Patent ID: 8414606

Claim:
A method for removing material of an intervertebral disc defined by a nucleus surrounded by an annulus and opposing end plates, the method comprising: providing a surgical shaving instrument including: an elongated outer tubular member defining a central passage and a cutting window at a distal segment thereof, the cutting window having a perimeter edge and being fluidly connected to the central passage, the perimeter edge defining a plurality of teeth; an inner tubular member coaxially disposed within the central passage, the inner tubular member defining a central lumen and a cutting tip at a distal region thereof, the cutting tip including a plurality of teeth formed about a mouth otherwise fluidly connected to the lumen, wherein upon final assembly, the cutting tip is exposed within the cutting window, and the cutting tip and cutting window combine to define a shaving head; a manual decorticating implement coupled to the outer tubular member and defining a scraping surface pointing in a direction opposite the plurality of teeth defined by the perimeter edge; coupling the inner tubular member to a powered handpiece adapted to cause the inner tubular member to rotate relative to the outer tubular member; inserting the shaving head into the intervertebral disc; positioning the shaving head such that the cutting tip contacts targeted material of the intervertebral disc; activating the powered handpiece to rotate the cutting tip relative to the cutting window; shearing the contacted intervertebral disc material between the perimeter edge of the cutting window and the teeth of the cutting tip; positioning the manual decorticating implement such that the scraping surface contacts an end plate; removing intervertebral disc material from the end plate using the scraping surface; and aspirating the sheared and removed intervertebral disc material through the lumen via the mouth.