Tissue removal device with adjustable delivery sleeve for neurosurgical and spinal surgery applications

Abstract

A tissue cutting device that is especially suited for neurosurgical applications is disclosed and described. The device includes a handpiece and an outer cannula in which a reciprocating inner cannula is disposed. A delivery sleeve may be selectively provided that is configured to be disposed about the outer cannula for delivery of a variety of devices.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A tissue removal system, comprising:
 a tissue removal instrument having a handpiece and an outer cannula, the outer cannula having an outer cannula lumen, a proximal end, a distal end, and an outer cannula opening at the distal end, wherein the opening defines a cutting edge for severing tissue; and   a delivery sleeve disposed about the outer cannula, wherein the delivery sleeve comprises an outer cannula channel and at least one delivery channel, and wherein a distal end of the delivery sleeve is in parallel alignment to the distal end of the tissue removal instrument when affixed to the tissue removal instrument.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the delivery sleeve is removable from the outer cannula at the distal end of the outer cannula. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the handpiece is a manipulative handle. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the tissue removal instrument is a device configured to deliver suction to the outer cannula. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the level of suction is variable. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the handpiece includes a user interface for controlling the level of suction. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the tissue removal instrument includes an inner cannula disposed in the outer cannula lumen and is reciprocal within the outer cannula lumen, the inner cannula having an inner cannula lumen, a proximal end, and an open distal end and a cutting edge at the distal end. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the outer cannula is rotatable with respect to the delivery sleeve and the handpiece. 
     
     
         9 . A tissue removal system, comprising:
 a handpiece;   an outer cannula having an outer cannula lumen, a proximal end, a distal end, and an outer cannula opening at the distal end, wherein the opening defines an edge for severing tissue; and   a delivery sleeve disposed about the outer cannula, wherein the delivery sleeve comprises an outer cannula channel and at least one delivery channel.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein a distal end of the delivery sleeve, when affixed to the outer cannula, is in parallel alignment to the distal end of the outer cannula. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein when the delivery sleeve is in an uninstalled condition, the at least one delivery channel is separated from the outer cannula channel along the length of the delivery sleeve. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein vacuum is delivered to the outer cannula of the tissue removal instrument. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the level of vacuum is variable. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the delivery sleeve is removable from the outer cannula at the distal end of the outer cannula 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the outer cannula is rotatable with respect to the delivery sleeve and the handpiece. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 9 , further comprising an optical device positioned in the at least one delivery channel. 
     
     
         17 . A tissue removal system, comprising:
 a tissue removal instrument having a handpiece and an outer cannula, the outer cannula having an outer cannula lumen, a proximal end, a distal end, and an outer cannula opening at the distal end, wherein the opening defines an edge for severing tissue; and   a delivery sleeve insertable at the distal end of the outer cannula, wherein when the delivery sleeve is in an installed condition, the delivery sleeve is arranged around the outer cannula forming an outer cannula channel and at least one delivery channel and a distal end of the delivery sleeve is in parallel alignment to the distal end of the tissue removal instrument.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein vacuum is delivered to the outer cannula of the tissue removal instrument. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein a level of the vacuum is variable. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , further comprising a user interface at the handpiece for controlling the level of vacuum.