Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
126 words
A method for performing a spinal surgical procedure in a patient's body, comprising: inserting a cannula into a patient through skin and tissue to create a working channel to the spine; creating a working space in communication with the working channel and adjacent the spine; providing a viewing element having a lens at its distal end and a body with a ring sized to substantially encircle the cannula; inserting the viewing element through the working channel to position the lens at the working space; mounting the viewing element to the cannula by clamping the ring about the cannula; providing an aspiration channel with an opening adjacent the working space; and aspirating through the aspiration channel to draw air through the working channel and the working space.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
126 words
A method for performing a spinal surgical procedure in a patient's body, comprising: inserting a cannula into a patient through skin and tissue to create a working channel to the spine; creating a working space in communication with the working channel and adjacent the spine; providing a viewing element having a lens at its distal end and a body with a ring sized to substantially encircle the cannula; inserting the viewing element through the working channel to position the lens at the working space; mounting the viewing element to the cannula by clamping the ring about the cannula; providing an aspiration channel with an opening adjacent the working space; and aspirating through the aspiration channel to draw air through the working channel and the working space.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method according to claim 1 , further including orienting the opening of the aspiration channel such that air is drawn past the lens of the viewing element during aspiration.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method according to claim 2 , wherein providing an aspiration channel further comprises alternately irrigating through the aspiration channel to clean the lens of the viewing element.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method according to claim 1 , further comprising providing the cannula with a distal end opening, a proximal end opening, and a working channel extending therebetween, wherein aspirating through the aspiration channel includes aspirating through the proximal end opening into the working channel of the cannula.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
131 words
A method for performing a spinal surgical procedure in a patient's body, comprising: inserting a cannula into a patient through skin and tissue to create a working channel to the spine; creating a working space in communication with the working channel and adjacent the spine; providing a viewing element having a lens at its distal end and a body with a ring sized to substantially encircle the cannula; inserting the viewing element through the working channel to position the lens at the working space; mounting the viewing element to the cannula by clamping the ring about the cannula; providing an aspiration/irrigation channel with an opening adjacent the working space; and alternately aspirating and irrigating through the aspiration irrigation channel to keep the lens clear while it is adjacent the working space.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
131 words
A method for performing a spinal surgical procedure in a patient's body, comprising: inserting a cannula into a patient through skin and tissue to create a working channel to the spine; creating a working space in communication with the working channel and adjacent the spine; providing a viewing element having a lens at its distal end and a body with a ring sized to substantially encircle the cannula; inserting the viewing element through the working channel to position the lens at the working space; mounting the viewing element to the cannula by clamping the ring about the cannula; providing an aspiration/irrigation channel with an opening adjacent the working space; and alternately aspirating and irrigating through the aspiration irrigation channel to keep the lens clear while it is adjacent the working space.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method according to claim 5 , further comprising providing the cannula with a distal end opening, a proximal end opening, and a working channel extending therebetween, wherein alternately aspirating and irrigating includes aspirating through the proximal end opening of the cannula.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
152 words
A method for performing a spinal surgical procedure in a patient's body, comprising: providing a cannula having a proximal end opening, a distal end opening, and a working channel extending therebetween; inserting the cannula into a patient through skin and tissue so the distal end of the cannula is adjacent the spine; providing a body having a ring sized to substantially encircle the cannula, the body including an optics cannula having a lens at a distal end thereof and an aspiration port extending therethrough in communication with an aspiration channel having an opening adjacent the lens; mounting the body by clamping the ring about the cannula with the optics cannula in the working channel and extending towards the distal end of the cannula to view the location; and aspirating through the aspiration channel to draw air through the proximal end opening of the cannula and into the opening of the aspiration channel.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
152 words
A method for performing a spinal surgical procedure in a patient's body, comprising: providing a cannula having a proximal end opening, a distal end opening, and a working channel extending therebetween; inserting the cannula into a patient through skin and tissue so the distal end of the cannula is adjacent the spine; providing a body having a ring sized to substantially encircle the cannula, the body including an optics cannula having a lens at a distal end thereof and an aspiration port extending therethrough in communication with an aspiration channel having an opening adjacent the lens; mounting the body by clamping the ring about the cannula with the optics cannula in the working channel and extending towards the distal end of the cannula to view the location; and aspirating through the aspiration channel to draw air through the proximal end opening of the cannula and into the opening of the aspiration channel.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method according to claim 7 , further including orienting the opening of the aspiration channel such that air is drawn past the lens of the optics cannula during aspiration.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method according to claim 7 , wherein aspirating through the aspiration channel further comprises alternately irrigating through the aspiration channel.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method according to claim 7 , further comprising extending a power tool through the working channel.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method according to claim 7 , wherein the aspiration channel is formed by a tube extending beside the optics cannula.