Circumferential resecting reamer tool

A method of cutting tissue comprising the following steps:

• a) providing a resecting reamer tool, the tool comprising:
• a body, the body having a drive rod constructed and arranged for longitudinal movement therethrough;
• a handle lever being operatively engaged to the drive rod, such that when the handle lever is moved between a first position and a second position the drive rod is moved between an advanced position and a retracted position, the drive rod extending from a proximal end of the body to a distal end;
• a cutter beam, cutter beam being pivotally engaged to the distal end of the body, the cutter beam being pivotally moveable between a non-actuated position and an actuated position, a lower pivot member pivotally connects the distal end of the body and the cutter beam, the cutter beam being further pivotally engaged to a distal end of the drive rod, whereby when the drive rod is moved to the advanced position the cutter beam is pivoted about the lower pivot member to an actuated position and when the drive rod is moved to the retracted position the cutter beam is pivoted back to the non-actuated position;
• b) providing an opening into a spinal disk;
• c) placing the distal end of the body into the opening;
• d) orienting the tool such that the cutter beam oriented in a substantially parallel manner to a transverse plane of the disc;
• e) applying a manual compression force to the handle lever, thereby moving the handle from the first position to the second position, the drive rod from the retracted position to the advanced position and the cutter beam from the non-actuated position to the actuated position;
• f) cutting any tissue which is engaged by the cutter beam;
• g) removing the manual compressive force from the handle lever;
• and
• h) returning the handle from the second position to the first position, thereby moving the drive rod from the advanced position to the retracted position and moving the cutter beam from the actuated position to the non-actuated position.

A tool for cutting tissue comprising a housing, a shaft, a beam, and an activation member

• the housing being at least partially disposed about the shaft, the shaft constructed and arranged to moved proximally and distally within the housing;
• the beam being pivotally engaged to a distal end of the shaft, the beam constructed and arranged to be rotated about a pivot member engaged to the distal end of the shaft and the beam, the beam having at least two cutting blades, each cutting blade being positioned at opposite ends of the beam;
• and
• the activation member being operatively engaged to the proximal end of the shaft, when the activation member is placed in an activated position the shaft is moved distally relative to the housing thereby pivoting the beam in a predetermined arc about the pivot member.