Patent Application
20120271313
The present invention relates generally to spinal fusion techniques, and more particularly to a long scraper tool for use in connection with performing a discectomy between vertebral bodies.
Spinal fusion is a surgical technique used to join two or more vertebrae. During this surgical technique, disc material is removed from the vertebrae. Complete discectomy is difficult to achieve with traditional tools. In particular, the nucleus area lateral and near the cannula is difficult to remove. In addition, the triangular area posterior and medial in the nucleus is also difficult to remove. As such, a need exists for instruments that can remove disc material during a spinal fusion procedure.
According to one aspect, a scraping instrument is disclosed that is used in performing a discectomy. The scraping instrument includes a handle assembly that includes a trigger. The scraping instrument also includes an elongate shaft having an inner lumen extending therethrough along a longitudinal axis between proximal and distal ends thereof. The proximal end of the elongate shaft is connected with the handle assembly. A control rod extends through the inner lumen of the elongate shaft and has a first end connected with the trigger and a second end extending outside the distal end of the elongate shaft. The second end of the control rod includes a connection pin and the control rod is movably positioned in the inner lumen. A yoke is connected with the distal end of the elongate shaft having a first arm and a second arm. A curette is included that has a generally rectangular shaped scraping member and a circular shaped connection member. The connection member is pivotally connected with the yoke between a gap defined by the first and second arms. The connection member is also connected with the connection pin of the control rod. Upon compression of the trigger, the control rod is forced to move along the longitudinal axis thereby causing the curette to rotate axially along a latitudinal axis.
In one form, the elongate shaft is connected with the handle assembly by a mounting block connected to a first frame of the handle assembly. In particular, the mounting block is connected to the first frame of the handle assembly by one or more screws that are connected to the first frame. The first end of the control rod includes an aperture and the trigger includes a control rod housing having a slot. A control rod pin is positioned in the aperture of the control rod thereby securing the control rod in the control rod housing.
The trigger is pivotally mounted to a first frame of the handle assembly by a trigger pivot pin. The trigger pivot pin is positioned in a boss located in the first frame of the handle assembly. In one form, each arm of the yoke includes an aperture sized and configured to receive a curette pivot pin. The curette is pivotally mounted to the yoke about the curette pivot pin. In yet another form, the scraping member has a length greater than a width associated with the scraping member of the curette. The longer, single, articulating scraper oriented normal to the vertebral endplates, can access difficult zones, achieving a more complete discectomy and thus a more robust fusion.
According to yet another aspect, a scraping instrument is disclosed for use in performing a discectomy. The scraping instrument includes a handle assembly comprising a first handle frame connected with a second handle frame. The handle assembly further includes a trigger pivotally mounted to the first and second handle frames. An outer tube is included having an inner lumen extending therethrough along a longitudinal axis between proximal and distal ends thereof. The proximal end of the outer tube is connected with the handle assembly. A control rod extends through the inner lumen having a first end connected with the trigger and a second end extending outside the distal end of the outer tube. The second end of the control rod includes a connector having a pin extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.
A yoke is connected with the distal end of the outer tube, wherein the yoke has a first arm and a second arm defining a gap therebetween. The second end of the control rod is positioned in the gap. A curette is included that has a scraping member and a connection member. The connection member includes an aperture sized and configured to receive the pin of the connector of the control rod. The connection member is pivotally connected with the first and second arms of the yoke such that upon activation of the trigger the control rod causes the curette to pivot about the first and second arms.
The trigger is pivotally mounted to at least the first handle frame by a trigger pivot pin. In one form, the trigger pivot pin is positioned in a trigger pin boss located on the first handle frame. A spring is included having a first end connected with a spring tab located on the trigger and a second end connected with the first handle frame. The outer tube is connected with the first handle frame of the handle assembly by a mounting block connected with the first handle frame that is configured to secure the outer tube to the handle assembly.
In one representative form, the first end of the control rod includes an aperture sized and configured to receive a trigger pin. The trigger includes a trigger pin receptacle sized and configured to receive the trigger pin thereby securing the control rod to the trigger. In one form, the scraping member has a generally rectangular shape. In this form, the scraping member has a length greater than a width associated with the scraping member. The connection member of the curette is pivotally mounted to the first and second arms of the yoke by a pivot pin.
In yet another aspect, a scraping instrument is disclosed that is configured and adapted for use in performing a discectomy. The scraping instrument includes a handle assembly having a first handle frame connected to a second handle frame. The handle assembly further includes a trigger pivotally mounted to the first handle frame. An elongate shaft is included having an inner lumen extending therethrough along a longitudinal axis between proximal and distal ends thereof. The proximal end of the elongate shaft is connected with the handle assembly. A control rod is included that extends through the inner lumen having a first end connected with the trigger and a second end extending outside the distal end of the elongate shaft. The second end of the control rod includes a connector portion having a pin. A yoke is included having an end sized and configured to be connected with the distal end of the elongate shaft. In addition, the yoke includes a first arm and a second arm extending outwardly from the end defining a gap therebetween. The first arm includes a first aperture and the second arm includes a second aperture.
The scraping instrument further includes a curette having a scraping member and a connection member. The connection member includes a third aperture in alignment with the first and second apertures of the yoke. The curette is pivotally connected with the yoke by a pivot pin positioned in the first, second and third apertures. The connection member is further connected with the pin of the connector portion of the control rod. Upon activation of the trigger, the control rod moves axially in the elongate shaft thereby causing the connection member to rotate which in turn causes the curette to rotate along a latitudinal axis.
The trigger includes a spring extension member and a first end of a spring is connected with the spring extension member and a second end of the spring is connected to the first handle frame thereby biasing the trigger in an open position. The trigger includes a control rod receptacle sized and configured to receive a first end of the control rod. The elongate shaft is mounted to the handle assembly by a mounting block. In one form, the scraping member has a length greater than a width associated with the scraping member and has a generally rectangular shape.
Related features, aspects, embodiments, objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description.
For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended. Any such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated devices, and such further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated herein are contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.
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Although various embodiments have been described as having particular features and/or combinations of components, other embodiments are possible having a combination of any features and/or components from any of embodiments as discussed above. As used in this specification, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, the term “a member” is intended to mean a single member or a combination of members, “a material” is intended to mean one or more materials, or a combination thereof. Furthermore, the terms “proximal” and “distal” refer to the direction closer to and away from, respectively, an operator (e.g., surgeon, physician, nurse, technician, etc.) who would insert the medical implant and/or instruments into the patient. For example, the portion of a medical instrument first inserted inside the patient's body would be the distal portion, while the opposite portion of the medical device (e.g., the portion of the medical device closest to the operator) would be the proximal portion.
While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the invention are desired to be protected.
