Safe cutting heads and systems for fast removal of a target tissue
First Claim
1. A tubular cutting head for removing a nucleus pulposus of a subject, the cutting head comprisingan outer perimeter that circumscribes a lumen through the cutting head, the lumen having a central axis and in an operable communication with an at least substantially rigid tube;
- and,a cutting surface on a distal perimeter of the cutting head, the cutting surface havinga forward cutting blade having a forward-directed cutting surface on a distal edge of the outer perimeter, the forward cutting blade configured for (i) cutting the nucleus pulposus tissue in a forward stroke of the cutting head and (ii) excising and directing entry of the excised nucleus pulposus tissue into the lumen on the forward stroke;
and,a blade guard positioned distal to the forward cutting blade and configured to guard an annulus fibrosis tissue from the forward cutting blade upon the forward stroke, the blade guard configured witha first laterally-directed cutting surface configured for cutting the nucleus pulposus in a first transverse stroke of the cutting head in a first transverse direction, the first laterally-directed cutting surface adapted as a directional shift from the forward cutting direction of the forward cutting blade to the first transverse direction of the first laterally-directed cutting surface, the first laterally-directed cutting surface including an apex pointing away from a plane that geometrically bisects the blade guard and the central axis; and
,a second laterally-directed cutting surface opposing the first laterally-directed cutting surface and configured for cutting the nucleus pulposus in a second transverse stroke of the cutting head in a second transverse direction, the second laterally-directed cutting surface adapted as a directional shift from the forward cutting direction of the forward cutting blade to the second transverse direction of the second laterally-directed cutting surface, the second laterally-directed cutting surface including an apex pointing away from the plane that geometrically bisects the blade guard and the central axis.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A safe and efficient cutting heads for removing a target tissue from a subject during a surgical procedure are provided, the cutting heads composing a part of systems that address several problems, including clogging of state-of-the-art systems during removal of such tissue, for example. The target tissue can include any tissue that is accessible through a small surgical opening, for example, a joint tissue such as a meniscus or an intervertebral tissue, such as a nucleus pulposus. The devices can be referred to as orthopedic tissue removal devices having cutting heads associated with vacuum systems, making the systems useful in several procedures, including X-LIF (lateral approach to an intervertebral fusions) procedures, T-LIF (transforaminal approach to intervertebral fusions) procedures, P-LIF (posterior approach to intervertebral fusions), and a percutaneous, transforaminal approach (Kambin triangle access).
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A tubular cutting head for removing a nucleus pulposus of a subject, the cutting head comprising
an outer perimeter that circumscribes a lumen through the cutting head, the lumen having a central axis and in an operable communication with an at least substantially rigid tube; - and,
a cutting surface on a distal perimeter of the cutting head, the cutting surface having a forward cutting blade having a forward-directed cutting surface on a distal edge of the outer perimeter, the forward cutting blade configured for (i) cutting the nucleus pulposus tissue in a forward stroke of the cutting head and (ii) excising and directing entry of the excised nucleus pulposus tissue into the lumen on the forward stroke; and, a blade guard positioned distal to the forward cutting blade and configured to guard an annulus fibrosis tissue from the forward cutting blade upon the forward stroke, the blade guard configured with a first laterally-directed cutting surface configured for cutting the nucleus pulposus in a first transverse stroke of the cutting head in a first transverse direction, the first laterally-directed cutting surface adapted as a directional shift from the forward cutting direction of the forward cutting blade to the first transverse direction of the first laterally-directed cutting surface, the first laterally-directed cutting surface including an apex pointing away from a plane that geometrically bisects the blade guard and the central axis; and
,a second laterally-directed cutting surface opposing the first laterally-directed cutting surface and configured for cutting the nucleus pulposus in a second transverse stroke of the cutting head in a second transverse direction, the second laterally-directed cutting surface adapted as a directional shift from the forward cutting direction of the forward cutting blade to the second transverse direction of the second laterally-directed cutting surface, the second laterally-directed cutting surface including an apex pointing away from the plane that geometrically bisects the blade guard and the central axis. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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6. A surgical, nucleus pulposus removal system, comprising:
