Methods and devices for removing a spinal disc

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10080572-B2
Application number	US-201615076697-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 22, 2016
Priority date	Mar 15, 2013
Publication date	Sep 25, 2018
Grant date	Sep 25, 2018

Abstract

Devices and methods for removing a spinal disc are provided herein. Discectomy instruments are disclosed that can remove a spinal disc in a single-pass, i.e., without repeatedly inserting and removing the instrument from a patient. In an exemplary embodiment, the discectomy instrument includes a distal housing, at least one cutting blade, and a handle. When the distal housing is positioned adjacent to a spinal disc, a handle can be actuated to advance the cutting blade along a substantially arc-shaped path through the disc. In certain aspects, the path of the blade can correspond to the anatomy of the disc and to the approach used to access the spine. A second cutting blade can be advanced through the disc and can intersect with the arc-shaped path, forming a complete cut. The cut disc can be received in the distal housing and removed from the patient.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A device for removing a spinal disc, comprising:
a housing having four walls that form a substantially rectangular shape with an open interior configured to receive a cut portion of the spinal disc, the housing having a first cutting blade and a second cutting blade; and;
a handle assembly including a handle, a first blade actuator operatively coupled to the first cutting blade and a second blade actuator operatively coupled to a second cutting blade;
wherein pivoting the first blade actuator relative to the handle moves the first cutting blade along an arc-shaped path capable of passing through a spinal disc, and moving the second blade actuator moves the second cutting blade such that the second cutting blade contacts the first cutting blade, thereby allowing cutting of a spinal disc.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the arc-shaped path of the first cutting blade substantially corresponds to a shape of a lateral surface of the spinal disc.

3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the housing has a height that is greater than or substantially equal to a height of the spinal disc.

4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the first cutting blade includes a swing blade having at least one cutting edge.

5. The device of claim 4 , wherein the at least one cutting edge of the swing blade is configured to pivot to an angle of about 165 degrees relative to a distal end of the housing.

6. The device of claim 4 , further comprising a timing band configured to slide relative to the housing to advance the swing blade along the arc-shaped path in response to movement of the first blade actuator.

7. The device of claim 6 , further comprising at least one swing blade stabilizer configured to selectively mate with the timing band when the timing band moves relative to the housing.

8. The device of claim 1 , wherein the first cutting blade and the second cutting blade are configured to move within one or more tracks formed in the housing.

9. The device of claim 8 , wherein distal ends of the first and second cutting blades are configured to interlock.

Assignees

• Depuy Synthes Products Inc

Inventors

• Livorsi Carl
• Amaral Francisco A
• Monteiro Paul
• Cameron Rod G

Classifications

• A61B2017/00261

  Discectomy · CPC title

• A61B17/16

  Instruments for performing osteoclasis; Drills or chisels for bones; Trepans {(arthroscopic bone cutters A61B17/320016)} · CPC title

• A61B2017/320064

  with tissue or sample retaining means · CPC title

• A61B17/1671 Primary

  for the spine · CPC title