Styli used to position device for carrying out selective discetomy
First Claim
1. A system for performing a discectomy comprising:
- a flexible shaft having a proximal end portion, a distal end portion, and a lumen extending there between, wherein the shaft is adapted for insertion into a cannula having a proximal end and a distal end wherein the distal end portion of the shaft is configured to advance from a distal end of the cannula and into an intervertebral disc and substantially along a posterior wall of an intervertebral disc and the distal end portion of the shaft has a predetermined curvature which causes at least a portion of the distal end portion of the shaft to curve upon exiting the distal end of the cannula, such that the shaft can be navigated toward a herniation site located at a posterior wall of the disc to cut tissue; and
a mechanical cutting mechanism positioned on a side of the distal end portion of the shaft facing the direction of curvature of the shaft and in fluid communication with the lumen of the shaft, the cutting mechanism configured to cut in the direction of the curvature.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A set of styli comprised of a shaped memory or elastic metal are disclosed wherein each stylus has a different preformed curvatures for use with a cutting device for performing a selective discectomy. The device is inserted at a point chosen from contralateral, anterior or anterolateral relative to a herniation site. Once the cutting device is inserted its cutting window is moved to the desired position by inserting a first stylus having an appropriate curvature and moving the device, removing the stylus, inserting a second stylus with a different curvature relative to the first stylus before or after moving the device. By using a plurality of styli with different curvatures and using positioning movements the cutting window is positioned at the site of herniation and a selective discectomy is carried out.
235 Citations
35 Claims
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1. A system for performing a discectomy comprising:
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a flexible shaft having a proximal end portion, a distal end portion, and a lumen extending there between, wherein the shaft is adapted for insertion into a cannula having a proximal end and a distal end wherein the distal end portion of the shaft is configured to advance from a distal end of the cannula and into an intervertebral disc and substantially along a posterior wall of an intervertebral disc and the distal end portion of the shaft has a predetermined curvature which causes at least a portion of the distal end portion of the shaft to curve upon exiting the distal end of the cannula, such that the shaft can be navigated toward a herniation site located at a posterior wall of the disc to cut tissue; and a mechanical cutting mechanism positioned on a side of the distal end portion of the shaft facing the direction of curvature of the shaft and in fluid communication with the lumen of the shaft, the cutting mechanism configured to cut in the direction of the curvature. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 34, 35)
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19. A system for performing a discectomy comprising:
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a flexible shaft having a proximal end portion, a distal end portion having a predetermined curvature, and a lumen extending there between, where the shaft is adapted for insertion into a cannula having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the distal end portion of the shaft is configured to advance from the distal end of the cannula and into an intervertebral disc and allow its predetermined curvature to cause at least a portion of the distal end portion of the shaft to curve upon exiting the distal end of the cannula to position at least a portion of the distal end portion of the shaft near a herniation site to cut tissue; and a mechanical cutting mechanism positioned on a side of the distal end portion of the shaft facing the direction of curvature of the shaft and in fluid communication with the lumen of the shaft, the cutting mechanism configured to cut in the direction of the curvature. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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Specification