Abstract: A method for gaining access to and removing mechanical fasteners such as pedicle screws. A small arthroscopic incision is made over the location of the fastener. A guide wire is then placed into the incision and attached to the fastener. A series of progressively enlarging dilator tubes are slipped into the incision to progressively enlarge its diameter. A screw extractor tube is placed into the incision, over the largest dilator tube. The screw extractor tube is advanced until its lower extreme surrounds the head of the fastener. The dilator tubes are then removed. At this point, the screw extractor tube holds open the incision and provides access to the fastener through its hollow interior. A specially designed extractor tool is inserted into the screw extractor tube. An arthroscope is preferably also inserted through the screw extractor tube so that the surgeon can visualize the process. Jaws on the end of the extractor tool are clamped to the fastener's head.

Abstract: A tool for gripping and removing mechanical fasteners such as pedicle screws. With reference to FIG. 7, the device generally resembles a screwdriver, having a handle on one end, a long shaft in the middle, and fastener engaging means on the other end. The fastener engaging means comprises a set of two or more jaws having inward facing gripping surfaces positioned to grasp the external surfaces of a screw head. The jaws are formed as part of a collet slidably mounted within an outer thread sleeve. The thread sleeve is attached to the shaft. A tapered journal on the collet interacts with a tapered bore in the thread sleeve so that when the collet is pulled into the thread sleeve, the set of two or more jaws are squeezed together. The threaded engagements between the collet and the thread sleeve should be the reverse of the thread on the screw to be removed; i.e., if a right-hand screw is to be removed then the threaded engagement between the collet and the thread sleeve should be made with a left-hand thread.

Abstract: A specially-shaped tube for gaining access to and removing mechanical fasteners such as pedicle screws. A small arthroscopic incision is made over the location of the fastener. A guide wire is then placed into the incision and attached to the fastener. A series of progressively enlarging dilator tubes are slipped into the incision to progressively enlarge its diameter. The present invention (a “screw extractor tube”), a hollow tube having a contoured upper extremity, is then placed into the incision over the largest dilator tube. The screw extractor tube is advanced until its lower extremity surrounds the head of the fastener. The dilator tubes are then removed. At this point, the screw extractor tube holds open the incision and provides access to the fastener through its hollow interior. A specially designed extractor tool is inserted into the screw extractor tube. An arthroscope is preferably also inserted through the screw extractor tube so that the surgeon can visualize the process.

Abstract: A tool for gripping and removing mechanical fasteners such as pedicle screws. With reference to FIG. 7, the device generally resembles a screwdriver, having a handle on one end, a long shaft in the middle, and fastener engaging means on the other end. The fastener engaging means comprises a set of two or more jaws having inward facing gripping surfaces positioned to grasp the external surfaces of a screw head. The jaws are formed as part of a collet slidably mounted within an outer thread sleeve. The thread sleeve is attached to the shaft. A tapered journal on the collet interacts with a tapered bore in the thread sleeve so that when the collet is pulled into the thread sleeve, the set of two or more jaws are squeezed together. The threaded engagements between the collet and the thread sleeve should be the reverse of the thread on the screw to be removed; i.e., if a right-hand screw is to be removed then the threaded engagement between the collet and the thread sleeve should be made with a left-hand thread.

Abstract: Arthroscopic cervical discectomy instruments include a push knob for a guide wire, a pair of telescopically mounted dilator tubes, one of which includes a water port so that the tube provides the additional function of an irrigation tube, a ligament cutter, a continuous suction punch, a cervical osteotone, a cervical cureet, a nucleus extractor and a cureet nucleus extractor. The dilator tubes, the ligament cutter, and the continuous suction punch are all centrally bored to receive the guide wire. All of the instruments are of arthroscopic proportions and each instrument, exclusive of its handle, is slideably insertable through the bore of the largest in diameter dilator tube. The largest in diameter dilator tube serves as a dilator, an irrigation tube, and as the main sheath through which the other tools are inserted. In a second embodiment, the pair of dilator tubes are replaced with a plurality of telescoping dilator tubes of progressively larger diameters and shorter lengths.

Abstract: A multi-function arthroscope has a laser channel, an irrigation tube, a suction tube, a rod lens, and optical fibers housed within a tubular casing. The operation site is illuminated by the optical fibers, and the physician views the illuminated site through the rod lens, performs laser surgery with laser radiation propagated by the laser channel, irrigates the site and cleans the rod lens with saline solution through the irrigation tube, and vacuums the debris with the suction tube, all in a single insertion of the arthroscope through a dilator tube. The respective distal ends of the optical fibers, rod lens, laser channel, irrigation tube, and the suction tube are positioned in different planes so that the suction tube extends in a distal direction further than the laser channel, the laser channel extends further than the irrigation tube, and the irrigation tube extends further than the rod lens.