Devices and methods for tissue access

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are provided for selective surgical removal of tissue. In one variation, tissue may be ablated, resected, removed, or otherwise remodeled by standard small endoscopic tools delivered into the epidural space through an epidural needle. The sharp tip of the needle in the epidural space, can be converted to a blunt tipped instrument for further safe advancement. The current invention includes specific tools that enable safe tissue modification in the epidural space, including a barrier that separates the area where tissue modification will take place from adjacent vulnerable neural and vascular structures. A nerve stimulator may be provided to reduce a risk of inadvertent neural abrasion.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60 / 619,306, filed 15 Oct. 2004 and U.S. Application No. 60 / 622,865, filed 28 Oct. 2004, each of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for selective surgical removal of tissue, such as for the treatment of spinal neural and neurovascular impingement, through selective resection, ablation, and remodeling of tissue in the lateral recess, neural foramina and central spinal canal, more particularly, for safely performing lateral recess and neuroforaminal enlargement of the spine. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Pathological compression of spinal neural and neurovascular structures is an age-related process, increased in prevalence and severity in elderly populations, with potential congenital anatomic components, that result in back, radicular extremity pain and bo...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The present invention provides apparatus and methods for safely and selectively delivering surgical tools into the epidural space and removing soft tissue and bone from the spine. The apparatus and methods include the placement of a working backstop or barrier to protect vulnerable neural and vascular structures, as well as the use of neural stimulation techniques to improve safety. The invention also provides an epidural needle that can be converted into an epidural endoscope or needlescope for improved visualization during the procedure. The invention also includes the use of a thin belt or ribbon with an abrasive surface to remove tissue that impinges on the neurovascular structures within the spine. The technical effects of the invention include improved safety and minimally invasive surgery for the treatment of neural and neurovascular impingement in the spine."

Problems solved by technology

Disease progression leads to increased neural irritation, impingement, and ischemia, and is frequently accompanied by progressively increased pain, often in conjunction with reflex, sensory and motor neurological deficits.

While standard surgical procedures lead to improvements in symptoms for 6 months or more in approximately 60% of cases, there is an unacceptable incidence of long-term complications and morbidity.

Critics have frequently stated that, while discectomy and fusion procedures frequently improve symptoms of neural impingement in the short term, both are highly destructive procedures that diminish spinal function, drastically disrupt normal anatomy, and increase long-term morbidity above levels seen in untreated patients.

First, discectomy reduces disc height, causing increased pressure on facet joints.

This stress leads to facet arthritis and facet joint hypertrophy, which then causes further neural compression.

The loss of disc height also creates ligament laxity, which may lead to spondylolisthesis, spinal instability or osteophyte or “bone spur” formation, as it has been hypothesized that ligaments may calcify in their attempt to become more “bone-like”.

In addition, discectomy frequently leads to an incised and further compromised disc annulus.

This frequently leads to recurrent herniation of nuclear material through the expanded annular opening.

It may also cause further buckling of the ligamentum flavum.

First, extensive hardware implantation may lead to complications due to breakage, loosening, nerve injury, infection, rejection, or scar tissue formation.

In addition, autograft bone donor sites (typically the patient's iliac crest) are a frequent source of complaints, such as infection, deformity, and protracted pain.

Not only do immobile vertebral segments lead to functional limitations, but they also cause increased stress on adjacent vertebral structures, thereby frequently accelerating the degeneration of other discs, joints, bone and other soft tissue structures within the spine.

While these less invasive techniques offer advantages, such as a quicker recovery and less tissue destruction during the procedure, the new procedures do not diminish the fact that even less invasive spinal discectomy or fusion techniques are inherently destructive procedures that accelerate the onset of acquired spinal stenosis and result in severe long-term consequences.

While these percutaneous procedures may produce less tissue injury, their efficacy remains unproven.

While prosthetic disc replacement is a restorative procedure, it is a highly invasive and complex surgery.

Any synthetic lumbar disc will be required to withstand tremendous mechanical stresses and will require several years of development before it will achieve the longevity desired.

Further, synthetic discs may not be an appropriate therapeutic approach to a severely degenerative spine, where profound facet arthropathy and other changes are likely to increase the complexity of disc replacement.

Like most prosthetic joints, it is likely that synthetic discs will have a limited lifespan and that there will be continued need for minimally invasive techniques that delay the need for disc replacement.

The artificial discs in U.S. clinical trials, as with any first generation prosthesis, are bound to fail in many cases, and will be very difficult to revise for patients.

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