Devices, kits and methods relating to treatment of facet joints

A kit useful in performance of a medical procedure in the vicinity of a facet joint, the kit comprising:

• a first rotatable member comprising a first distal end portion having a first distal tip, the first rotatable member being rotatable about a first axis of the first rotatable member;
• a second rotatable member comprising a second distal end portion having a second distal tip, the second rotatable member being rotatable about a second axis of the second rotatable member;
• a sheath with an internal passage through which the said rotatable members are receivable with the distal tips of the said rotatable members disposed distal to a distal end of the sheath and proximal ends of the said rotatable members disposed proximal of a proximal end of the sheath, and wherein when so received through the sheath the first and second rotatable members are rotatable relative to each other about the first and second axes respectively to manipulate the relative positioning of the first and second distal end portions between a facet joint penetration configuration in which the first and second distal end portions are positioned to form a piercing tip to pierce through tissue and penetrate into the facet joint and a facet joint retraction configuration in which the first and second distal end portions are positioned to retract the facet joint following penetration into the facet joint;
• the internal passage of the sheath having a minimum area cross-section through which the said rotatable members are receivable that has an aspect ratio, the aspect ratio of the minimum area cross-section being a ratio of a length dimension of the minimum area cross-section to a width dimension of the minimum area cross-section, with the length dimension of the minimum area cross-section being a maximum cross dimension of the minimum area cross-section and the width dimension being a maximum cross dimension of the minimum area cross-section perpendicular to the length dimension of the minimum area cross-section;
• the aspect ratio of the minimum area cross-section is at least 1.5:1, whereby the aspect ratio of the minimum area cross-section is non-circular;
• and
• the minimum area cross-section is sized to constrain the said rotatable members in a side-by-side orientation through the minimum area cross-section with the said rotatable members being translatable through the minimum area cross-section in a longitudinal direction through the internal passage;
• and wherein:
• the length dimension of the minimum area cross-section is in a range of from 0.5 millimeter to 6.5 millimeters;
• each said rotatable member has a longitudinally extending insertion portion for insertion into a patient's body during a surgical operation and which insertion portion is receivable through the internal passage of the sheath;
• each said insertion portion of each said rotatable member has a longitudinal length in a range of from 20 to 200 millimeters;
• each said insertion portion of each said rotatable member has a maximum cross dimension perpendicular to the respective axis of rotation of no larger than 3.25 millimeters;
• when the said rotatable members are in the facet joint penetration configuration, the distal tips of the distal end portions are adjoining;
• and
• when the said rotatable members are in the facet joint retraction configuration, the distal tips of the distal end portions are separated by a separation distance in a range of from 0.5 millimeters to 6.5 millimeters.