Marked tools

• US 9,381,024 B2
• Filed: 09/28/2006
• Issued: 07/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Depuy Synthes Products Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Depuy Synthes Products Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Globerman, Oren, Beyar, Mordechay
• Primary Examiner(s): BOLES, SAMEH RAAFAT
• Application Number:
  US11/536,355
• Publication Number:
  US 20080200915A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,568 Days
• Field of Search: 606/79, 606/80, 606/84, 606/86.A, 606 88- 92, 606/279, 606/914, 623 1711- 1716
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1637 Hollow drills or saws producing a curved cut, e.g. cylindrical A61B10/025, A61B17/1695 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1671 for the spine
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3472 for bones, e.g. intraosseus injections
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8802 Equipment for handling bone cement or other fluid fillers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00539 hydraulically
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00902 transparent or translucent
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/39 Markers, e.g. radio-opaque or breast lesions markers

Abstract

A surgical apparatus, the apparatus comprising: (a) a cutting tool comprising an axial member with a proximal end and a distal end, the axial member characterized by at least two adjacent axial sections, wherein differences between each of the sections are visually discernible when viewed in a projection x-ray image; and (b) a hollow tube adapted for parallel alignment with the cutting tool and selectively axially positionable to be adjacent at least a selective one of said axial sections and block x-ray radiation from at least one of passing through or passing adjacent said selected section so that said projection indicates a relative axial position of said hollow tube and said cutting tool.

Claims

1. A surgical apparatus, the apparatus comprising:

(a) a cutting tool comprising an axial member with a proximal end and a distal end, the axial member characterized by at least two adjacent axial sections which do not form a part of a cutting tip of said tool, wherein differences between each of the sections are visually discernible when viewed in a projection x-ray image, wherein said visually discernible difference results from an outer radial section of reduced radio-opacity; and

(b) a hollow tube adapted for parallel alignment with the cutting tool and selectively axially positionable to be adjacent at least a selective one of said axial sections and block x-ray radiation from at least one of passing through or passing adjacent said selected section so that said projection image indicates a relative axial position of said hollow tube and said cutting tool.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cutting tool is adapted for bone access.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the cutting tool is adapted for vertebral access.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said hollow tube comprises a sleeve adapted to contain at least an axial portion of the cutting tool.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said sleeve has an inner diameter which is adapted to ensure substantial contact with said cutting tool.

6. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said hollow tube comprises a partial sleeve which does not circumferentially surround the cutting tool adjacent said sections.

7. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said hollow tube blocks said radiation from at least part of said selected section.

8. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said hollow tube blocks said radiation from an area adjacent said selective section.

9. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said outer radial section comprises a filled-in groove.

10. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said cutting tool comprises at least one radially distal hollow.

11. Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said radially distal hollow does not reach a distal end of said cutting tool.

12. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said visually discernible differences are rotationally symmetric, with respect to rotation of said cutting tool and said hollow tube with respect to said x-ray radiation.

13. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said visually discernible differences are each axially uniform.

14. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the axial sections comprises an axially varying profile.

15. Apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the axially varying profile comprises a series of axially separated decreased radio-opaque diameter portions.

16. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said axial sections comprises an axially extending spiral of at least partly radio-opaque material.

17. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cutting tool comprises an inner lumen.

18. Apparatus according to claim 17, comprising a guide element adapted for insertion through the inner lumen.

19. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said cutting tool comprises a bone penetrating element and said hollow tube comprises a bone cannula.

20. Apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said bone cannula has a wall thickness of 0.4 mm or less.

21. Apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said bone cannula has a wall thickness of 0.3 mm or less.