Patent ID: 8313489

Claim:
A method of performing a micro-burring procedure at a surgical target site within a human body, the method comprising: providing a surgical micro-burring instrument including: an outer tubular member having a proximal section, an intermediate section, a distal section, and a central lumen extending from the proximal section to the distal section, the distal section forming: a pocket fluidly connected to the central lumen, the pocket having a bottom surface and an opposed upper opening, an elevator tip extending distal the pocket, a proximal portion proximal the pocket, the proximal portion forming a tube, wherein the pocket is defined by a side wall having an upper edge including a proximal zone extending from the proximal portion, an intermediate zone extending from the proximal zone, and a distal zone extending from the intermediate zone to a distal-most end of the pocket at which the central lumen terminates, and further wherein relative to an orientation of the outer tubular member in which the bottom surface is the lowest-most surface of the pocket: the proximal zone extends downwardly from the proximal portion toward the bottom surface, the intermediate zone extends from the proximal zone at an angle of extension relative to the proximal zone that differs from an angle of extension of the proximal zone relative to the proximal portion, and the distal zone extends downwardly from the intermediate zone toward the bottom surface at an angle of extension differing from the angle of extension of the intermediate zone relative to the proximal zone; and an inner tubular member rotatably positioned within the central lumen, a distal end of the inner tubular member forming a bur received within the pocket such that at least a portion of the bur is exposed via the upper opening of the pocket; positioning a distal end of the instrument at the target; maneuvering the elevator tip to separate soft tissue from harder tissue at the target site; positioning the distal end of the instrument such that the exposed portion of the bur contacts the harder tissue at the target site; rotating the bur to remove portions of the contacted harder tissue; and removing the elevator tip from the target site.