Patent ID: 7465304
Filing Date: 2008-12-16
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A method for performing an anterior cervical discectomy within a neck of a mammal comprising the steps of: passing a distal end of a sheath into the neck of the mammal, the sheath having a hollow core and a proximal end with a first cap thereon; attaching a second cap to a serrated cutter on a proximal end of the serrated cutter, the serrated cutter also having a distal end with an edge on the most distal portion thereof, the edge having a plurality of serrations formed therein; inserting the serrated cutter distal end into the hollow core of the sheath while the sheath is in the mammal neck and cutting bone or disc of the mammal by turning the serrated cutter using the second cap; removing the second cap from the serrated cutter while the serrated cutter is in the sheath hollow core and while the sheath is in the mammal neck; receiving the proximal end of the serrated cutter within a hollow core of an impactor while the serrated cutter is in the sheath hollow core and while the sheath is in the mammal neck, such that the impactor slides over the serrated cutter and abuts against the first cap on the sheath, the impactor hollow core having a diameter greater than the serrated cutter; and placing an impact force onto the impactor so as to transfer said impact force to the sheath and not to the serrated cutter.