Patent ID: 8048080
Filing Date: 2011-11-01
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A method for modifying tissue in a spine of a patient to treat or alleviate spinal stenosis, the method comprising: advancing a guidewire through an epidural space of the patient's spine and bending the guidewire around the target tissue in the spine; coupling the guidewire to a tissue modification device having an elongate body with a rigid section at the proximal end region and a flexible abrasive surface at the distal end region; positioning the tissue modification device so that the tissue modification device forms a bend against the target tissue and the abrasive surface of the tissue modification device faces target tissue and a non-abrasive surface of the tissue modification device faces non-target tissue; urging the abrasive surface of the tissue modification device against the target tissue by pulling on the distal end region of the tissue modification device and pulling on the proximal end region of the tissue modification device; and translating the tissue modification device proximally and distally by moving a proximal handle in an opposite direction from a distal handle while urging the abrasive surface of the tissue modification device against the target tissue to abrade the target tissue with the abrasive surface.