Articulated instruments that include tools for disrupting and/or distracting tissue, and methods of using the same.

A discectomy tool comprising: a) a cannula having an outer surface having a longitudinal bore therein, a proximal end and a distal end; b) a steering wire disposed in the longitudinal bore; c) a flexible, hollow transmission shaft disposed in the cannula, the shaft having a throughbore, a proximal end portion, a distal end portion and an outer surface having a thread extending therefrom; d) an irrigation source fluidly connected to the throughbore; e) a cutting tip attached to the distal end portion of the transmission shaft.

Embodiments of the present disclosure includes method and devices for minimally invasive spinal fusion surgery. A method for minimally invasive spinal fusion surgery can include accessing a spinal column through a working channel device, wherein the working channel has a proximal end and a distal end, advancing the working channel so that the distal end pierces an outer layer of a vertebral disc, inserting a disc extractor through the working channel device and into the vertebral disc to cut the vertebral disc into pieces, inserting a disc blade through the working channel device and into the vertebral disc to cut the vertebral disc into pieces, using a disc rake to remove the pieces of the vertebral disc, inserting a disc shaver to clean a number of surfaces of vertebra adjacent to the vertebral disc, and inserting and implanting a disc implant in a space from where the vertebral disc was removed

A dilation introducer for orthopedic surgery is provided for minimally invasive access for insertion of an intervertebral implant. The dilation introducer may be used to provide an access position through Kambin's triangle from a posterolateral approach. A first dilator tube with a first longitudinal axis is provided. A second dilator tube may be introduced over the first, advanced along a second longitudinal axis parallel to but offset from the first. A third dilator tube may be introduced over the second, advanced along a third longitudinal axis parallel to but offset from both the first and the second. An access cannula may be introduced over the third dilator tube. With the first, second, and third dilator tubes removed, surgical instruments may pass through the access cannula to operate on an intervertebral disc and/or insert an intervertebral implant.

The present disclosure provides a cutting tool for surgical procedures. More specifically, the present cutting tool is suitable for bi-directional cutting and removal of soft and hard tissues for surgical procedures. The cutting tool includes a substantially rigid shaft having a shaped end portion. The shaped end portion includes a plurality of shaped talons; each talon including a body bent to retain tissue, and each talon including a cutter end. The cutter end includes both acute and obtuse cutting surface relief angles for diverse cutting action with respect to hard and soft tissues.

A surgical probe and a method for forming and enlarging an access opening through a psoas muscle to provide for minimally invasive lateral approach for surgical access to a lumber intervertebral disc. A distal end portion of the probe is equipped with an electrode useful for confirming proper location of the probe and includes an inflatable dilator body for enlarging an access opening through tissue adjacent to a spinal column. The probe includes a cannula through which a K wire can be extended to anchor the probe to a patient.

In one embodiment, an access instrument for creating a surgical working portal includes a body having a first end and a body length, a first slot having a first slot length running along the length of the body from the first end, and a second slot having a second slot length running along the length of the body from the first end, wherein the first slot length and the second slot length are less than the body length.

Methods for accessing a disc space of a patient as a part of an interbody fusion, as well as the tools employed therewith. An exemplary method may include inserting a leading end of a tool into the patient's back at a location on the posterior surface that is laterally offset from a patient's spinous process and disc. The tool's initial entry into the patient may be from a posterior approach. As the tool is advanced along its designated path, it begins to deviate from the posterior approach towards a lateral approach. When the leading end reaches the disc, it may access the disc from a lateral or substantially lateral location. The tool may be used to access the disc location, to remove disc material, to deliver a cutting tool for removing the disc material, and other steps associated with the spinal interbody fusion procedure.

Discectomy instruments and methods thereof. The discectomy instrument may include a cutter tip configured to release disc material between adjacent vertebrae. The cutter tip may be pivotable such that the cutter tip is positionable off-axis from an access port. The discectomy instrument may be a powered instrument with a constant velocity joint that acts as a point of articulation as well as drive transfer.

A medical instrument for dislodging vertebral disc material from a vertebral disc in a vertebral disc space via a cannula has a pivoting scoop structure with a scoop that provides a 180° pivot sweep outside of the diameter of the cannula. The medical instrument has an elongate body defining a longitudinal axis with the pivoting scoop structure situated at a distal end of the elongate body. The elongate body has a first elongate shaft and a second elongate shaft situated on and configured for longitudinal axial translation relative to the first elongate shaft. Axial movement of the second elongate shaft controllably swivels the pivoting scoop structure from, through, and between 0° to 180° relative to the longitudinal axis of the elongate body. The scoop structure may also allow for collection and removal of dislodged vertebral disc material.