Medtronic Xomed, Inc.

Medtronic, Inc.

Kenneth M Adams

Cecil O Lewis

Dana A Oliver

William Charles Brunnett

Gerould W Norman

Gary F Peters

John T Cleveland

Dale E Slenker

Miro Mitusina

Tom J Francis

Gary Peters

John T Cleaveland

A method of endoscopically removing tissue including providing a surgical cutting instrument including a first elongated member having a cutting tip, a second tubular member forming a cutting window, and a handpiece. The first elongated member is co-axially disposed within the second tubular member such that the cutting tip is exposed at the cutting window and combines to define a cutting implement. The first and second members are coupled to the handpiece. The method includes grasping the handpiece, deploying the instrument such that the cutting implement is adjacent a target site with the cutting window positioned at a first spatial orientation relative to the handpiece, rotating the cutting window relative to the handpiece such that the cutting window is positioned at a second spatial orientation, and moving the first elongated member relative to the second tubular member such that the cutting tip removes tissue from the target site.

Method of endoscopically removing tissue

An angled tissue cutting instrument comprises an angled outer tubular member rotatably receiving a flexible inner tubular member. The inner member has a flexible region in correspondence with an angle of the outer member. The flexible region comprises a helically cut length portion of an elongate tubular body of the inner member and a continuous solid flexible surface secured to an outer surface of the body along the helically cut length portion. A method of fabricating a flexible inner tubular member involves forming a helical cut through the solid wall of a length portion of a tubular body and securing a continuous solid flexible surface to the outer surface of the body along the helically cut length portion to form a flexible region.

Method of fabricating angled tissue cutting instruments

A surgical micro-burring instrument including an outer tubular member coaxially maintaining an inner tubular member. The outer tubular member defines a proximal section, a distal section, and a central lumen extending from the proximal section to the distal section. The distal section forms a pocket and an elevator tip. The pocket has a bottom wall and an opposed upper opening. The elevator tip extends distal the pocket. The inner tubular member forms a bur received within the pocket. Upon final assembly, at least a portion of the bur is exposed relative to the outer tubular member via the upper opening of the pocket. The elevator tip is configured to facilitate lifting of soft tissue, such as mucosa, while positioning the bur, via the pocket, in an appropriate location for cutting contacted harder tissue, such as turbinate bone or septal bone/cartilage.

Surgical micro-burring instrument and method of performing sinus surgery

A surgical cutting instrument including a first elongated member, a second tubular member, a handpiece, a first hub, a second hub, and an actuator assembly. The first tubular member has cutting tip and is co-axially disposed within the second tubular member such that the cutting tip is exposed at a cutting window. The first hub is mounted to the first tubular member and is moveably coupled to the handpiece. The second hub is mounted to the second tubular member and defines a hub axis. The actuator assembly rotatably couples the second hub to the handpiece and includes an actuator. Movement of the actuator is translated to rotational movement of the second hub so as to effectuate spatial rotation of the cutting window. In this regard, the actuator movement is not co-axial with the hub axis.

Surgical cutting instrument

An angled tissue cutting instrument includes an outer member having an elongate body with a bend and a forward end, and a distal tip rotatably mounted on the forward end. The distal tip and body are rotatable relative to one another about a central longitudinal axis of the tip to variably position a cutting window of the tip in a selected directional position about the axis. Relative rotation between the distal tip and the body about the axis is prevented to lock the cutting window in a selected directional position when the outer member is maintained in a longitudinally extended position by an inner member of the instrument disposed within the outer member. An indexing tool for the angled tissue cutting instrument has a socket for receiving the distal tip to effect rotational indexing. A method of variably positioning a cutting window of an angled tissue cutting instrument involves rotationally indexing a distal tip of an outer member of the instrument and maintaining the distal tip in a selected rotationally indexed position.

Angled tissue cutting instrument having variably positionable cutting window and indexing tool for use therewith

A method for performing a surgical procedure on tissue at a target site of a patient includes providing a surgical cutting instrument including an outer tube, inner wire assembly and a cutting tip. The outer tube defines a curved segment. The inner wire assembly is rotatably disposed within the outer tube. The cutting tip is connected to the inner wire assembly and positioned at a distal end of the outer tube. The tissue at the target site is exposed and the cutting tip is deployed against the tissue. The method further includes rotating the inner wire assembly relative to the outer tube at speeds in excess of 50,000 RPM such that the cutting tip removes contacted tissue.

