Minimally invasive discectomy

摘要

Systems and methods for minimally invasive discectomy procedures are described herein. The systems include a bendable flexible cannula may have a straight configuration suitable for insertion and withdrawal into spinal tissue, and a curved configuration suitable for accessing certain areas of a vertebral disc that may be difficult to reach in the straight configuration. A cannula is straightened by inserting a straight stylet therethrough. The straight stylet may have a deflectable region that facilitates its insertion into the cannula. Removal of a straight stylet from a cannula may allow the cannula to assume its curved configuration. The systems may be used with tissue removal devices, and certain variations of tissue removal devices may include a collector for aspiration, as well as a travel limiter to restrict inadvertent motions of the tissue removal devices within a vertebral structure.

主权项

1. A cannula system, comprising:
a cannula comprising a distal portion including a longitudinal axis and a distal end, the distal portion being configured to deflect between a substantially curved configuration and a substantially straightened configuration, the longitudinal axis including a curved portion when the distal portion of the cannula takes on the substantially curved configuration; and a straight stylet configured to strain the distal portion of the cannula, such that when the stylet is inserted within the distal portion of the cannula, the distal portion of the cannula takes on the substantially straightened configuration, and when the stylet is retracted out from the distal portion of the cannula, the distal portion of the cannula takes on the substantially curved configuration.