Apparatus and methods for removing vertebral bone and disc tissue

Abstract

Tissue removal probes comprise an elongated member, a drive shaft rotatably disposed within the member, and a rotatably tissue removal element mounted to the distal end of the drive shaft. One tissue removal element comprises a plurality of tissue-cutting filaments affixed at proximal and distal ends of the tissue removal element. The cutting filaments may have optional hinge points that allow the distal end of the tissue removal element to be inverted, thereby transforming the tissue removal element from a tissue-cutting device to a tissue-grasping device. Another tissue removal element may have a blunted tip to prevent distal tissue trauma and an irrigation port to provide irrigation fluid to the removed tissue and/or tissue removal element. Another tissue removal element has a proximal and distal spiral grooves that are oppositely pitched, so that removed tissue can be collected in the middle of the tissue removal element. Another tissue removal element has independent counter-rotating tissue removal elements to maintain stability during a bone cutting procedure. Still another tissue removal element takes the form of a drill bit with fluted cutting grooves. Yet another tissue removal element has cascading tissue-cutting notches that can be reciprocatably moved to remove tissue within a hole.

1 . A tissue removing medical device, comprising:
 a tubular member having a working channel and an auxiliary channel;   a shaft extending through the working channel of the tubular member, the shaft having a distal end region; and   a rotatable cutting burr coupled to the distal end region of the shaft.   
     
     
         2 . The tissue removing medical device of  claim 1 , wherein auxiliary channel is an aspiration channel. 
     
     
         3 . The tissue removing medical device of  claim 1 , wherein auxiliary channel is an irrigation channel. 
     
     
         4 . The tissue removing medical device of  claim 3 , wherein the tubular member further comprises an aspiration channel. 
     
     
         5 . The tissue removing medical device of  claim 1 , wherein the tubular member further comprises a steering mechanism. 
     
     
         6 . The tissue removing medical device of  claim 1 , wherein the shaft is axially movable relative to the tubular member. 
     
     
         7 . The tissue removing medical device of  claim 1 , wherein the shaft is rotatable relative to the tubular member. 
     
     
         8 . The tissue removing medical device of  claim 1 , wherein the shaft is axially movable and rotatable relative to the tubular member. 
     
     
         9 . The tissue removing medical device of  claim 1 , further comprising a drive motor coupled to the shaft. 
     
     
         10 . The tissue removing medical device of  claim 1 , wherein the tubular member includes a window cutout positioned proximally of a distal end of tubular member. 
     
     
         11 . The tissue removing medical device of  claim 1 , wherein the rotatable cutting burr includes a plurality of tissue-cutting structures designed to resect tissue. 
     
     
         12 . A tissue removing medical device, comprising:
 a tubular sleeve having a plurality of lumen extending therethrough, the plurality of lumens including a first lumen;   a drive shaft extending through the first lumen, the drive shaft having a distal end region; and   a cutting member coupled to the distal end region of the drive shaft.   
     
     
         13 . The tissue removing medical device of  claim 12 , wherein the cutting member includes a reciprocating cutting member. 
     
     
         14 . The tissue removing medical device of  claim 12 , wherein the cutting member includes a burr. 
     
     
         15 . The tissue removing medical device of  claim 14 , wherein the burr includes a helical groove. 
     
     
         16 . The tissue removing medical device of  claim 12 , wherein the cutting member includes an expandable basket. 
     
     
         17 . The tissue removing medical device of  claim 12 , wherein the cutting member includes a drill bit. 
     
     
         18 . The tissue removing medical device of  claim 12 , wherein the tubular sleeve includes a window cutout positioned proximally of a distal end of tubular sleeve. 
     
     
         19 . A tissue removing medical device assembly, comprising:
 a tubular sleeve having a plurality of lumen extending therethrough, the plurality of lumens including a first lumen;   a drive shaft extending through the first lumen, the drive shaft having a distal end region;   a drive motor coupled to the drive shaft, the drive motor being designed to rotate the drive shaft; and   a burr coupled to the distal end region of the drive shaft.   
     
     
         20 . The tissue removing medical device assembly of  claim 19 , wherein the tubular sleeve includes a window cutout positioned proximally of a distal end of tubular sleeve.