Methods and devices for removing a spinal disc

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016199200-A1
Application number	US-201615076697-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 22, 2016
Priority date	Mar 15, 2013
Publication date	Jul 14, 2016
Grant date	—

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 a spinal disc; a first blade actuator having a distal end operatively coupled to a first cutting blade; and a second blade actuator having a distal end operatively coupled to a second cutting blade; wherein the first blade actuator is configured to move the first cutting blade along an arc-shaped path through a spinal disc, and the second actuator element is configured to move the second cutting blade such that the second cutting blade contacts the first cutting blade, thereby cutting the 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 , 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 guide features formed in the housing.

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

10 . A method for removing a spinal disc from an intervertebral space, comprising:
positioning a distal portion of an instrument adjacent to an intervertebral space, the instrument having first and second cutting blades; advancing the first cutting blade along a substantially circular path to form a cut in the spinal disc; advancing the second cutting blade through the spinal disc until a distal end of the second cutting blade contacts the first cutting blade; and retracting the instrument to remove the spinal disc from the intervertebral space.

11 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising distracting the intervertebral space prior to advancing the first cutting blade along the substantially circular path.

12 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising, after retracting the instrument and removing the spinal disc, inserting a spinal fusion cage into the intervertebral space.

13 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising accessing the intervertebral space via a lateral approach.

14 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising accessing the intervertebral space via a posterior approach.

15 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the second cutting blade contacts the first cutting blade and cuts at least a portion of the spinal disc.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein advancing the first cutting blade and advancing the second cutting blade cuts at least 25% of the spinal disc by volume.

17 . The method of claim 15 , wherein advancing the first cutting blade and advancing the second cutting blade cuts at least 50% of the spinal disc by volume.

18 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the first cutting blade and the second cutting blade are advanced at an angle of about 90 degrees relative to an axis.

19 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the first cutting blade is a swing blade and advancing the swing blade includes pivoting the swing blade to an angle of at least 90 degrees relative to an axis.

20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein advancing the second cutting blade includes moving the second cutting blade distally until the distal end of the second cutting blade contacts a distal end of the first cutting blade.

Assignees

• Depuy Synthes Products Inc

Inventors

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

Classifications

• A61B2017/00261

  Discectomy · CPC title

• A61B2017/320064

  with tissue or sample retaining means · CPC title

• A61B17/1671 Primary

  for the spine · CPC title

• A61B17/16

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

• A61F2/4455

  for the fusion of spinal bodies, e.g. intervertebral fusion of adjacent spinal bodies, e.g. fusion cages (intervertebral discs A61F2/442) · CPC title