Bone access system

• US 20060064101A1
• Filed: 08/15/2005
• Published: 03/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: ArthroCare Corporation (Smith & Nephew PLC)
• Original Assignee: ArthroCare Corporation (Smith & Nephew PLC)
• Inventors: Arramon, Yves P.
• Application Number:
  US11/204,811
• Publication Number:
  US 20060064101A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/82
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/32002 with continuously rotating, oscillating or reciprocating cutting instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3472 for bones, e.g. intraosseus injections
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3478 Endoscopic needles, e.g. for infusion biopsy needles A61B10/0233; catheters with injection needles A61M25/0067
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8811 characterised by the introducer tip, i.e. the part inserted into or onto the bone
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8819 characterised by the introducer proximal part, e.g. cannula handle, or by parts which are inserted inside each other, e.g. stylet and cannula A61B17/8825 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8822 characterised by means facilitating expulsion of fluid from the introducer, e.g. a screw pump plunger, hydraulic force transmissions, application of vibrations or a vacuum
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/14 Probes or electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00261 Discectomy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/003 Steerable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2217/005 with suction drainage system

Abstract

Instruments and methodology for nonlinear access to bone tissue sites are described. Embodiments disclosed include a conduit for delivering material or a medical device to a site and a core member that is able to steer the conduit and allow the combination to be advanced thorough cancellous bone. A cannula and stylet may be provided to first advance through hard bone. The core member includes a curved tip that may be straightened by the cannula or an actuator sheath to vary sweep of the curve. An obturator may be included in the system. This instrument may include a flexible portion as well. Each of the obturator and conduit may be provided with any of a variety of active tips. The systems may be used to perform hard tissue site implantation, for example, in connection with a high pressure injection system.

Claims

1. A bone access system comprising:

a cannula, said cannula adapted for driving through compact bone tissue,

a flexible conduit, said conduit adapted to be slidably received within said cannula, and

a core wire, said core wire adapted to be slidably received within said flexible conduit and including a distal portion having a preformed curve,

wherein, together, said core wire and said flexible conduit are adapted to be advanced from a distal end of said cannula to form a curved path through cancellous bone tissue and wherein at least one of said conduit and said core wire include an active tip for modifying tissue.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said conduit is adapted to deliver hard tissue implant material to a site upon removal of said core wire therefrom.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a stylet having a head adapted for passing through compact bone tissue.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising an actuator sheath provided between said core wire and said flexible conduit, said actuator sheath configured to selectively straighten said pre-formed curve upon advancement over the same

5. The system of claim 4, further comprising a slotted housing and a handle slidably received within said housing, wherein said handle is attached to said actuator sheath and said core wire is attached to said housing proximal to said handle.

6. The system of claim 4, further comprising an obturator positioned over said actuator sheath and inside said conduit.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein said obturator is affixed to said handle.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein said obturator comprises rigid section and a flexible distal end portion.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein said obturator end portion comprises a plurality of links, wherein said links are adapted to be drivable.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein said obturator end portion further comprising an active distal tip including a member selected from a group consisting of drivers, cutters and twisters.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein a proximal end of said obturator includes a drive interface.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein said conduit further comprises an active distal tip selected from a group consisting of electrosurgical, serrated, radio-marked, perforated infusion and snipper tips.

13. The system of claim 1, sized to effect vertebroplasty.

14. The system of claim 1, further comprising a high pressure applicator for delivering hard tissue implant material through said conduit.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein radial extension of said conduit from said cannula up to about 50 mm is possible.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein longitudinal extension of said conduit from said cannula up to about 100 mm is possible.

18. The method of claim 17, accomplished with a system selected from a group of systems as described in any one of claims 1-14.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein said core wire comprises an active electrosurgical tip to ablate and modify tissue.

20. The system of claim 19 further comprising a return electrode proximal to said active tip.

17. A method of bone access comprising:

advancing a cannula through bone tissue in a substantially straight path; and

advancing a steerable member inserted in said cannula through bone tissue in a path that extends radially from an axis of said cannula,

applying electrical energy to tissue from a working tip of the steerable member;

wherein said steerable member comprises a flexible conduit and a core wire having a preformed curve, said core wire adapted to direct said conduit in said radially-extending path upon release from a substantially straight, constrained state.