Methods and devices for removing a spinal disc

A device for removing a spinal disc, comprising:

• a distal housing including:
• superior and inferior walls,
• first and second lateral walls,
• first and second cutting edges extending beyond distal ends of each of the superior and inferior walls, and
• first and second cutting blades configured to move relative to the distal housing;
• a handle assembly including a handle, a first blade actuator, and a second blade actuator, the first and second blade actuators advancing the first cutting blade along a first path and the second cutting blade along a second path;
• a shaft body extending between the distal housing and the handle assembly;
• and
• an inner shaft disposed within the shaft body, the inner shaft being fixedly coupled to the distal housing and to the handle;
• wherein the first and second paths are proximal to the first and second cutting edges of the distal housing.

A device for removing a spinal disc, comprising:

• a distal housing including:
• superior and inferior walls,
• first and second lateral walls,
• first and second arc-shaped cutting edges extending beyond distal ends of each of the superior and inferior walls, and
• first and second cutting blades configured to move relative to the distal housing;
• a handle assembly including a handle, a first blade actuator that advances the first cutting blade along a first curved path that follows a periphery of the first cutting edge, and a second blade actuator that advances the second cutting blade along a second curved path that follows a periphery of the second cutting edge;
• and
• a shaft body extending between the distal housing and the handle assembly,
• wherein the first and second cutting edges are configured to penetrate tissue prior to the first and second cutting blades being advanced along the first and second curved paths.