Spinal Stabilization Technologies, LLC

Ralph Duerr

Michael Ahrens

An articulating surgical implement () comprising: an elongate body () having a proximal end () and a distal end () and a longitudinal axis (); a grip () on the proximal end for holding the surgical implement; a surgical implement head () formed on the distal end of the elongate body, and having surgical implement jaws (), the surgical implement head having a first joint () It that allows the surgical implement jaws to move relative to each other to open and close for gripping or cutting; a second joint () on the distal end of the elongate body for changing the angle of the surgical implement head relative to the longitudinal axis of the elongate body; a mechanism comprising a control lever (), a control rod () and a linkage arm () for changing the angle of the surgical implement head relative to the longitudinal axis of the elongate body through an angular range of movement by pivoting about an axis of rotation of the second joint; and a mechanism comprising a pulley wheel () and a push/pull wire () for opening and closing the surgical implement jaws. The surgical implement head may be a rongeur and is operable at 90 degrees to the elongate body in either an upbite or downbite position. It has an angular range of movement of 180 degrees. A desired angle of the surgical implement head is selected by a user, for example for tissue removal from a target site.

Articulating surgical instruments such as rongeurs

A surgical cutting instrument () having a proximal end (), a distal end (), opposing sides (), and a longitudinal axis () and comprising: (i) an instrument body (); (ii) a pivotal cutting arm () having a pinion () with an axis of rotation, the pinion being integrally formed with the pivotal cutting arm, wherein the pivotal cutting arm is mounted for rotation relative to the instrument body about a pivot axis (), the pivot axis being the axis of rotation of the pinion, so that, rotation of the pinion about the pivot axis, causes the pivot arm to pivot relative to the instrument body; (iii) a cutting blade () on the pivotal cutting arm for resecting tissue; (iv) a rack () that can be moved in a reciprocating linear motion forward towards the distal end and rearwards toward the proximal end, the rack and the pinion being meshed together to forming a rack and pinion mechanism so that linear motion of the rack effects pivotal movement of the pivotal cutting arm about the pivot axis. This provides a very simple yet robust device which can have a minimum cross-section. It can thus be used for minimally invasive procedures such as cutting material from the interior of a spinal disc.

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Neuhausen, Germany

Ralph Duerr