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  Tissue evacuation deviceUSPTO Application #: 20070032785Title: Tissue evacuation device Abstract: A tissue evacuation device may be designed to provide a high-energy fluid (e.g., a heated vapor) to targeted tissue for breaking down the targeted tissue, such as the nucleus of an intervertebral disc. An inner tube positioned within an outer tube, having a nozzle coupled to distal ends of the tubes, having a heating element positioned between the inner and outer tubes, delivers a heated vapor through a port to the nozzle to break down tissue. After the nucleus or other targeted tissue is broken down, the tissue evacuation device may also remove some or all of the broken down tissue. (end of abstract) Agent: Carr LLP (ist) - Dallas, TX, US Inventors: Jennifer Diederich, Michael Hoey USPTO Applicaton #: 20070032785 - Class: 606027000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Surgery, Instruments, Heat Application The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070032785. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims priority to commonly assigned U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/705,081, entitled "Tissue Vaporization Instrument," filed Aug. 3, 2005; and U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/720,975, entitled "Tissue Evacuation Device," filed Sep. 27, 2005, and U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/780,924, entitled "Tissue Evacuation Device," filed Mar. 9, 2006, and U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/814,937, entitled "Tissue Evacuation Device," filed Jun. 19, 2006, all of which are hereby incorporated by reference. FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] This patent application relates to a medical instrument and, more particularly, to a surgical instrument for vaporizing tissue. BACKGROUND [0003] A variety of spinal surgeries, such as nucleus replacement, spinal fusion, and artificial disc replacement, include removing the nucleus of an intervertebral disc in a procedure called a nuclectomy. An intervertebral disc includes a nucleus and an annulus. The nucleus is a soft caliginous center of the disc, and the annulus is a harder caliginous outer ring of the disc. Accordingly, there is a difference in the composition of nucleus tissue and annulus tissue. During a nuclectomy, it is important that the surgeon removes the nucleus without damaging the annulus or the endplates of the adjacent vertebral bodies. However, performing a nuclectomy while minimizing or eliminating damage to surrounding tissues is a difficult task. SUMMARY [0004] A tissue evacuation device may be designed to provide a high-energy fluid (e.g., a heated vapor) to targeted tissue for breaking down the targeted tissue, such as the nucleus of an intervertebral disc. An inner tube positioned within an outer tube, having a nozzle coupled to distal ends of the tubes, having a heating element positioned between the inner and outer tubes, delivers a heated vapor through a port to the nozzle to break down tissue. After the nucleus or other targeted tissue is broken down, the tissue evacuation device may also remove some or all of the broken down tissue. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0005] For a more complete understanding of the embodiments herein and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: [0006] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a tissue evacuation device. [0007] FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional view of the tissue evacuation device of FIG. 1. [0008] FIG. 3 is a detailed side cross-sectional view of the distal portion of the tissue evacuation device of FIG. 1. [0009] FIG. 4 is a detailed side cross-sectional view of the proximal portion of the tissue evacuation device of FIG. 1. [0010] FIG. 5 is a front cross-sectional view of the tissue evacuation device of FIG. 4 taken along line 5-5. [0011] FIG. 6 is a side view of another embodiment of a tissue evacuation device. [0012] FIG. 7 is a side cross-sectional view of the tissue evacuation device of FIG. 6. [0013] FIG. 8 is a detailed side cross-sectional view of the distal portion of the tissue evacuation device of FIG. 6. [0014] FIG. 9 is a detailed side cross-sectional view of the proximal portion of the tissue evacuation device of FIG. 6. [0015] FIG. 10 is a front cross-sectional view of the tissue evacuation device of FIG. 6 taken along line 10-10. [0016] FIG. 11 is a side view of another embodiment of a tissue evacuation device. [0017] FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a portion of a tissue evacuation device removing nucleus tissue. [0018] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a tissue evacuation device. [0019] FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of the distal end of the tissue evacuation device of FIG. 13 taken along line 14-14. Continue reading... Full patent description for Tissue evacuation device Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Tissue evacuation device patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Tissue evacuation device or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Targeted muscle ablation for reducing signs of aging Next Patent Application: Device and method for ablation of cardiac tissue Industry Class: Surgery ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Tissue evacuation device patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 5.43586 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Daimler Chrysler , DirecTV , Exxonmobil Chemical Company , Goodyear , Intel , Kyocera Wireless , |
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