Abstract: Systems and methods for treating spinal stenosis include endoscopic access devices and bone removal devices used to perform a foraminotomy or other bone removal procedures. Some of the bone removal devices include expandable members which may be used to control the forced exerted and/or position of the bone removal mechanism, and to protect neurovascular structures and other soft tissue structures from the bone removal mechanism. Other bone removal devices include a trephine with a viewing window and a guide wire lumen used to position the trephine at a target tissue site using an anchored wire. The viewing window may be used to monitor structures or tissues adjacent to the target tissue site.

Abstract: Systems and methods for minimally invasive discectomy procedures are described herein. In some variations, a tissue removal system may comprise a handheld housing, an outer shaft comprising a distal portion and a proximal portion coupled to the handheld housing, a distal sheath coupled to the distal portion of the outer shaft, a motor, an inner shaft coupled to the motor, where the inner shaft is located partially within the outer shaft and partially within the distal sheath, a tip portion coupled to a distal portion of the inner shaft, and an elongate member distally extending through a distal opening of the inner shaft, the elongate member having a retracted configuration and an extended configuration, where the distal sheath comprises at least one element (e.g. at least one protrusion) that engages the tip portion to couple the tip portion to the distal sheath.

Abstract: Systems and methods for minimally invasive discectomy procedures are described herein. The systems include a bendable flexible cannula may have a straight configuration suitable for insertion and withdrawal into spinal tissue, and a curved configuration suitable for accessing certain areas of a vertebral disc that may be difficult to reach in the straight configuration. A cannula is straightened by inserting a straight stylet therethrough. The straight stylet may have a deflectable region that facilitates its insertion into the cannula. Removal of a straight stylet from a cannula may allow the cannula to assume its curved configuration. The systems may be used with tissue removal devices, and certain variations of tissue removal devices may include a collector for aspiration, as well as a travel limiter to restrict inadvertent motions of the tissue removal devices within a vertebral structure.

Abstract: Tissue removal devices are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a tissue removal device may comprise a handheld housing, a motor, and a tissue removal mechanism coupled to the handheld housing. The tissue removal mechanism may comprise a tubular member, a rotatable elongated member disposed within a lumen of the tubular member, a first impeller distal to the rotatable elongated member, and a second impeller adjacent the first impeller.

Abstract: A tissue removal device may comprise a handheld housing, a motor, and a tissue removal mechanism coupled to the handheld housing. The tissue removal mechanism may comprise a tissue collection chamber coupled to a distal portion of the handheld housing, a jaw member comprising first and second jaw portions, where the first jaw portion is coupled to a first elongated member and the second jaw portion is coupled to a second elongated member configured to actuate the second jaw portion, a rotatable shaft disposed within a lumen of the first elongated member, a helical member disposed around at least a portion of the rotatable shaft, and an impeller coupled to at least one of a distal end of the helical member and a distal end of the rotatable shaft. Rotation of the rotatable shaft may effect rotation of the helical member and the impeller.

Abstract: Systems and methods for minimally invasive discectomy procedures are described herein. In some variations, a tissue removal system may comprise a handheld housing, an outer shaft comprising a distal portion and a proximal portion coupled to the handheld housing, a distal sheath coupled to the distal portion of the outer shaft, a motor, an inner shaft coupled to the motor, where the inner shaft is located partially within the outer shaft and partially within the distal sheath, a tip portion coupled to a distal portion of the inner shaft, and an elongate member distally extending through a distal opening of the inner shaft, the elongate member having a retracted configuration and an extended configuration, where the distal sheath comprises at least one element (e.g. at least one protrusion) that engages the tip portion to couple the tip portion to the distal sheath.

Abstract: Systems and methods for treating spinal stenosis include endoscopic access devices and bone removal devices used to perform a foraminotomy or other bone removal procedures. Some of the bone removal devices include expandable members which may be used to control the forced exerted and/or position of the bone removal mechanism, and to protect neurovascular structures and other soft tissue structures from the bone removal mechanism. Other bone removal devices include a trephine with a viewing window and a guide wire lumen used to position the trephine at a target tissue site using an anchored wire. The viewing window may be used to monitor structures or tissues adjacent to the target tissue site.

Abstract: Systems and methods for minimally invasive discectomy procedures are described herein. The systems include a bendable flexible cannula may have a straight configuration suitable for insertion and withdrawal into spinal tissue, and a curved configuration suitable for accessing certain areas of a vertebral disc that may be difficult to reach in the straight configuration. A cannula is straightened by inserting a straight stylet therethrough. The straight stylet may have a deflectable region that facilitates its insertion into the cannula. Removal of a straight stylet from a cannula may allow the cannula to assume its curved configuration. The systems may be used with tissue removal devices, and certain variations of tissue removal devices may comprise a collector for aspiration, as well as a travel limiter to restrict inadvertent motions of the tissue removal devices within a vertebral structure.

Abstract: Balloon cannula systems may be used for accessing and visualizing the spine and related methods of treatment, including a forward-looking balloon system for creating a working space and the balloon system having atraumatic dissection capability to allow visualization in spine. The devices and methods described may be used, for example, to perform annulus repair, herniated disc excision, and denervation of neurological tissue; to dispense pharmacological agents and/or cell or tissue therapy agents; to diagnose disc degeneration and bony degeneration, spinal stenosis, and nucleus decompression, and to perform disc augmentation.

Abstract: Balloon cannula systems may be used for accessing and visualizing the spine and related methods of treatment, including a forward-looking balloon system for creating a working space and the balloon system having atraumatic dissection capability to allow visualization in spine. The devices and methods described may be used, for example, to perform annulus repair, herniated disc excision, and denervation of neurological tissue; to dispense pharmacological agents and/or cell or tissue therapy agents; to diagnose disc degeneration and bony degeneration, spinal stenosis, and nucleus decompression, and to perform disc augmentation.

Abstract: Balloon cannula systems may be used for accessing and visualizing the spine and related methods of treatment, including a forward-looking balloon system for creating a working space and the balloon system having atraumatic dissection capability to allow visualization in spine. The devices and methods described may be used, for example, to perform annulus repair, herniated disc excision, and denervation of neurological tissue; to dispense pharmacological agents and/or cell or tissue therapy agents; to diagnose disc degeneration and bony degeneration, spinal stenosis, and nucleus decompression, and to perform disc augmentation.