Surgical tools having application for spinal surgical procedures and method of use

Abstract

A cannula tool in combination with other tools is used to provide multiple instruments necessary for surgical procedures. The cannula tool is used in combination with a piercing tool to form a dilator instrument to access a treatment site and in combination with a plunger tool to deliver biological or grafting material to a treatment site. Each of the plunger and piercing tools includes a guide lumen to track the tools over a K-wire or other guide device for placement at the treatment site. The application discloses asymmetrical piercing and plunger tools for placement proximate to a facet joint for treatment.

1 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A surgical instrument, comprising:
 a piercing tool including a body portion defining a center axis and having a proximal end and a distal end, said body portion defining a guide lumen that defines an inlet at said proximal end and an outlet at said distal end for placement of said piercing tool over a guide wire, said guide lumen defining an open channel at an outer perimeter of said body portion, said open channel extending from said inlet to said outlet.   
     
     
         22 . The surgical instrument of  claim 21 , wherein said guide lumen is configured to receive said guide wire at said inlet, said outlet, and said outer perimeter of said open channel. 
     
     
         23 . The surgical instrument of  claim 21 , wherein the piercing tool is formed of an elongate cylindrical body. 
     
     
         24 . The surgical instrument of  claim 21 , wherein said inlet and said outlet are coaxially aligned with said guide lumen. 
     
     
         25 . The surgical instrument of  claim 21 , wherein said guide lumen is parallel to and radially offset from said center axis. 
     
     
         26 . The surgical instrument of  claim 21 , wherein said piercing tool defines a tapered piercing tip at said distal end. 
     
     
         27 . The surgical instrument of  claim 26 , wherein said piercing tip is asymmetrical. 
     
     
         28 . The surgical instrument of  claim 27 , wherein said tapered piercing tip forms a terminus at an outer diameter of said body portion. 
     
     
         29 . The surgical instrument of  claim 28 , wherein said outlet of said guide lumen is defined at said terminus. 
     
     
         30 . The surgical instrument of  claim 21 , wherein the piercing tool includes an enlarged head at said proximal end, said enlarged head extending radially beyond said body portion and defining a locking aperture, said locking aperture extending adjacent said inlet and axially through said enlarged head. 
     
     
         31 . The surgical instrument of  claim 30 , wherein a radial perimeter of said enlarged head is open to said locking aperture. 
     
     
         32 . The surgical instrument of  claim 31 , comprising a cannula tool including:
 an elongate tubular body forming a passage lumen defining a passage inlet at a proximal end of said tubular body and a passage outlet at a distal end of said tubular body, said passage lumen being sized to receive said body portion of said piercing tool;   a handle coupled to said elongate tubular body; and   a locking pin that extends in an axial direction from said handle,   wherein said locking pin is configured to engage said locking aperture of said piercing tool when said piercing tool is inserted into said cannula tool.   
     
     
         33 . The surgical instrument of  claim 32 , wherein said handle extends radially outward from said center axis. 
     
     
         34 . The surgical instrument of  claim 32 , wherein said locking pin extends proximally in said axial direction.