Orthopedic surgery access devices
First Claim
1. A device for piercing a cortical wall and initiating access to a cancellous interior of a vertebral body via minimally invasive, percutaneous approach to the vertebral body, said device comprising:
- a hollow shaft comprising an elongate axis, said shaft having a proximal end and a distal end with a first series of notches or slots in a side of said shaft near said distal end,wherein said shaft has sufficient strength and rigidity, when restrained by a rigid element inserted within the hollow shaft, to remain essentially straight and to pierce the cortical wall of said vertebral body, andwherein said shaft comprises a preformed curvature near the distal end of the shaft such that a portion of said elongate axis at said distal end of said shaft is not co-axial with a portion of said elongate axis along a remainder of said shaft, when said shaft is unrestrained by said rigid element.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides instrumentation that facilitates access to both sides of the vertebral body from a single access point. More particularly, the present invention provides bendable access devices that can be steered so as to traverse the vertebral body from the point of entry into the vertebral body, through the cancellous bone within the vertebral body, and to the contralateral side of the vertebral body. This steerability is provided by forming the access device with a series of slots, grooves, or notches in the side of the access device near the distal end of the access device, which slots, grooves, or notches reduce the bending stiffness of the access device. As a result, the distal end of the access device bends as it is being advanced into the vertebral body.
311 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A device for piercing a cortical wall and initiating access to a cancellous interior of a vertebral body via minimally invasive, percutaneous approach to the vertebral body, said device comprising:
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a hollow shaft comprising an elongate axis, said shaft having a proximal end and a distal end with a first series of notches or slots in a side of said shaft near said distal end, wherein said shaft has sufficient strength and rigidity, when restrained by a rigid element inserted within the hollow shaft, to remain essentially straight and to pierce the cortical wall of said vertebral body, and wherein said shaft comprises a preformed curvature near the distal end of the shaft such that a portion of said elongate axis at said distal end of said shaft is not co-axial with a portion of said elongate axis along a remainder of said shaft, when said shaft is unrestrained by said rigid element. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An apparatus for creating a channel in a vertebral body, the apparatus comprising:
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a rigid first element comprising a first elongate axis, said first rigid element having a proximal end and a distal end; and at least one hollow second element comprising a second elongate axis, said hollow second element comprising a plurality of slots near a distal end thereof, wherein the plurality of slots facilitates bending of the at least one hollow second element, wherein the at least one hollow second element is adapted to advance over the rigid first element, and wherein at least one of said distal end of said rigid first element and said distal end of said hollow second element comprises a preformed curvature, wherein said preformed curvature comprises a portion of an elongate axis of an element being non co-axial with a remainder of said elongate axis, when unrestrained by said rigid first element. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification