Spinal anulus cutter
First Claim
1. A surgical tool for cutting a flap in an encapsulating ligament, such as an anulus of a human intervertebral disc, to provide access to an interior space or material surrounded by the ligament, the surgical tool characterized by:
- a knife blade having a plurality of walls connected together to define a closed side and an open side, and having a cutting edge at a forward end of the walls, wherein a portion of the cutting edge is linear, which is configured to cut at least one multisided flap, a portion of which is linear, in a ligament when a axial force is transmitted to the knife blade in a direction toward the cutting edge; and
a stop member positioned against the knife blade, perpendicular to the cutting edge for limiting cutting depth of the knife blade.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A spinal anulus cutter for cutting a multisided flap in an encapsulating ligament, such as an anulus of a human intervertebral disc, to provide access to an interior space or material surrounded by the ligament. The spinal anulus cutter is characterized by a knife blade comprised of a plurality of walls which are connected together to define a closed side and an open side. Further, a cutting edge is formed at the forward edge of the walls which is configured to cut the multisided flap in the ligament when an axial force is transmitted to the knife blade in a direction towards the cutting edge. The flap will conform in shape and size to the form of the knife blade, whereby the open side of the knife blade will not cut the ligamentary tissue.
-
Citations
22 Claims
-
1. A surgical tool for cutting a flap in an encapsulating ligament, such as an anulus of a human intervertebral disc, to provide access to an interior space or material surrounded by the ligament, the surgical tool characterized by:
-
a knife blade having a plurality of walls connected together to define a closed side and an open side, and having a cutting edge at a forward end of the walls, wherein a portion of the cutting edge is linear, which is configured to cut at least one multisided flap, a portion of which is linear, in a ligament when a axial force is transmitted to the knife blade in a direction toward the cutting edge; and a stop member positioned against the knife blade, perpendicular to the cutting edge for limiting cutting depth of the knife blade. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
-
-
18. A surgical tool for cutting a flap in an encapsulating ligament, such as an anulus of a human intervertebral disc, to provide access to an interior space or material surrounded by the ligament, the surgical tool comprising:
-
a handle having a first end and a second end; a knife blade attached to and extending forwardly from the first end of the handle, the knife blade defined by spaced first and second end points connected by a continuous, non-linear wall, and having a cutting edge at a forward end of the continuous wall, wherein a portion of the cutting edge is linear, which is configured to cut a multisided flap, a portion of which is linear, in the ligament when an axial force is transmitted through the handle to the knife blade in a direction towards the first end; and a stop member positioned against the knife blade, perpendicular to the cutting edge for limiting cutting depth of the knife blade. - View Dependent Claims (19)
-
-
20. A surgical method for cutting a flap through an encapsulating ligament, such as an anulus of a human disc, the method comprising:
-
positioning a cutting tool, having a knife blade shaped to define a flap cutting pattern extending from a distal end of a handle, on the ligament such that the knife blade contacts the ligament; and applying an axial force to the handle to cut the flap in the ligament. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
-
Specification