Patent ID: 7887538

Claim:
A method for modifying tissue in a spine of a patient, the method comprising: advancing a flexible distal portion of an elongate tissue modification device into the patient's epidural space and between one or more target tissues and one or more non-target tissues; positioning a tissue modifying portion of the tissue modification device adjacent the target tissue such that a tissue modifying member of the tissue modifying portion faces the target tissue and does not face the non-target tissue; anchoring the distal portion of the tissue modification device relative to the patient from outside of the patient through an exit point out of the patient located apart from the location where the device was advanced into the patient; applying a tensioning force to the tissue modification device from the proximal portion of the device to urge the tissue modifying portion of device against the target tissue; and modifying the target tissue with the tissue modifying portion of the device, while the distal portion is fixed relative to the patient, preventing any portion of the tissue modification device from extending significantly further distally beyond the exit point of the patient during tissue modification.