Annulus cutting tools and methods
AssigneePioneer Surgical Technology, Inc.
InventorsWeston Pernsteiner, Thomas Kilpela, Qi-Bin Bao
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention relates to tools and methods for cutting the annulus of a spinal disc. The cutting tools of the invention may be cannulated for use in conjunction with a guide wire. A stop surface of the cutting tool is configured to contact the annulus during cutting to prevent further longitudinal movement of the surgical blade(s) into the annulus, thus limiting the size of the incision(s).
Claims24
A cutting tool comprising:
- a surgical blade having proximal and distal ends;
- an elongate handle shaft having proximal and distal ends;
- a blade holder portion at the handle distal end configured for mounting the surgical blade thereto;
- a central throughbore extending through the handle shaft from the proximal end to the distal end thereof to permit a guide wire to be inserted therethrough.
A cutting tool assembly for cutting an opening in an annulus of the spinal disc, the cutting tool assembly comprising:
- a first cutting device having a first pair of surgical blades mounted thereto;
- a second cutting device having a second pair of surgical blades mounted thereto;
- and
- a sliding fit between the first and second cutting devices to allow the cutting devices to be advanced and retracted relative to each other for cutting incisions to form opposite sides of the annulus opening with one of the first and second pairs of surgical blades and the remaining opposite sides of the annulus opening with the other pair of surgical blades.
A method of cutting an opening in an annulus of a spinal disc, the method comprising:
- inserting a pair of surgical blades mounted to a cutting tool into the annulus;
- cutting the annulus with the pair of surgical blades to form two sides of the annulus opening;
- shifting the cutting tool so that the pair of surgical blades cut the remaining two sides about the opening to complete the cutting of the opening in the annulus.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.