US20020029055A1 — Apparatus and method for tissue removal

Claim 1

Independent Claim 62 words

1 . Tissue removal apparatus comprising: a flexible drill shaft; a cutting tip mounted on said shaft for cutting tissue; means for transmitting motion to said shaft to move said cutting tip against the tissue to cut tissue fragments from the tissue; and means for removing the tissue fragments along said shaft by suction to a location outside the body while cutting.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 62 words

1 . Tissue removal apparatus comprising: a flexible drill shaft; a cutting tip mounted on said shaft for cutting tissue; means for transmitting motion to said shaft to move said cutting tip against the tissue to cut tissue fragments from the tissue; and means for removing the tissue fragments along said shaft by suction to a location outside the body while cutting.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 39 words

2 . An apparatus as defined in claim 1 including means for collecting one or more selected components of the removed tissue fragments for implantation of the fragments into the body of the patient from whom they were removed.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 19 words

3 . An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said drill shaft comprises a polymeric or composite material.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 25 words

4 . An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said cutting tip comprises a polymeric or composite material with hardness specific to tissue application.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 21 words

5 . An apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said cutting tip is made of a composite or ceramic material.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 44 words

6 . An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said flexible drill includes surface means defining a suction passage extending axially along said drill shaft through which said bone fragments are removed, said suction passage having a smooth polymeric surface to reduce friction.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 24 words

7 . An apparatus as defined in claim 1 further including guide means for controlling the location of said cutting tip within the tissue.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 32 words

8 . An apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said guide means comprises a guide rod extending within said flexible cutting shaft to allow said shaft to advance into a space.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 16 words

9 . An apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein said guide means is selectively rigidifiable.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 35 words

10 . An apparatus as defined in claim 1 including means for injecting fluid to a location adjacent said cutting tip including surface means defining a fluid injection passage extending axially along said flexible shaft.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 30 words

11 . An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said flexible drill shaft is hollow and comprising a non-moving flexible sleeve extending generally coaxially about said flexible drill shaft.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 32 words

12 . An apparatus as defined in claim 11 including an axially extending suction passage between said flexible drill shaft and said flexible sleeve and through which the tissue fragments are removed.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 46 words

13 . An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said flexible drill shaft is solid and comprising a flexible sleeve extending generally coaxially about said flexible drill shaft and movable with said flexible drill shaft when said flexible drill shaft is moved to cut tissue.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 21 words

14 . An apparatus as defined in claim 1 comprising a formable sleeve extending generally coaxially with said flexible drill shaft.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 26 words

15 . An apparatus as defined in claim 1 comprising a disposable liner sleeve at least partially defining a suction passage for the harvested tissue fragments.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 97 words

16 . Tissue removal apparatus comprising: a flexible shaft; a cutting tip mounted on said shaft for placement within a tissue mass; means for transmitting rotary or oscillatory motion to said shaft to move said cutting tip against the tissue to cut tissue fragments from the tissue mass; means for removing the tissue fragments along said shaft by suction to a location outside the body while cutting; and means for collecting one or more selected components of the removed tissue fragments for implantation of the fragments into the body of the patient from whom they were removed.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 97 words

16 . Tissue removal apparatus comprising: a flexible shaft; a cutting tip mounted on said shaft for placement within a tissue mass; means for transmitting rotary or oscillatory motion to said shaft to move said cutting tip against the tissue to cut tissue fragments from the tissue mass; means for removing the tissue fragments along said shaft by suction to a location outside the body while cutting; and means for collecting one or more selected components of the removed tissue fragments for implantation of the fragments into the body of the patient from whom they were removed.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 23 words

17 . An apparatus as defined in claim 16 wherein said means for collecting comprises a trap or a filter or a strainer.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 49 words

18 . An apparatus as defined in claim 16 wherein said flexible shaft includes surface means defining an axially extending suction passage along said flexible shaft through which said tissue fragments are removed, said suction passage having a smooth polymeric surface to reduce friction of the removed tissue fragments.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 80 words

19 . Tissue removal apparatus comprising: a flexible hollow drill shaft; a cutting tip mounted on said shaft; means for transmitting rotary or oscillatory motion to said drill shaft to move said cutting tip within a tissue mass to cut tissue fragments from the tissue mass; means for removing the tissue fragments along said shaft by suction to a location outside the body while cutting; and guide means for controlling the location of said cutting tip within the tissue mass.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 80 words

19 . Tissue removal apparatus comprising: a flexible hollow drill shaft; a cutting tip mounted on said shaft; means for transmitting rotary or oscillatory motion to said drill shaft to move said cutting tip within a tissue mass to cut tissue fragments from the tissue mass; means for removing the tissue fragments along said shaft by suction to a location outside the body while cutting; and guide means for controlling the location of said cutting tip within the tissue mass.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 23 words

