System for removing cut tissue from the inner bore of a surgical instrument

• US 6,478,805 B1
• Filed: 04/13/2000
• Issued: 11/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nuvasive Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Nuvasive Incorporated
• Inventors: Marino, James F., Stone, Corbett W., Lynch, Robert S., King, Nicolei R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Milano, Michael J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bui, Vy Q.
• Application Number:
  US09/548,905
• Time in Patent Office: 943 Days
• Field of Search: 606/170, 606/171, 606/172, 606/184, 606/185, 606/177, 606/83, 606/110, 606/114, 606/115, 600/566, 600/567
• US Class Current: 606/170
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/0283 with vacuum aspiration, e.g. caused by retractable plunger or by connected syringe A61B10/025, A61B10/0266 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1604 Chisels; Rongeurs; Punches; Stamps
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/32004 having a laterally movable cutting member at its most distal end which remains within the contours of said end
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2217/005 with suction drainage system
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2217/007 with irrigation system
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/442 Intervertebral or spinal discs, e.g. resilient non-disc-shaped intervertebral inflatable pockets A61F2/441; non-disc-shaped intervertebral fusion implants A61F2/4455
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4455 for the fusion of spinal bodies, e.g. intervertebral fusion of adjacent spinal bodies, e.g. fusion cages intervertebral discs A61F2/442
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30092 using shape memory or superelastic materials, e.g. nitinol
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30131 horseshoe- or crescent- or C-shaped or U-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30462 retained or tied with a rope, string, thread, wire or cable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30604 modular
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30772 Apertures or holes, e.g. of circular cross section
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0014 using shape memory or superelastic materials, e.g. nitinol
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0075 sutured, ligatured or stitched, retained or tied with a rope, string, thread, wire or cable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0013 Horseshoe-shaped, e.g. crescent-shaped, C-shaped, U-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00023 Titanium or titanium-based alloys, e.g. Ti-Ni alloys

Abstract

A system for removing cut tissue from the inner bore of a surgical rongeur or suction punch, comprising: an elongated tubular member having a side hole positioned adjacent its distal end; and an insert projecting inwardly from the distal end of the tubular member into the inner bore of the tubular member.

Claims

1. A system for successively removing cut tissue from the inner bore of a surgical rongeur or suction punch, comprising:

an elongated tubular member having an inner bore of substantially uniform diameter and a side hole positioned adjacent its distal end for receiving tissue therethrough;

a tubular cutting element having a blade at its distal end, said tubular cutting element being axially moveable within said elongated tubular member to cut tissue extending through said side hole of said elongated tubular member;

a hollow tube extending inwardly from the distal end of said elongated tubular member within the inner bore of said elongated tubular member such that the proximal end of the hollow tube is disposed substantially adjacent the side hole of the elongated tubular member, said hollow tube permitting air and fluid passage therethrough to prevent the formation of a vacuum within the inner bore when said cutting element blocks said side hole of said elongated tubular member while cutting tissue; and

a source for suctioning cut tissue from the inner bore of the elongated tubular member.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the hollow tube has a flat proximal end disposed perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the elongated tubular member, said flat proximal end having sufficient surface area to maintain cut tissue in a stationary position relative to said elongated tubular element while said tubular cutting element is advanced distally, thereby pushing said cut tissue proximally into said tubular cutting element.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the hollow tube has an inner bore which is dimensioned narrowly enough such that air and fluid passing therethrough prevents a vacuum from forming in the inner bore of the surgical rongeur or suction punch, yet is dimensioned wide enough such that a sufficient suction force can be continuously maintained in the inner bore of the elongated tubular member.

4. The system of claim 1 and further, wherein the source for suctioning comprises a suction system adapted to reduce the air and fluid pressure within the inner bore of the surgical rongeur or suction punch.

5. A system for successively removing cut tissue from the inner bore of a surgical rongeur or suction punch, comprising:

an elongated tubular member having an inner bore of substantially uniform diameter, a side hole positioned adjacent its distal end, and a hollow tubular portion, said hollow tubular portion projecting inwardly from the distal end such that the proximal end of the hollow tubular portion is disposed substantially adjacent the side hole of the elongated tubular member;

a tubular cutting element having a blade at its distal end, said tubular cutting element being axially moveable within said elongated tubular member to cut tissue extending through said side hole of said elongated tubular member, wherein said hollow tubular portion permits air and fluid passage therethrough to prevent the formation of a vacuum within the inner bore when said cutting element blocks said side hole of said elongated tubular member while cutting tissue; and

a source for suctioning cut tissue from the inner bore of the elongated tubular member.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the hollow tubular portion has a flat proximal end disposed perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the elongated tubular member.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the hollow tubular portion has an inner bore which is dimensioned narrowly enough such that air and fluid passing therethrough prevents a vacuum from forming in the inner bore of the surgical rongeur or suction punch, yet is dimensioned wide enough such that a sufficient suction force can be continuously maintained in the inner bore of the elongated tabular member.

8. The system of claim 5 and further, wherein the source for suctioning comprises a suction system adapted to reduce the air and fluid pressure within the inner bore of the surgical rongeur or suction punch.

9. A system for successively removing cut tissue from the inner bore of a surgical rongeur or suction punch, comprising:

an elongated tubular member having a distal end, a side hole positioned adjacent the distal end, and an orifice passing through the distal end;

a tubular cutting element having a blade at its distal end, said tubular cutting element being axially moveable within said elongated tubular member;

a distal tip received within the orifice passing through the distal end of the elongated tubular member, the distal tip projecting inwardly from the distal end of the tubular member into the inner bore of the tubular member to a distance such that the proximal end of the distal tip is disposed adjacent the side hole of the elongated tubular member, wherein the distal tip comprises a hollow tubular portion permitting air and fluid passage therethrough, and wherein the distal tip has a seating surface against which the blade seats when the tubular cutting element is disposed a fully extended distal position, in which the side hole is closed; and

a suction source for suctioning cut tissue from the inner bore of the elongated tubular member.