Baxano, Inc.

Amendia, Inc.

Baxano Surgical, Inc.

Nestor C Cantorna

Michael P Wallace

Jeffery Lee Bleich

Ronald Leguidleguid

Gregory Paul Schmitz

James Shapiro

Robert J Garabedian

Roy Leguidleguid

Michael Sheinberg

Jeffrey L Bleich

Described herein are elongate devices for modifying tissue having a plurality of flexibly connected rungs or links, and methods of using them, including methods of using them to decompress stenotic spinal tissue. These devices may be included as part of a system for modifying tissue. In general, these devices include a plurality of blades positioned on (or formed from) rungs that are flexibly connected. The rungs are typically rigid, somewhat flat and wider than they are long (e.g., rectangular). The rungs may be arranged, ladder like, and may be connected by a flexible connector substrate or between two or more cables. Different sized rungs may be used. The blades (on the rungs) may be arranged in a staggered arrangement. A tissue-collection or tissue capture element may be used to collect the cut or modified tissue.

Tissue modification devices

Described herein are elongate devices for modifying tissue having a plurality of flexibly connected and rungs or links, and methods of using them, including methods of using them to decompress stenotic spinal tissue. These devices may be included as part of a system for modifying tissue. In general, these devices include a plurality of blades positioned on for formed from) rungs that are flexibly connected and may be separated by one or more spacers. The rungs are typically wider than they are long (e.g., rectangular). The rungs may be arranged, ladder like, and may be connected by a flexible connector substrate or between two or more cables. Different sized rungs may be used, or rungs with different cutting properties. In some variations the tissue modification devices may have a non-linear axial shape, or may be converted from a first axial shape to a second axial shape.

Described herein are devices, systems and methods for cutting tissue in a patient. In some embodiments, a tissue modification region of a device includes a pair of flexible elongate cutting members extending along the length of the tissue modification region. Each elongate cutting member may be configured to cut a discrete trough into tissue to a depth that is greater than the thickness of the cutting member. In some embodiments, the device includes a spacer. The spacer may be sized and configured to operate in one of two modes. A first mode, in which the spacer is coupled to the cutting members such that it holds a portion of each of the two cutting members a distance from one another, and a second mode, in which at least a portion of the spacer is moved away from a cutting member to allow the cutting members to cut further into tissue.

Tissue modification devices and methods

Described herein are devices and methods for cutting tissue in a patient. In some embodiments, a bimanually controlled device may include a tissue modification region; at least two flexible elongate lengths of cable that extend substantially adjacent to each other proximally to distally; a plurality of rungs extending between the lengths of cable; and a pair of flexible elongate cutting members extending along the length of the tissue modification region of the device. Each elongate cutting member has a thickness cuts a discrete trough into tissue to a depth that is greater than the thickness of the cutting member. The device may further include a substrate sized and configured to releasably hold the cutting members a distance from one another and a pair of couplers positioned toward an outer edge region of the substrate and configured to releasably secure a cutting member to the outer edge region of the substrate.

Described herein are elongate device for modifying tissue having a plurality of flexibly connected rungs or links, and methods of using them, including methods of using them to decompress stenotic spinal tissue. These devices may be included as part of a system for modifying tissue. In general, these devices include a plurality of blades positioned on (or formed from) rungs that are flexibly connected. The rungs are typically rigid, somewhat flat and wider than they are long (e.g., rectangular). The rungs may be arranged, ladder like, and may be connected by a flexible connector substrate or between two or more cables. Different sized rungs may be used. The blades (on the rungs) may be arranged in a staggered arrangement. A tissue-collection or tissue capture element (e.g., chamber, bag, or the like) may be used to collect the cut or modified tissue. In some variations the tissue modification devices may have a non-linear axial shape, or may be converted from a first axial shape to a second axial shape.

Growing community of inventors

Union City, CA, United States of America

Nestor C Cantorna