Patent ID: 8672834
Filing Date: 2014-03-18
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A method of performing a spinal decompression on a patient comprising: inserting a distal tip portion of a powered surgical instrument into a neuroforamen of a vertebra, the powered surgical instrument having a handle assembly comprising a drive output configured to output linearly reciprocating motion parallel to a drive axis, a blade guide mounted to the handle assembly, the blade guide having a proximal portion defining a proximal guide axis and a distal portion corresponding to the distal tip portion defining a distal guide axis, the proximal guide axis being angled relative to the drive axis and the distal guide axis being angled relative to the proximal guide axis, a blade having a distal cutting portion, the blade being mounted in the blade guide and coupled to the drive output, the blade being constrained by the blade guide to bend from the drive axis to the proximal guide axis and to bend from the proximal guide axis to the distal guide axis, the blade guide constraining the distal cutting portion of the blade to reciprocating motion parallel to the distal guide axis; positioning the distal cutting portion of the blade within the neuroforamen adjacent tissue that is impinging on a spinal nerve; actuating the blade so that it linearly reciprocates relative to the impinging tissue to remove the impinging tissue while preserving the nerve.