Lateral disc cutter
AssigneeAdvance Research System, LLC
InventorHamid R. Abbasi
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A lateral disc cutter for morcellating and decorticating tissue of an intervertebral disc from between adjacent vertebrae. The device can be arranged in a retracted configuration for insertion via an access tube, and in an extended configuration for cutting of tissue in the target region. The blades may be extended to contact the concave endplate in an orientation that is substantially parallel to a mid-plane of the intervertebral disc. Blades of the device may be configured with a convex profile that substantially conforms to the concave shape of the endplate for enhanced contact length between the blade and the endplate.
Claims14
A surgical instrument for removing tissue between adjacent vertebrae of a spine, comprising:
- a stem that defines an actuation axis;
- a sleeve concentric about said actuation axis, said stem being translatable within said sleeve along said actuation axis;
- a proximal hub in fixed relation to a distal end of said sleeve, said stem extending through and being translatable in a proximal and a distal direction through said proximal hub;
- a distal hub coupled to a distal end of said stem;
- and
- at least one cutter assembly, each including:
- a blade having a proximal end and a distal end, said blade being parallel to said actuation axis of said stem;
- a proximal linkage pivotally connected to said proximal hub and pivotally connected to said proximal end of said blade;
- and
- a distal linkage pivotally connected to said distal hub and pivotally connected to said distal end of said blade,
- wherein said at least one cutter assembly is configured so that translation of said stem in said proximal direction causes said distal hub to translate toward said proximal hub and causes said proximal linkage and said distal linkage to pivot away from said stem for translation of said blade laterally away from said stem, said blade remaining parallel to said actuation axis of said stem during said translation of said blade laterally away from said stem, and
- wherein said at least one cutter assembly is configured so that translation of said stem in said distal direction causes said distal hub to translate away from said proximal hub and causes said proximal linkage and said distal linkage to pivot toward said stem for translation of said blade laterally toward said stem, said blade remaining substantially parallel to said actuation axis of said stem during said translation of said blade laterally toward said stem.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.