Surgical instruments useful for endoscopic spinal procedures
First Claim
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1. An endoscopic surgical instrument for spreading vertebrae comprising:
- a handle portion including an actuation member for manipulating an actuation mechanism;
an elongated endoscopic section defining a longitudinal axis and extending distally from said handle portion;
said actuation mechanism at least partially extending within said elongated endoscopic section and movable in response to movement of said actuation member; and
a vertebrae spreading mechanism operatively associated with a distal end of said endoscopic section and movable between open and closed positions by said actuation mechanism in response to movement of said actuation member, said vertebrae spreading mechanism including at least two vertebrae spreading arm members having exterior tissue contacting surfaces, each tissue contacting surface longitudinally extending along a major portion of the length of a respective arm member, said tissue contacting surfaces obliquely oriented relative to said longitudinal axis when in said closed position of said vertebrae spreading mechanism to define a reduced profile of said vertebrae spreading mechanism to facilitate insertion within adjacent vertebrae.
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Abstract
The present invention provides endoscopic instrumentation and surgical techniques especially useful for accessing at least a portion of an intervertebral disc. Vertebrae spreading instruments are provided for spreading adjacent vertebrae to facilitate access to the intervertebral disc are. The disclosed surgical method uses an anterior approach to access the intervertebral disc and spreads adjacent vertebrae utilizing an endoscopic vertebrae spreading instrument.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. An endoscopic surgical instrument for spreading vertebrae comprising:
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a handle portion including an actuation member for manipulating an actuation mechanism; an elongated endoscopic section defining a longitudinal axis and extending distally from said handle portion; said actuation mechanism at least partially extending within said elongated endoscopic section and movable in response to movement of said actuation member; and a vertebrae spreading mechanism operatively associated with a distal end of said endoscopic section and movable between open and closed positions by said actuation mechanism in response to movement of said actuation member, said vertebrae spreading mechanism including at least two vertebrae spreading arm members having exterior tissue contacting surfaces, each tissue contacting surface longitudinally extending along a major portion of the length of a respective arm member, said tissue contacting surfaces obliquely oriented relative to said longitudinal axis when in said closed position of said vertebrae spreading mechanism to define a reduced profile of said vertebrae spreading mechanism to facilitate insertion within adjacent vertebrae. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An endoscopic surgical instrument for spreading tissue such as the vertebrae which comprises:
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a handle portion; an elongated portion extending distally from said handle portion and defining a longitudinal axis; a tissue spreading mechanism supported at a distal end of said elongated portion, said tissue spreading mechanism including at least two spreading members, said tissue spreading mechanism moveable between a first closed position wherein said first and second tissue spreading members are generally adjacent each other and a second at least partially open position wherein said tissue spreading members are displaced from each other; each of said spreading members having an inner surface adjacent the opposing spreading member and an outer surface, said outer surface including a longitudinally extending tissue gripping surface, each said spreading member defining a cross-sectional dimension which gradually increases from distal to proximal over a major portion of its length such that said tissue gripping surfaces are obliquely oriented relative to said longitudinal axis when in said first position; and an actuating mechanism for moving said at least two spreading members between said first position and said second position. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An endoscopic surgical instrument for spreading vertebrae, which comprises:
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a handle portion including a frame dimensioned to be grasped by the hand of a user and an actuating member movably mounted to the frame; an elongated portion connected to the frame and having proximal and distal ends; a tissue spreading assembly mounted to the distal end of the elongated portion and defining a longitudinal axis, the tissue spreading assembly including first and second tissue spreading members mounted for movement between a closed position and an at least partially open position, the first and second tissue spreading members each having an outer engaging surface extending along a major portion of the length thereof, the outer engaging surfaces of the first and second tissue spreading members being angularly oriented at respective positive and negative acute angles relative to said longitudinal axis when in said closed position thereof to thereby define a reduced profile of the tissue spreading assembly to facilitate insertion between adjacent vertebrae; and an actuator mounted to the handle portion and operatively connected to the tissue spreading assembly, the actuator movable to cause movement of the first and second tissue spreading members between the closed and open positions. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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17. An endoscopic surgical instrument for spreading vertebrae, which comprises:
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a handle portion including a frame dimensioned to be grasped by the hand of a user and an actuating member movably mounted to the frame; an elongated portion connected to the frame and having proximal and distal ends; a tissue spreading assembly mounted to the distal end of the elongated portion and defining a longitudinal axis, the tissue spreading assembly including first and second tissue spreading members mounted for movement between a closed position and an at least partially open position, the first and second tissue spreading members each having an inner surface adjacent the other spreading member and an outer engaging surface, the outer engaging surfaces of the first and second tissue spreading member each lying in a plane angularly oriented relative to said longitudinal axis when in said closed position thereof, the outer engaging surfaces including irregularities to facilitate engagement with vertebrae. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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Specification