Method for debulking tissue to remove pressure on a nerve
DCFirst Claim
1. A method for removing a protruding tissue from abutting engagement with a nerve, comprising the steps of:
- undermining tissue, which protrudes into abutting engagement with a nerve, by forming a cavity adjacent said tissue;
performing said undermining with arthroscopic tools;
employing progressively larger dilator tubes and progressively larger cutter tubes to enlarge the cavity;
dimensioning the cavity so that it has a volume adequate to fully receive therewithin the protruding tissue; and
inducing the collapse of the cavity by using a laser means to heat inner disc material of the cavity so that the producing tissue falls into said cavity and out of engagement with said nerve.
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Abstract
An arthroscopic method for debulking tissue and a kit of arthroscopic tools for performing the steps of the method. A protruding piece of tissue that is bearing against a nerve is undermined by the formation of a cavity beneath it, and the cavity is collapsed by heat generated by a laser. When the cavity collapses, the protruding tissue falls into it and separates from the nerve. The kit includes plural dilator tubes that are used to progressively dilate the arthroscopic incision and plural cutter tubes that are used in sequence to cut larger and larger pieces of tissue. Plural forceps are employed to remove the cut tissue to form the cavity, and impactor members in the kit are used to compact the bone that surrounds the cavity just before the laser is introduced into the cavity to collapse it.
107 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A method for removing a protruding tissue from abutting engagement with a nerve, comprising the steps of:
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undermining tissue, which protrudes into abutting engagement with a nerve, by forming a cavity adjacent said tissue; performing said undermining with arthroscopic tools; employing progressively larger dilator tubes and progressively larger cutter tubes to enlarge the cavity; dimensioning the cavity so that it has a volume adequate to fully receive therewithin the protruding tissue; and inducing the collapse of the cavity by using a laser means to heat inner disc material of the cavity so that the producing tissue falls into said cavity and out of engagement with said nerve. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification