method of removing tissue from a patient, the method comprising:
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passing a flexible tissue-modification device having a tissue collection region at least partially around a target tissue, wherein the flexible tissue-modification device comprises a flexible elongate body having an anterior surface extending proximally and distally; a plurality of cutting edges communicating with the anterior surface; and a tissue collection region configured to store cut tissue, the tissue collection region having a minimum open space in communication with the cutting edges; moving the tissue-modification device against the target tissue by pulling the tissue-modification device from at least one end of the device; cutting the target tissue with the cutting edges; and collecting the cut tissue into the open space of the tissue collection region. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46, 47)
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48. A flexible tissue-modification device for removing tissue from a patient, the device comprising:
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a flexible elongate body having a length, a width and a thickness, wherein the length is greater than the width, and the width is greater than the thickness; an anterior surface extending proximally and distally across the width of the flexible elongate body; a plurality of cutting edges communicating with the anterior surface; wherein the flexible tissue-modification device is convertible from a first configuration, in which the anterior surface has a first proximal to distal shape, and a second configuration in which the anterior surface has a second proximal to distal shape; and a lock for locking the proximal to distal shape of the anterior surface of the tissue-modification device. - View Dependent Claims (49, 51, 52, 53, 54, 56, 57)
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58. A flexible tissue-modification device for removing tissue from a patient, the device comprising:
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a flexible elongate body having a length, a width and a thickness, wherein the length is greater than the width, and the width is greater than the thickness; a plurality of rungs that are flexibly connected, wherein each rung extends across the width of the body and forms an anterior surface; at least one cutting edge on two or more of the rungs; wherein the flexible tissue-modification device is convertible from a first configuration, in which the anterior surface has a first proximal to distal shape, and a second configuration, in which the anterior surface has a second proximal to distal shape; and a lock for locking the proximal to distal shape of the anterior surface of the tissue-modification device. - View Dependent Claims (59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66)
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Specification