Patent ID: 7867233

Claim:
An enucleation device comprising: a cutting cap comprising a plurality of deformable blades sized and shaped for cutting a portion of a spinal segment, the deformable blades deformable between an orthogonally-expanded cutting configuration where the deformable blades are generally splayed outward from one another and an insertion configuration where the deformable blades extend generally parallel to one another, wherein the orthogonally-expanded cutting configuration is a neutral position for the deformable blades and the insertion configuration is a deformed position for the deformable blades such that when the deformable blades are not deformed the deformable blades return to the orthogonally-expanded cutting configuration, wherein the deformable blades are positioned radially about a central opening extending through the cutting cap to allow the cutting cap to be placed over a guidewire; a hollow flexible shaft fixedly connected to the cutting cap, the hollow flexible shaft including an axial lumen extending along the length of the hollow flexible shaft and in communication with the central opening of the cutting cap such that the hollow flexible shaft is configured to be placed over the guidewire; a hypotube positioned around at least a proximal portion of the hollow flexible shaft and fixedly connected to a user graspable handle of the enucleation device; a shrink tube positioned around at least a distal portion of the hollow flexible shaft adjacent to the cutting cap, the shrink tube having a reduced outer diameter relative to the hypotube such that the shrink tube provides a bearing surface between the hollow flexible shaft and the hypotube; and a motor adapter positioned adjacent to the proximal portion of the hollow flexible shaft, the motor adapter configured to connect the enucleation device to a motor drive for rotating the flexible shaft to cause rotation of the cutting cap; where the plurality of elastically deformable blades can cut material in a space when the blades are not deformed, after accessing the space through a passage while the blades are deformed; and where the passage has a smaller cross-sectional area than the lateral cross-sectional area of the undeformed blades while the blades are cutting the material.