POWERED TISSUE MODIFICATION DEVICES AND METHODS

• US 20130310837A1
• Filed: 06/10/2013
• Published: 11/21/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Spinal Elements, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Jeffery L. Bleich, John E. Ashley, Kenneth J. Michlitsch, Vahid Saadat
• Inventors: SAADAT, Vahid, BLEICH, Jeffery L., ASHLEY, John E., MICHLITSCH, Kenneth J.
• Granted Patent: US 9,456,829 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/85
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1659 Surgical rasps, files, planes, or scrapers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1671 for the spine

Abstract

A device for modifying tissue in a spine may include: a shaft having a proximal portion and a distal portion, the distal portion having dimensions which allow it to be passed into an epidural space of the spine and between target and non-target tissues; at least one distal force application member extending from the distal portion of the shaft and configured to facilitate application of at least one of anchoring force and tensioning force to the shaft; at least one movable tissue modifying member coupled with the shaft at or near its distal portion; at least one drive member coupled with the at least one tissue modifying member to activate the at least one tissue modifying member; and at least one power transmission member coupled with the at least one drive member to deliver power to the at least one drive member.

Claims

1. A device for modifying tissue in a spine, the device comprising.

an elongate body extending distally and proximally;

a tissue modifying member comprising a cutting edge, the tissue modifying member located at or near the distal end of the elongate body;

a flexible drive shaft extending the length of the elongate body and configured to actuate the tissue modifying member; and

a guidewire coupler at the distal end of the device configured to couple a guidewire so that it extends from the distal end of the elongate body.

2. A device as in claim 1, further comprising a handle at the proximal end.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the cutting edge is configured to rotate when actuated by the drive shaft.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the cutting edge is configured to reciprocate when actuated by the drive shaft.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the tissue modifying member is mounted on the drive shaft.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the cutting edge is an abrasive member.

7. The device of claim 1, further comprising a motor at the proximal end of the device coupled to the drive shaft.