Abstract: Methods and apparatus for performing a medical procedure which involves penetrating a bone structure are disclosed. According to one aspect of the present invention, a method for performing a surgical procedure includes introducing an assembly that includes a threaded cannula and a stylet into a bone structure. The threads have a shape that allows the cannula tip to be pushed into the bone body yet prevent the tip from being pulled out of the bone body. In one embodiment, the threads have a buttress shape. The method may also include applying a rotational motion, as for example a torque, to the threaded cannula to adjust the depth of insertion with respect to the implantation site when it is determined that the depth of insertion is to be adjusted.

Abstract: A placement assembly used for positioning and holding a ligament graft within a selected bone tunnel. The assembly includes a graft pulley, a surgical suture, and a graft pulley placement instrument. The graft pulley includes a pulley portion and a bone anchoring portion. The pulley portion is adapted to receive the surgical suture and for surgical suture to be drawn through it, to act as a pulley. The bone anchoring portion comprises at least one flexible wing that is adapted to selectively fix the graft pulley within a bone tunnel. At least one wing is adapted to flex during insertion into a bone tunnel and then resist flex and thereby resist movement back out of the tunnel and hence wedge itself within the tunnel. The graft instrument may be selectively attached to the graft pulley and includes a handle and elongate body, adapted to insert the graft pulley into the selected bone tunnel.

Abstract: A surgical instrument and method for manipulating surgical suture during minimally invasive surgical procedures. Surgical instrument includes an elongate body with a handle at the elongate body's proximal end. Elongate body also includes a distal portion, a longitudinal axis and an outer surface, and the distal portion includes at least one moveable wire. This wire moves so as to selectively capture and release a suture and suture purchase may be substantially obtained between the wire and the elongate body outer surface. The instrument also includes an actuation mechanism connecting the handle to the wire. The wire is moved via the actuation mechanism and a substantial component of the motion of the wire is eccentric rotation.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for performing a medical procedure which involves penetrating a bone structure are disclosed. According to one aspect of the present invention, a method for performing a surgical procedure includes introducing an assembly that includes a threaded cannula and a stylet into a bone structure. The threads have a shape that allows the cannula tip to be pushed into the bone body yet prevent the tip from being pulled out of the bone body. In one embodiment, the threads have a buttress shape. The method may also include applying a rotational motion, as for example a torque, to the threaded cannula to adjust the depth of insertion with respect to the implantation site when it is determined that the depth of insertion is to be adjusted.

Abstract: A placement assembly used for positioning and holding a ligament graft within a selected bone tunnel. The assembly includes a graft pulley, a surgical suture, and a graft pulley placement instrument. The graft pulley includes a pulley portion and a bone anchoring portion. The pulley portion is adapted to receive the surgical suture and for surgical suture to be drawn through it, to act as a pulley. The bone anchoring portion comprises a portion adapted to selectively fix the graft pulley within a bone tunnel. The graft instrument may be selectively attached to the graft pulley and includes a handle and elongate body, adapted to insert the graft pulley into the selected bone tunnel. Once the graft pulley is in place, the placement instrument may then be detached and withdrawn leaving the graft pulley firmly fixed within the bone tunnel and can then be used to position a ligament graft.

Abstract: A placement assembly used for positioning and holding a ligament graft within a selected bone tunnel. The assembly includes a graft pulley, a surgical suture, and a graft pulley placement instrument. The graft pulley includes a pulley portion and a bone anchoring portion. The pulley portion is adapted to receive the surgical suture and for surgical suture to be drawn through it, to act as a pulley. The bone anchoring portion comprises at least one flexible wing that is adapted to selectively fix the graft pulley within a bone tunnel. At least one wing is adapted to flex during insertion into a bone tunnel and then resist flex and thereby resist movement back out of the tunnel and hence wedge itself within the tunnel. The graft instrument may be selectively attached to the graft pulley and includes a handle and elongate body, adapted to insert the graft pulley into the selected bone tunnel.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for performing a medical procedure which involves penetrating a bone structure are disclosed. According to one aspect of the present invention, a method for performing a surgical procedure includes introducing an assembly that includes a threaded cannula and a stylet into a bone structure. The threads have a shape that allows the cannula tip to be pushed into the bone body yet prevent the tip from being pulled out of the bone body. In one embodiment, the threads have a buttress shape. The method may also include applying a rotational motion, as for example a torque, to the threaded cannula to adjust the depth of insertion with respect to the implantation site when it is determined that the depth of insertion is to be adjusted.

Abstract: A surgical instrument and method for manipulating surgical suture during minimally invasive surgical procedures. Surgical instrument includes an elongate body with a handle at the elongate body's proximal end. Elongate body also includes a distal portion, a longitudinal axis and an outer surface, and the distal portion includes at least one moveable wire. This wire moves so as to selectively capture and release a suture and suture purchase may be substantially obtained between the wire and the elongate body outer surface. The instrument also includes an actuation mechanism connecting the handle to the wire. The wire is moved via the actuation mechanism and a substantial component of the motion of the wire is eccentric rotation.

Abstract: Methods and systems are described for packaging medical devices. Packages are described for constraining expansion of medical devices along at least one axis. Removal devices for removing the medical devices from the packages are described. Medical devices stored in and removed from packages can include shape memory materials (e.g., polymers, alloys) which can cause the medical device to expand due to activation of the shape memory material. Medical devices can also expand due to other reasons, such as elastic recoil and/or thermal expansion. The methods and systems described herein may be used to limit the expansion of a medical device along at least one axis while inside a package. The methods and systems described herein may be used to relieve some of the stored strain in the medical device upon the opening of the package. Methods and systems are also described for opening a package which is subject to expansive forces from the medical device.

Abstract: A tool system for facilitating medical procedure including accessing a selected bone structure or tissue structure includes a cannula and an obturator with a drill section formed on its distal end. Additionally a drill guide may protrude from the distal end of the obturator. The disclosed tool system may be used to penetrate the cutaneous layers of a patient until the drill guide penetrates the exterior surface of a target bone structure such as a vertebral body. The system may then be rotated and torqued to allow the drill section of the obturator to bore into the bone structure. As the system advances, the cannula translates forward within the bore created by the drill section until a desired placement of the cannula is achieved.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for performing a medical procedure which involves penetrating a bone structure are disclosed. According to one aspect of the present invention, a method for performing a surgical procedure includes introducing an assembly that includes a threaded cannula and a stylet into a bone structure. The threads have a shape that allows the cannula tip to be pushed into the bone body yet prevent the tip from being pulled out of the bone body. In one embodiment, the threads have a buttress shape. The method may also include applying a rotational motion, as for example a torque, to the threaded cannula to adjust the depth of insertion with respect to the implantation site when it is determined that the depth of insertion is to be adjusted.