Method, implant and instruments for percutaneous expansion of the spinal canal

摘要

A bone saw including a flexible, rectangular saw blade having a central longitudinal axis and a cutting edge at a distal tip, and a shaft. The shaft has a central longitudinal axis, and a blade passage within the shaft that houses the saw blade, where the central longitudinal axis of the saw blade, of the shaft, and of the blade passage, are parallel. Further included is a blade opening located through a distal end of the shaft and of the blade passage, the blade opening being perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the shaft. Also, a curved abutment can exist within the blade passage, aligning the saw blade with the blade opening. Distally translating the saw blade within the blade passage can cause the saw blade to conform to the curved abutment and exit the blade opening with the cutting edge essentially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the shaft.

主权项

1. A bone saw, comprising:
a flexible saw blade, rectangular in shape over at least a portion of a length thereof, having a central longitudinal axis and a cutting edge at a distal tip; a shaft having:
a central longitudinal axis;a blade passage within the shaft, the blade passage housing the saw blade, wherein the central longitudinal axis of the saw blade within the blade passage is separate from and parallel to the central longitudinal axis of the shaft;a blade opening located at and through a side of a distal end portion of the shaft;a curved abutment within the shaft, aligning the blade passage with the blade opening by concave curvature, wherein distally translating the saw blade within the blade passage causes the saw blade to concavely conform to the curved abutment and exit the blade opening; wherein the length of the saw blade is such that at least a portion thereof remains within the blade passage whether the saw blade is fully retracted within the shaft or fully advanced out of the blade opening.