Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
60 words
A cannula assembly for use in arthroscopic spinal surgery comprising a cannula having a wall of uniform thickness, the wall defining a cylindrical inner passage having an oval cross section, and an obturator located within said cylindrical inner passage, the obturator having a cylindrical outer wall with an oval cross-section and closely fitting the cylindrical inner passage of the cannula.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
60 words
A cannula assembly for use in arthroscopic spinal surgery comprising a cannula having a wall of uniform thickness, the wall defining a cylindrical inner passage having an oval cross section, and an obturator located within said cylindrical inner passage, the obturator having a cylindrical outer wall with an oval cross-section and closely fitting the cylindrical inner passage of the cannula.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
A cannula according to claim 1 , wherein the obturator has an internal passage for receiving a guide.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
A cannula according to claim 1 , wherein the cannula has proximal and distal end openings and the obturator has a blunt end projecting from the distal end opening of the cannula.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
94 words
A method of spinal surgery comprising the steps of introducing percutaneously through the back of a patient a cannula assembly comprising a cannula having a wall of uniform thickness, the wall defining a cylindrical inner passage having an oval cross section, and an obturator located within said cylindrical inner passage, the obturator having a cylindrical outer wall with an oval cross-section and closely fitting the cylindrical inner passage of the cannula, removing the obturator, and introducing at least two instruments through the cannula whereby said at least two instruments extend through the cannula simultaneously.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
94 words
A method of spinal surgery comprising the steps of introducing percutaneously through the back of a patient a cannula assembly comprising a cannula having a wall of uniform thickness, the wall defining a cylindrical inner passage having an oval cross section, and an obturator located within said cylindrical inner passage, the obturator having a cylindrical outer wall with an oval cross-section and closely fitting the cylindrical inner passage of the cannula, removing the obturator, and introducing at least two instruments through the cannula whereby said at least two instruments extend through the cannula simultaneously.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
65 words
A method of spinal surgery according to claim 4 , in which a fenestration is formed in the annulus fibrosis of a vertebral disc of the patient, in which the cannula is inserted into the fenestration, in which said at least two instruments include an arthroscope and a forceps, and in which herniated disc material is removed from the disc by means of the forceps.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
104 words
A method of spinal surgery comprising the steps of: inserting an elongated, hollow sleeve percutaneously toward an intervertebral disc of a patient posterolaterally, while the sleeve has an obturator extending through it; removing the obturator from the sleeve, while leaving the sleeve in place; passing over the sleeve an assembly comprising a cannula having an lumen with an oval cross-section and an obturator having an oval cross-section conforming to the lumen of the cannula, the obturator with the oval cross-section having a longitudinal passage for receiving the sleeve; removing the obturator having the oval cross-section from the cannula, while leaving the cannula in place.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
104 words
A method of spinal surgery comprising the steps of: inserting an elongated, hollow sleeve percutaneously toward an intervertebral disc of a patient posterolaterally, while the sleeve has an obturator extending through it; removing the obturator from the sleeve, while leaving the sleeve in place; passing over the sleeve an assembly comprising a cannula having an lumen with an oval cross-section and an obturator having an oval cross-section conforming to the lumen of the cannula, the obturator with the oval cross-section having a longitudinal passage for receiving the sleeve; removing the obturator having the oval cross-section from the cannula, while leaving the cannula in place.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method of spinal surgery according to claim 6 , in which a fenestration is formed in the annulus fibrosis of said disc, and the cannula is inserted into the fenestration.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
47 words
A method of spinal surgery according to claim 6 , in which a trephine is passed through the cannula toward said intervertebral disc, a fenestration is formed in the annulus fibrosis of said disc by means of the trephine, and the cannula is inserted into the fenestration.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
79 words
A method of spinal surgery according to claim 6 , in which, prior to the removal of the obturator having the oval cross-section from the cannula, a trephine is passed through the longitudinal passage in the obturator toward said intervertebral disc, and a fenestration is formed in the annulus fibrosis of said disc by means of the trephine, and after the removal of the obturator having the oval cross-section from the cannula, the cannula is inserted into the fenestration.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
44 words
A method of spinal surgery according to claim 6 , in which, after removal of the obturator having the oval cross-section from the cannula, at least two instruments are introduced through the cannula whereby said at least two instruments extend through the cannula simultaneously.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
58 words
A method of spinal surgery according to claim 6 , in which, after removal of the obturator having the oval cross-section from the cannula, an arthroscope and a forceps are introduced through the cannula whereby the arthroscope and forceps extend through the cannula simultaneously, and herniated disc material is removed from the disc by means of the forceps.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
81 words
A method of spinal surgery according to claim 6 , in which a trephine is passed through the cannula toward said intervertebral disc, a fenestration is formed in the annulus fibrosis of said disc by means of the trephine, the cannula is inserted into the fenestration, and an arthroscope and a forceps are introduced through the cannula whereby the arthroscope and forceps extend through the cannula simultaneously, and herniated disc material is removed from the disc by means of the forceps.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
113 words
A method of spinal surgery according to claim 6 , in which, prior to the removal of the obturator having the oval cross-section from the cannula, a trephine is passed through the longitudinal passage in the obturator toward said intervertebral disc, a fenestration is formed in the annulus fibrosis of said disc by means of the trephine, and after the removal of the obturator having the oval cross-section from the cannula, the cannula is inserted into the fenestration, and an arthroscope and a forceps are introduced through the cannula whereby the arthroscope and forceps extend through the cannula simultaneously, and herniated disc material is removed from the disc by means of the forceps.