Tissue fixation system and method

Abstract

Methods and devices for stabilizing spinal anatomical structures. Some example methods may include introducing a curved segment of an elongate fastener placement rod adjacent to a bone, providing a fastener at the leading end of the curved segment, and/or securing the fastener in place with respect to the bone.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A rotary cutting device comprising:
 a tubular drill bit having a longitudinal passage;   a shaft positioned within the tubular drill bit;   at least one blade connected to the shaft and movable between a first position, in which the at least one blade is inside the tubular drill bit, and a second position, in which the at least one blade is exposed outside of the tubular drill bit; and   an actuator configured to linearly translate the shaft positioned within the tubular drill bit to move the at least one blade from the first position to the second position.   
     
     
         22 . The rotary cutting device of  claim 21 , wherein the at least one blade is pivotably attached to the tubular drill bit, and the shaft is configured to pivot the at least one blade from the first position to the second position. 
     
     
         23 . The rotary cutting device of  claim 22 , wherein a tip of the at least one blade faces a proximal end of the tubular drill bit when the at least one blade is in the first position, and wherein the tip of the at least one blade pivots distally when the at least one blade is exposed outside of the tubular drill bit in the second position. 
     
     
         24 . The rotary cutting device of  claim 21 , wherein the at least one blade is configured to be locked in the first position and the second position. 
     
     
         25 . The rotary cutting device of  claim 21 , wherein the rotary cutting device is configured to create a passage of a first diameter when the at least one blade is in the first position. 
     
     
         26 . The rotary cutting device of  claim 25 , wherein the rotary cutting device is configured to be removed from the passage of a first diameter when the at least one blade is in the first position. 
     
     
         27 . The rotary cutting device of  claim 25 , wherein the rotary cutting device is configured to create a passage of a diameter larger than the first diameter when the at least one blade is exposed outside of the tubular drill bit. 
     
     
         28 . The rotary cutting device of  claim 27 , wherein the device is prevented from being removed from the passage of a first diameter when the at least one blade is exposed outside of the tubular drill bit. 
     
     
         29 . A rotary cutting device comprising:
 a tube having a longitudinal passage;   a shaft within the tube;   a blade connected to the inner shaft and movable between a first position, in which the blade is retracted inside the tube, and a second position, in which the blade is exposed outside of the tube; and   an actuator configured to linearly translate the inner shaft positioned within the outer tube to move the at least one blade from the first position to the second position.   
     
     
         30 . The rotary cutting device of  claim 29 , wherein the blade is pivotably attached to the tube and the shaft is configured to pivot the blade from the first position to the second additional position. 
     
     
         31 . The rotary cutting device of  claim 30 , wherein a tip of the blade faces a proximal end of the tube when the blade is retracted in the first position and wherein the tip of the blade pivots distally when the blade is exposed outside of the tube in the second position. 
     
     
         32 . The rotary cutting device of  claim 29 , wherein the blade is configured to be locked into the first position and the second position. 
     
     
         33 . The rotary cutting device of  claim 29 , wherein the device is configured to create a passage of a first diameter when the at least one blade is in the first position. 
     
     
         34 . The rotary cutting device of  claim 33 , wherein the device is configured to create a passage of a diameter larger than the first diameter when the blade is exposed outside of the tube. 
     
     
         35 . The rotary cutting device of  claim 29 , further comprising a sleeve through which the tube, shaft, and cutting blade are configured to pass, the sleeve remaining unattached to the tube, shaft, and cutting blade, wherein the sleeve has a contacting feature on a proximal end, wherein the contacting feature is configured to receive an applied force to drive at least a portion of a distal end of the sleeve into bone. 
     
     
         36 . A surgical device comprising:
 a tube having proximal and distal ends;   a shaft positioned within the outer tube;   a cutting blade pivotably mounted to a distal portion of the shaft and pivotable from a first position in which the cutting blade is concealed within the distal end of the tube to at least one additional position in which at least a portion of the cutting blade is exposed through a side of the distal end of the tube, wherein a tip of the cutting blade is pointed toward the proximal end of the tube when the cutting blade is in the first position, and wherein the tip of the cutting blade pivots distally when the cutting blade is exposed outside of the tubular drill bit in a second position;   an actuator assembly configured to linearly translate the shaft to pivot the cutting blade from the first position to the at least one additional position,   wherein the surgical device is configured to remove bone.   
     
     
         37 . The surgical device of  claim 36 , wherein the cutting blade is configured to be locked into the first position and the second position. 
     
     
         38 . The surgical device of  claim 37 , wherein the device is configured to create a passage of a first diameter when the cutting blade is in the first position. 
     
     
         39 . The surgical device of  claim 38 , wherein the device is configured to create a passage of a diameter larger than the first diameter when the cutting blade is exposed outside of the tube. 
     
     
         40 . The surgical device of  claim 36 , further comprising a sleeve through which the tube, shaft, and cutting blade are configured to pass; the sleeve remaining unattached to the tube, shaft, and cutting blade; and the sleeve having a contacting feature on a proximal end, wherein the contacting feature is configured to receive an applied force to drive at least a portion of a distal end of the sleeve into bone.