20 . An apparatus as defined in claim 19 wherein said guide means comprises a guide rod extending within said flexible drill shaft.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 23 words

21 . An apparatus as defined in claim 19 wherein said guide means comprises a hollow guide sleeve outside said flexible drill shaft.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 16 words

22 . An apparatus as defined in claim 19 wherein said guide means is selectively rigidifiable.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 39 words

23 . An apparatus as defined in claim 19 comprising a second flexible shaft extending generally coaxially with said flexible drill shaft and movable with said flexible drill shaft when said flexible drill shaft is moved to cut tissue.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 21 words

24 . An apparatus as defined in claim 19 comprising a formable sleeve extending generally coaxially about said flexible drill shaft.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 112 words

25 . Tissue removal apparatus comprising: a flexible shaft for insertion inside a tissue mass; a cutting tip mounted on said shaft for cutting the tissue; means for transmitting motion to said shaft to move said cutting tip against the tissue to cut tissue fragments from the tissue mass; guide means for controlling the location of said cutting tip within the tissue mass; means for removing the tissue fragments along said shaft by suction to a location outside the body while cutting; and means for collecting one or more selected components of the harvested tissue fragments for implantation of the fragments into the body of the patient from whom they were removed.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 112 words

25 . Tissue removal apparatus comprising: a flexible shaft for insertion inside a tissue mass; a cutting tip mounted on said shaft for cutting the tissue; means for transmitting motion to said shaft to move said cutting tip against the tissue to cut tissue fragments from the tissue mass; guide means for controlling the location of said cutting tip within the tissue mass; means for removing the tissue fragments along said shaft by suction to a location outside the body while cutting; and means for collecting one or more selected components of the harvested tissue fragments for implantation of the fragments into the body of the patient from whom they were removed.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 69 words

26 . A method comprising the steps of: placing within a tissue mass a flexible shaft having mounted thereon a cutting tip for cutting the tissue mass; transmitting motion to said shaft to move said cutting tip against the tissue to cut tissue fragments from the tissue mass; and removing the tissue fragments along the shaft by suction to a location outside the tissue mass while cutting the tissue.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 69 words

26 . A method comprising the steps of: placing within a tissue mass a flexible shaft having mounted thereon a cutting tip for cutting the tissue mass; transmitting motion to said shaft to move said cutting tip against the tissue to cut tissue fragments from the tissue mass; and removing the tissue fragments along the shaft by suction to a location outside the tissue mass while cutting the tissue.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 29 words

27 . A method as defined in claim 26 further including the step of controlling the location of said cutting tip within the tissue mass with a guide rod.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 25 words

28 . A method as defined in claim 26 including the step of cutting bone with a cutting tip which is harder than cancellous bone.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 38 words

29 . A method as defined in claim 26 further including the step of collecting one or more selected components of the removed tissue fragments for implantation into the body of the patient from whom they were removed.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 29 words

30 . A method as defined in claim 29 further including the step of controlling the location of said cutting tip within the tissue mass with a guide rod.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 44 words

31 . A method of grafting human tissue comprising the steps of obtaining a quantity of tissue fragments suitable for grafting, compressing the tissue fragments into a plug suitable for implantation, and securing the compressed tissue fragments in the graft location with a retainer.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 44 words

31 . A method of grafting human tissue comprising the steps of obtaining a quantity of tissue fragments suitable for grafting, compressing the tissue fragments into a plug suitable for implantation, and securing the compressed tissue fragments in the graft location with a retainer.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 18 words

32 . A method as defined in claim 31 wherein the retainer is a biodegradable mesh or sac.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 20 words

33 . A method as defined in claim 31 wherein the retainer is a mass of solidified flowable polymeric material.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 17 words

34 . A method as defined in claim 33 wherein the polymeric material is a biodegradable material.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 69 words

35 . Tissue removal apparatus comprising a rotatable flexible drill shaft and a rotary cutting tip attached to said shaft for placement adjacent or within a tissue mass for cutting the tissue, said rotary cutting tip having first and second adjacent cutting edges spaced apart in the direction of rotation including a leading edge for grabbing the tissue to be cut and a trailing edge for cutting the tissue.

Claim 42

Dependent Claim 69 words

35 . Tissue removal apparatus comprising a rotatable flexible drill shaft and a rotary cutting tip attached to said shaft for placement adjacent or within a tissue mass for cutting the tissue, said rotary cutting tip having first and second adjacent cutting edges spaced apart in the direction of rotation including a leading edge for grabbing the tissue to be cut and a trailing edge for cutting the tissue.

Apparatus and method for tissue removal

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