Tissue evacuation device

Abstract

A tissue evacuation device may be designed to provide a high-energy fluid (e.g., a heated vapor) to targeted tissue for breaking down the targeted tissue, such as the nucleus of an intervertebral disc. An inner tube positioned within an outer tube, having a nozzle coupled to distal ends of the tubes, having a heating element positioned between the inner and outer tubes, delivers a heated vapor through a port to the nozzle to break down tissue. After the nucleus or other targeted tissue is broken down, the tissue evacuation device may also remove some or all of the broken down tissue.

1 . A nozzle for a surgical instrument comprising: 
 a substantially cylindrical outer body;    a substantially cylindrical inner body positioned within the outer body, wherein the inner body is substantially hollow therethrough and includes a distal opening and a proximal opening;    a distal surface coupling a distal end of the outer body to a distal end of the inner body, wherein at least a portion of the distal surface slopes inwardly from the distal end of the outer body towards the distal opening of the inner body; and    a first plurality of exhaust ports positioned in the inwardly sloping portion of the distal surface around the distal opening of the inner body.    
     
     
         2 . The nozzle of  claim 1  wherein the first plurality of exhaust ports are positioned equidistantly around the distal opening of the inner body.  
     
     
         3 . The nozzle of  claim 1  further comprising a second plurality of exhaust ports positioned around the distal opening of the inner body.  
     
     
         4 . The nozzle of  claim 3  wherein the second plurality of exhaust ports are located on an interior surface of the inner body.  
     
     
         5 . The nozzle of  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of bristles positioned on the distal surface.  
     
     
         6 . The nozzle of  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of passages positioned between the outer and inner bodies, wherein the plurality of passages connect the first plurality of exhaust ports to at least one steam source.  
     
     
         7 . The nozzle of  claim 1  wherein a single space positioned between the outer and inner bodies connects the first plurality of exhaust ports to a steam source.  
     
     
         8 . The nozzle of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the first plurality of exhaust ports has a curved shape extending from an outer radius of the inwardly sloped portion towards the distal opening.  
     
     
         9 . The nozzle of  claim 8  wherein the curved shape intersects the distal opening.  
     
     
         10 . The nozzle of  claim 8  further comprising a plurality of bristles positioned on the distal surface.  
     
     
         11 . A nozzle for a surgical device comprising: 
 a substantially cylindrical outer body having a distal end with at least one distal opening and a first plurality of openings in the cylindrical outer body; and    a substantially cylindrical inner body positioned within the outer body and having a distal end and a second plurality of openings in the cylindrical inner body, wherein the second plurality of openings are substantially aligned with the first plurality of openings, and wherein at least one of the first and second plurality of openings is coupled to a heated fluid source.    
     
     
         12 . The nozzle of  claim 11  wherein at least one of the first and second plurality of openings is coupled to a vacuum source.