Curved dilator and method
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A system for creating and dilating an opening in an interspinous ligament, the system comprising:
- a series of dilators, each dilator including;
an elongated body having a proximal end and a distal end;
a handle portion connected with the proximal end for manipulating the elongated body, and a tapered curved tip at the distal end adapted for being urged into the interspinous ligament, the tapered curved tip having a rigid shape and increasing from a first diameter to a second diameter, and wherein the first diameter of the tapered curved tip for a first dilator is sized such that the first dilator is adapted to create the opening in the interspinous ligament; and
wherein the first diameter of the tapered curved tip for a subsequent dilator is substantially the same as the second diameter of the tapered curved tip of a preceding dilator.
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention generally relates to a dilator with a curved tip. The curved tip is machined through a specific range of diameters so that a physician can establish the diameter of the opening with the dilator inserted. The angle of the dilator also allows the physician to access the interspinous ligament through a minimally invasive opening in the patients back, minimizing the trauma caused to surrounding body tissue.
445 Citations
10 Claims
-
1. A system for creating and dilating an opening in an interspinous ligament, the system comprising:
-
a series of dilators, each dilator including;
an elongated body having a proximal end and a distal end;
a handle portion connected with the proximal end for manipulating the elongated body, and a tapered curved tip at the distal end adapted for being urged into the interspinous ligament, the tapered curved tip having a rigid shape and increasing from a first diameter to a second diameter, and wherein the first diameter of the tapered curved tip for a first dilator is sized such that the first dilator is adapted to create the opening in the interspinous ligament; and
wherein the first diameter of the tapered curved tip for a subsequent dilator is substantially the same as the second diameter of the tapered curved tip of a preceding dilator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
-
-
6. A system for creating and dilating an opening in an interspinous ligament, the system comprising:
-
a series of devices, each device including;
an elongated body having a first end and a second end;
a handle connected with the first end for manipulating the elongated body; and
a tapered tip at the second end positioned about an axis that forms an angle with an axis of the elongated body, the tapered tip having a rigid shape and a diameter about the tip axis that increases from a first diameter to a second diameter;
wherein the first diameter of the tapered tip for a first device of the series of devices is sized such that the first device is adapted to create the opening in the interspinous ligament; and
wherein the first diameter of the tapered tip for a subsequent device of the series of devices is substantially the same as the second diameter of the tapered tip of a preceding device. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
-
Specification