Conformable soft tissue removal instruments

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9226764-B2
Application number	US-201213413282-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 6, 2012
Priority date	Mar 6, 2012
Publication date	Jan 5, 2016
Grant date	Jan 5, 2016

Abstract

Surgical curettes or rakes with cutting edges conform or deflect to allow for contouring that follows the bony anatomy. The cutting tips can be pre-sterile, disposable and made from flexible materials including metals and polymers. The disposable tips ensure that a sharp cutting edge is exposed to the endplate for each procedure. The tips can also be adjusted to change the size of the cutting surface and window for retaining shaved disc material. The tips can pivot to provide for a self adjusting angle that allows the cutting edge to have full contact with the endplate at various angles like the pivot on a disposable razor blade.

First claim

We claim:

1. An instrument for removing soft tissue, comprising:
a) a shaft having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion,
b) a cutting tip attached to the distal end portion of the shaft, the tip comprising:
i) a proximal end portion adapted to attach to the shaft, and
ii) a distal end portion comprising:
first and second tynes extending distally from the proximal end portion of the cutting tip, each tyne having a distal end portion, and a flexible blade connected to each of the distal end portions of the tynes,

wherein the blade is adapted to flex in response to a conventional level of force used by a spinal surgeon in shaving cartilaginous tissue from an endplate of a disc space,
wherein the shaft and tynes to form a plane, and the flexible blade extends from the plane at an angle α of between 30 degrees and 60 degrees, and wherein the tynes form an angle β therebetween of between 30 degrees and 60 degrees.

2. The instrument of claim 1 wherein the proximal end portion of the shaft forms a handle.

3. The instrument of claim 1 wherein the distal end portion of the shaft and the proximal end portion of the cutting tip are integral.

4. The instrument of claim 1 wherein the distal end portion of the shaft and the proximal end portion of the cutting tip are modular.

5. The instrument of claim 1 further comprising a pin, wherein the distal end portion of the shaft has a first throughhole, the proximal end portion of the cutting tip has a second throughhole, and the pin passes through each throughhole.

6. The instrument of claim 1 wherein the distal end portion of the shaft and the proximal end portion of the cutting tip are removably mated.

7. The instrument of claim 1 wherein the cutting tip further comprises a pivot located between its proximal end portion and its distal end portion.

8. The instrument of claim 7 wherein the tynes form a plane, and the pivot allows the proximal end of the cutting tip to extend out of the plane.

9. The instrument of claim 1 wherein the tynes are rigid.

10. The instrument of claim 1 wherein the tynes are flexible.

11. The instrument of claim 1 wherein the flexible blade extends from the tynes in a first direction.

12. The instrument of claim 11 wherein the flexible blade is adjustable in the first direction.

13. The instrument of claim 1 wherein the blade curves between the tynes.

14. The instrument of claim 1 wherein the blade is metallic.

15. The instrument of claim 1 wherein the blade is polymeric.

16. The instrument of claim 1 wherein the blade comprises a plurality of cutting surfaces.

17. The instrument of claim 1 wherein the blade forms a radius of between 0.1 cm and 2 cm.

18. The instrument of claim 1 further comprising a support connected to each of the distal end portions of the tynes at a location distal of the flexible blade, wherein the support provides structural support for the blade.

19. The instrument of claim 18 wherein the support comprises an outer surface having a convex shape.

20. The instrument of claim 18 wherein both the blade and its support combine to provide a flexible end portion of the cutting tip that flexes in response to a conventional level of force used by a spinal surgeon in shaving cartilaginous tissue from an endplate of a disc space.

21. The instrument of claim 1 in a sterile form in a sealed package.

22. The instrument of claim 1 having an additional electrosurgical or ultrasonic component.

Assignees

• O'Neil Michael J
• Bellas Jonathan
• Hawkins John Riley
• Cranson Cody
• Ramsay Christopher
• Depuy Synthes Products Inc

Inventors

• O'Neil Michael J
• Bellas Jonathan
• Hawkins John Riley
• Cranson Cody
• Ramsay Christopher

Classifications

• A61B2017/2927

  the angular position of the head being adjustable with respect to the shaft · CPC title

• A61B17/320708

  Curettes, e.g. hollow scraping instruments · CPC title

• A61B2017/320008

  Scrapers · CPC title

• A61B17/320016 Primary

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

• A61B17/32 Primary

  Surgical cutting instruments ({A61B18/042 takes precedence; suture cutters A61B17/0467;} implements for ligaturing and cutting {A61B17/122, A61B17/12; instruments for rupturing the amniotic membrane A61B17/4208; specially adapted knives for eye surgery A61F9/0133}) · CPC title