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a tubular cutting head adapted for removing a target tissue of a subject, the cutting head having an outer perimeter that circumscribes a lumen through the cutting head, the lumen having a central axis and in an operable communication with an at least substantially rigid tube; a cutting surface on a distal perimeter of the tubular cutting head, the cutting surface having a forward cutting blade having a forward-directed cutting surface on a distal edge of the outer perimeter, the forward cutting blade configured for (i) cutting the nucleus pulposus tissue in a forward stroke of the cutting head and (ii) excising and directing entry of the excised nucleus pulposus tissue into the lumen on the forward stroke; and
,a blade guard positioned distal to the forward cutting blade and configured to guard an annulus fibrosis tissue from the forward cutting blade upon the forward stroke, the blade guard configured with a first laterally-directed cutting surface configured for cutting the nucleus pulposus in a first transverse stroke of the cutting head in a first transverse direction, the first laterally-directed cutting surface adapted as a directional shift from the forward cutting direction of the forward cutting blade to the first transverse direction of the first laterally-directed cutting surface, the first laterally-directed cutting surface including an apex pointing away from a plane that geometrically bisects the blade guard and the central axis; and
,a second laterally-directed cutting surface opposing the first laterally-directed cutting surface and configured for cutting the nucleus pulposus in a second transverse stroke of the cutting head in a second transverse direction, the second laterally-directed cutting surface adapted as a directional shift from the forward cutting direction of the forward cutting blade to the second transverse direction of the second laterally-directed cutting surface, the second laterally-directed cutting surface including an apex pointing away from the plane that geometrically bisects the blade guard and the central axis, wherein, the cutting head is configured for an operable communication between the lumen and a source of a suction, the outer perimeter adapted to circumscribe a flow of suction through the cutting head; and, a suction assembly in operable communication with the cutting head, the suction assembly comprising an at least substantially rigid suction tube with a central axis and creating the flow of suction for removing the excised nucleus pulposus tissue through the lumen and out of the subject. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A surgical, tissue removal system for a discectomy, comprising:
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a tubular cutting head adapted for removing a nucleus pulposus tissue from a subject, the cutting head having an outer perimeter that circumscribes a lumen through the cutting head, the lumen having a central axis and in an operable communication with an at least substantially rigid tube; a cutting surface on a distal perimeter of the tubular cutting head, the cutting surface having a forward cutting blade having a forward-directed cutting surface on a distal edge of the outer perimeter and configured for (i) cutting and excising the nucleus pulposus tissue in a forward stroke of the cutting head and (ii) directing entry of the cut and excised nucleus pulposus into the lumen on the forward stroke; and, a blade guard positioned distal to the forward cutting blade and configured to guard an annulus fibrosis tissue from the forward cutting blade upon the forward stroke, the blade guard including a transverse cutting blade having a plurality of laterally-directed cutting surfaces including a first laterally-directed cutting surface and a second laterally-directed cutting surface that opposes the first laterally-directed cutting surface, the first laterally-directed cutting surface and the second laterally-directed cutting surface each configured for cutting and excising the nucleus pulposus in a respective first and second transverse stroke of the cutting head, each of the laterally-directed cutting surfaces adapted as a directional shift from the forward-directed cutting surface of the forward cutting blade to a laterally-directed cutting surface, the first laterally-directed cutting surface and the second laterally-directed cutting surface each including an apex pointed away from a plane that geometrically bisects the blade guard and the central axis; and, a suction assembly in operable communication with the cutting head, the suction assembly comprising an at least substantially rigid suction tube with a central axis and creating the flow of suction for removing the nucleus pulposus tissue through the lumen and out of the subject. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification