Tissue modification devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017014142-A1
Application number	US-201615269166-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 19, 2016
Priority date	Dec 7, 2007
Publication date	Jan 19, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

Described herein are elongate devices for modifying tissue having a plurality of flexibly connected rungs or links, and methods of using them, including methods of using them to decompress stenotic spinal tissue. These devices may be included as part of a system for modifying tissue. In general, these devices include a plurality of blades positioned on (or formed from) rungs that are flexibly connected. The rungs are typically rigid, somewhat flat and wider than they are long (e.g., rectangular). The rungs may be arranged, ladder like, and may be connected by a flexible connector substrate or between two or more cables. Different sized rungs may be used. The blades (on the rungs) may be arranged in a staggered arrangement. A tissue-collection or tissue capture element may be used to collect the cut or modified tissue.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A flexible tissue-modification device for removing tissue from a patient, the device comprising: a flexible elongate body extending in a proximal to distal axis along a length, the elongate body comprising a plurality of rungs extending transverse to the proximal and distal axis, the elongate body having an anterior surface including the anterior surface of the rungs; a plurality of cutting edges extending from the anterior surface of the rungs; and a tissue collection region configured to collect tissue cut by the plurality of cutting edges, the tissue collection region opening through the anterior surface between adjacent rungs of the plurality of rungs.

2 . The device of claim 1 , further comprising a posterior substrate extending behind the rungs in the proximal to distal axis.

3 . The device of claim 1 , further comprising a posterior substrate that comprises a relatively rigid elongate substrate extending behind the rungs in the proximal to distal axis.

4 . The device of claim 1 , further comprising a posterior substrate that comprises an expandable material that allows the posterior substrate to expand as the tissue collection region is filled.

5 . The device of claim 1 , further comprising a posterior substrate that is coupled to the anterior surface by a plurality of connectors linking the anterior surface to the posterior substrate.

6 . The device of claim 2 , further comprising a posterior substrate that is extendable in the proximal to distal axis.

7 . The device of claim 6 , wherein the posterior substrate comprises an accordion region.

8 . The device of claim 1 , further comprising a posterior substrate that is coupled to the flexible elongate body by an expandable connector that allows the posterior substrate to extend or contract proximally and distally as the tissue-modification device is flexed.

9 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of rungs comprise rigid rungs that are flexibly connected.

10 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the elongate body comprises two elongate lengths of cable.

11 . The device of claim 1 , further comprising a guidewire coupler at the distal end of the flexible elongate body.

12 . The device of claim 1 , further comprising a handle or handle attachment region in communication with the proximal end of the flexible elongate body.

13 . A flexible tissue-modification device for removing tissue from a patient, the device comprising: a flexible elongate body having a length, a width and a thickness, wherein the length is greater than the width, and the width is greater than the thickness; an anterior surface extending proximally and distally across the width of the flexible elongate body; a plurality of cutting edges communicating with the anterior surface; wherein the flexible tissue-modification device is convertible from a first configuration, in which the anterior surface has a first proximal to distal shape, and a second configuration in which the anterior surface has a second proximal to distal shape; and a lock for locking the proximal to distal shape of the anterior surface of the tissue-modification device.

14 . The device of claim 13 , further comprising a cable extending proximally and distally in the device and configured to change the shape of the proximal to distal shape of the anterior surface by applying tension to the cable.

15 . The device of claim 13 , wherein the first proximal to distal shape of the anterior surface is linear.

16 . The device of claim 13 , wherein the second proximal to distal shape of the anterior surface is curved.

17 . The device of claim 13 , wherein the second proximal to distal shape is C-shaped.

18 . The device of claim 13 , wherein the second proximal to distal shape is S-shaped.

19 . The device of claim 13 , further comprising a guidewire coupler at the distal end of the flexible elongate body.

20 . The device of claim 13 , further comprising a handle or handle attachment region in communication with the proximal end of the flexible elongate body.

21 . The device of claim 13 , wherein the anterior surface comprises a plurality of flexibly connected rungs, wherein each rung extends across the width of the flexible elongate body.

22 . The device of claim 13 , further comprising a tissue collection region.

Assignees

• Amendia Inc

Inventors

• Schmitz Gregory P
• Wallace Michael P
• Leguidleguid Ronald
• Cantorna Nestor C
• Shapiro James
• Bleich Jeffery L

Classifications

• A61B17/1659 Primary

  Surgical rasps, files, planes, or scrapers · CPC title

• A61B17/1671

  for the spine · CPC title

• A61B17/1735

  for rasps or chisels · CPC title

• A61B17/1631 Primary

  Special drive shafts, e.g. flexible shafts (A61B17/1642, A61B17/164 take precedence) · CPC title

• A61B17/320016

  Endoscopic cutting instruments, e.g. arthroscopes, resectoscopes (A61B10/0233, A61B17/29, A61B17/3207 take precedence) · CPC title