Patent ID: 11931053
Assignee: PTL OPCO, LLC
Field: Medical technology (Instruments)
Classification: CPC A | IPC A

Claim 12:
13. A method of preparing a joint for receipt of a bone fusion implant, comprising:
inserting a working channel into the joint;
inserting an abrading head of a decorticator apparatus into the working channel, the decorticator apparatus comprising:
a polymer sheath having a lumen therein, a distal end, and a proximal end, the polymer sheath configured for insertion into the working channel providing access to the joint;
a metal rod disposed within the lumen of the polymer sheath in an immobilized relation thereto, the metal rod having a first end and a second end;
the abrading head disposed on the first end of the metal rod and extending beyond the distal end of the polymer sheath, the abrading head having an abrading surface configured to abrade a cortical bone layer within the joint;
a longitudinal channel disposed on the polymer sheath and having an opening at the distal end thereof; and

aligning the longitudinal channel of the decorticator apparatus with an alignment protrusion of the working channel;
advancing the decorticator apparatus into the working channel, wherein engagement between the longitudinal channel and the alignment protrusion restricts axial rotation of the decorticator apparatus relative to the working channel, thereby maintaining the abrading head of the decorticator apparatus in a predetermined alignment relative to the joint;
driving the abrading head of the decorticator apparatus into the joint, thereby causing the abrading head to abrade the cortical bone layer within the joint; and
extracting the decorticator apparatus from the working channel.