Ligament decompression kit with contrast

Abstract

A method for treating stenosis in a spine comprises percutaneously accessing the epidural space in a stenotic region of interest, compressing the thecal sac in the region of interest to form a safety zonem, inserting a tissue removal tool into tissue in the working zone, using the tool to percutaneously reduce the stenosis; and utilizing imaging to visualize the position of the tool during at least a part of the reduction step. A tissue excision system for performing percutaneous surgery, comprises a cannula comprising a tissue-penetrating member having a distal end defining an aperture on one side thereof, an occluding member slidably received on or in the cannula and closing the aperture when the occluding member is adjacent the cannula distal end, means for engaging adjacent tissue via the aperture, and cutting means for resecting a section of the engaged tissue.

1 - 29 . (canceled)  
     
     
         30 . The kit according to  claim 32  wherein the contrast medium comprises a radio-opaque non-ionic myelographic contrast medium.  
     
     
         31 . The kit according to  claim 32  wherein said expandable device comprises a volume of a medium that is injectable at ambient temperatures and more viscous at body temperature.  
     
     
         32 . A kit for performing a procedure on a spine, the spine including an epidural space containing a thecal sac, the kit comprising: 
 an insertion member for accessing, the epidural space;    an expandable device adapted to be inserted into the epidural space by the insertion member and expanded so as to compress a portion of the thecal sac and provide a safety zone within the epidural space, said expandable device comprising a volume of a contrast medium that includes a bioactive agent.    
     
     
         33 . The kit according to  claim 32  wherein the contrast medium includes a steroid.  
     
     
         34 . The kit according to  claim 32 , may further including a surgical device.  
     
     
         40 . The kit according to  claim 32  wherein the contrast medium comprises a hydroplilic-lipophilic block copolymer gel.  
     
     
         41 . The kit according to  claim 32  wherein the contrast medium has sufficient viscosity after injection to compress the thecal sac for thirty minutes, and sufficient degradability to be substantially reabsorbed within approximately two hours.