Method for decompressing herniated intervertebral discs
First Claim
1. A method for decompressing a herniated intervertebral disc in the lumbar region of a human patient comprising the steps of:
- inserting a hollow needle with a stylet through the skin of the patient'"'"'s back at a location spaced from the midline of the back and advancing the needle in an oblique direction with respect to a line perpendicular to the patient'"'"'s back until it reaches the outside of the annulus fibrosis of the herniated disc;
withdrawing the stylet;
introducing a guide wire through the needle to the disc;
withdrawing the needle;
passing a cannulated, blunt-tipped trocar with an opening in its tip slightly greater in diameter than the diameter of the guide wire, over the guide wire until the tip reaches the outside of the annulus fibrosis of the herniated disc;
withdrawing the guide wire;
passing a thin-walled cannula which closely fits the trocar, over the trocar until the distal end of the cannula reaches outside of said annulus;
withdrawing the trocar;
introducing through the cannula a cutting instrument comprising a hollow circular cylindrical tube having cutting teeth formed in a circle on its distal end;
with the cannula still in place, forming a window in the herniated disc by rotary manipulation of the cutting instrument; and
with the cannula still in place, evacuating fragments of the herniated disc through the cannula.
14 Assignments
0 Petitions
Reexamination
Accused Products
Abstract
Decompression of herniated discs in the lumbar spine is carried percutaneously by the insertion of a specially designed cannulated trocar over a guide wire extending through the patient'"'"'s back toward the herniated disc at an angle of approximately 35 degrees with respect to the patient'"'"'s perpendicular line. A thin-walled cannula is passed over the trocar, and a hollow cutting instrument is inserted through the cannula to form a window in the disc. Disc fragments are removed through the cannula by means of a special punch forceps, after the application of suction to the disc nucleus through the cutting instrument.
1215 Citations
11 Claims
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1. A method for decompressing a herniated intervertebral disc in the lumbar region of a human patient comprising the steps of:
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inserting a hollow needle with a stylet through the skin of the patient'"'"'s back at a location spaced from the midline of the back and advancing the needle in an oblique direction with respect to a line perpendicular to the patient'"'"'s back until it reaches the outside of the annulus fibrosis of the herniated disc; withdrawing the stylet; introducing a guide wire through the needle to the disc; withdrawing the needle; passing a cannulated, blunt-tipped trocar with an opening in its tip slightly greater in diameter than the diameter of the guide wire, over the guide wire until the tip reaches the outside of the annulus fibrosis of the herniated disc; withdrawing the guide wire; passing a thin-walled cannula which closely fits the trocar, over the trocar until the distal end of the cannula reaches outside of said annulus; withdrawing the trocar; introducing through the cannula a cutting instrument comprising a hollow circular cylindrical tube having cutting teeth formed in a circle on its distal end; with the cannula still in place, forming a window in the herniated disc by rotary manipulation of the cutting instrument; and with the cannula still in place, evacuating fragments of the herniated disc through the cannula. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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Specification