Formed deployable superelastic blade and method of use

A method for correction of a bone injury in a patient, the method comprising:

• providing a device comprising:
• an outer hollow member extending along a longitudinal axis between a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end defining a first opening, and the distal end defining a second opening, the outer hollow member including an inner surface defining a first passageway between the first opening and the second opening;
• an inner hollow member having a proximal end and a distal end, the inner hollow member including an inner surface defining a second passageway, a cutting tip at the distal end, the inner hollow member being configured for movable disposal in the first passageway, between the proximal end and the distal end of the first passageway;
• and
• a stylet configured for removable disposal in the first passageway, the stylet including a tip that extends through the second opening;
• inserting the stylet through an incision in the patient, and translating the stylet into the anatomy of the patient such that the stylet creates an access path to a selected portion of the patient's anatomy;
• removing the stylet from the first passageway;
• inserting the inner hollow member into the first passageway;
• moving the inner hollow member between a first orientation in which the cutting tip is disposed within the first passageway and the inner hollow member has a substantially linear configuration, and a second orientation in which the distal end of the inner hollow member and the cutting tip extend through the second opening and the inner hollow member has an arcuate configuration;
• and
• utilizing the cutting tip to cut through the selected portion of the patient's anatomy.

A surgical system comprising:

• an outer hollow member extending along a longitudinal axis between a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end including a first opening, and the distal end including a second opening, the outer hollow member including an inner surface defining a first passageway between the first opening and the second opening, the first passageway extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis;
• a stylet removably disposed in the first passageway, the stylet including a tip configured to extend through the second opening and to create an access path to a selected portion of a patient's anatomy;
• and
• an inner hollow member having a proximal end and a distal end, movably disposed in the first passageway after the stylet is removed from the first passageway, the inner hollow member including an inner surface defining a second passageway, the inner member further including a cutting tip at the distal end thereof, the cutting tip having an aperture including a first portion extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis and a second portion extending one of substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, transverse to the longitudinal axis, defining an acute angle with respect to the longitudinal axis, and defining an obtuse angle with respect to the longitudinal axis, the aperture defining a scoop portion of the cutting tip, the inner hollow member including at least one electrode positioned adjacent the aperture configured to emit radio frequency (RF) energy adapted to one of cut and destroy tissue, the tissue including at least nerve tissue, the proximal end of the inner hollow member defining a proximal end aperture;
• wherein the proximal end aperture is configured to be coupled to at least one of a vacuum source and an irrigation source;
• and
• wherein the inner hollow member is movable between a first orientation in which the cutting tip is disposed within the first passageway and the inner hollow member has a substantially linear configuration and a second orientation in which the distal end of the inner hollow member and the cutting tip extend through the second opening and the inner member has an arcuate configuration.

A device for performing a surgical procedure, the device comprising:

• an outer hollow member extending along a longitudinal axis between a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end defining a first opening, and the distal end defining a second opening, the outer hollow member including an inner surface defining a first passageway between the first opening and the second opening;
• an inner hollow member having a proximal end and a distal end, the inner hollow member movably disposed in the first passageway between the proximal end and the distal end of the first passageway, the inner hollow member including an inner surface defining a second passageway, the inner hollow member further including a cutting tip, the cutting tip being defined by an aperture at the distal end thereof, the cutting tip being configured to cut patient tissue at a surgical site;
• and
• a stylet movably mounted in the first passageway, the stylet configured to cut an access path through the patient's tissue, the access path dimensioned for insertion therein of the distal end of the inner hollow member;
• wherein the inner hollow member is movable between a first orientation in which the cutting tip is disposed within the first passageway and the inner hollow member has a substantially linear configuration, and a second orientation in which the distal end of the inner hollow member and the cutting tip extend through the second opening and the inner hollow member has an arcuate configuration.