Method for performing high speed surgical procedures

Instrument and method for removing material from an intervertebral disc. The instrument includes outer and inner tubular members. The outer tubular member defines a passage and a cutting window. The inner tubular member is coaxially disposed within the passage, and defines a central lumen and a cutting tip. The cutting tip forms an open mouth having a plurality of teeth. Upon assembly, the cutting tip is exposed within the cutting window combining to define a shaving head. A powered handpiece is coupled to the inner tubular member, and the shaving head is inserted into an intervertebral disc and positioned such that the cutting tip contacts targeted material (e.g., nucleus, annulus and/or end plate). The handpiece is activated to rotate the cutting tip relative to the cutting window. Contacted material is sheared between an edge of the cutting window and the teeth of the cutting tip.

Method and apparatus for removing material from an intervertebral disc space, such as in performing a nucleotomy

A disposable endoscope sheath includes an extendable sleeve sized to accommodate an endoscope shaft having a viewing end. The extendable sleeve has a variable length. A distal portion of the sleeve is configured to direct irrigation fluid onto the viewing end of the endoscope to flush surgical debris from the viewing end of the endoscope.

Disposable endoscope sheath having adjustable length

A surgical cutting instrument including an outer tube, inner wire assembly, cutting tip, coupling chuck, and housing. The outer tube includes a lumen extending from a proximal end to a distal end. The inner wire assembly is received within the lumen. Preferably, the outer tube and inner wire assembly form a longitudinally curved segment. The cutting tip is connected to a distal section of the inner wire assembly. The coupling chuck is secured to a proximal section of the inner wire assembly. The housing maintains the outer tube and the coupling chuck. A rotating journal bearing, preferably a rotating-hydrodynamic bearing, is established between the inner wire assembly and the inner surface of the outer tube, allowing nominal rotational speeds of 80,000 RPM. Preferred embodiments of the surgical cutting instrument enhance surgeon visibility, minimize heat build-up, and provide improved stiffness and thermal protection.

High speed surgical cutting instrument

A surgical elongate blade assembly with an interchangeable inner member such that the interchangeable inner member can be removed from a tubular outer member and inserted into another tubular outer member having a different configuration during a surgical procedure. The outer members and inner members can be provided as a kit. In one embodiment the outer member has a distal end and a tubular wall with the inner diameter of the tubular wall being greater than the inner diameter of the distal end.

Surgical elongate blade assembly with interchangeable inner member, kit and method relating thereto

Angled tissue cutting instruments having flexible inner tubular members of tube and sleeve construction

Angled tissue cutting instrument having variably positionable cutting window, indexing tool for use therewith and method of variably positioning a cutting window of an angled tissue cutting instrument

A straightening tool for straightening an elongate angled member of an angled tissue cutting instrument in which the elongate angled member has a proximal length portion and an initial bend connecting the proximal length portion to a distal length portion extending from the bend to a distal end. The straightening tool comprises a positioning block attached to a handle, an unbending channel in the positioning block configured to effect straightening of the elongate angled member and a guide template corresponding to the unbending channel. The guide template comprises a guide slot having a longitudinal profile corresponding to the longitudinal profile of a forward aspect of the elongate angled member extending from the distal end proximally of the bend. A method of straightening an elongate angled member of an angled tissue cutting instrument involves matching the longitudinal profile of a forward aspect of the elongate angled member to a guide template of a straightening tool, inserting the forward aspect into an unbending channel of the straightening tool corresponding to the guide template, straightening the elongate angled member using the unbending channel and withdrawing the straightened elongate member from the unbending channel.

Straightening tools having guide templates for angled tissue cutting instruments and methods of using the same

A straightening tool is disclosed for straightening angled tissue cutting instruments including an outer member having a proximal length portion and a pre-formed bend connecting the proximal length portion with a distal length portion extending from the bend at an angle to a distal end, and a flexible inner member movably disposed in the outer member to cut anatomical tissue. The straightening tool comprises a handle and a positioning block extending from the handle coaxial with the straightening tool. The positioning block has a longitudinal bore for receiving the distal length portion therethrough to position the distal end within a cavity of the positioning block and the bend within a longitudinal slot of the positioning block with the proximal length portion extending externally through an opening of the slot. The bore confines the distal length portion against radial movement and serves as a fulcrum about which the proximal length portion is manually pivotable into abutment with a floor of the slot extending from the bore at an angle in a direction opposite the slot opening. Upon release of the manual pivoting force, the proximal length portion springs back somewhat in the direction of the original bend to obtain a longitudinally straightened outer member. The straightened outer member is used with the inner member to cut anatomical tissue as a straightened tissue cutting instrument.

Growing community of inventors

Jacksonville, FL, United States of America

Kenneth M Adams