IP Library › Granted Patent US 9,204,896
Granted Patent B2
US 9,204,896 · App. 13/545,174 · Granted Dec 8, 2015

Instrument for removal of material from within a body

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,204,896
App. No.
13/545,174
Granted
Dec 8, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

An instrument for removing material from within the body includes a distal portion that includes an adjustable length relative to a proximal portion and a flexible member that circulates through the distal portion. The exposed portion of the flexible member extends from the distal portion to remove the material.

Claims (23)

1. An instrument for removing material from within a body, comprising:

a distal portion that includes an adjustable length relative to a proximal portion; and

a flexible member that circulates through the distal portion, wherein an exposed portion of the flexible member extends from the distal portion to remove the material, wherein the exposed portion includes an adjustable dimension that depends on the length of the distal portion.

2. The instrument of claim 1 , wherein adjustment of the length alters a shape of the exposed portion.

3. The instrument of claim 1 , wherein the exposed portion forms a loop having an adjustable circumference.

4. The instrument of claim 1 , wherein the distal portion slides along a concentric axis relative to the proximal portion to adjust the amount of the exposed portion.

5. The instrument of claim 1 , wherein the distal portion rotates about a concentric axis relative to the proximal portion to rotate the exposed portion.

6. The instrument of claim 1 , wherein the flexible member includes a plurality of teeth to engage the material.

7. The instrument of claim 1 , wherein the distal portion includes an ingress channel and an egress channel through which the flexible member circulates.

8. The instrument of claim 1 , further comprising a container for receiving the material removed by the flexible member.

9. The instrument of claim 1 , wherein the flexible member includes a plurality of cutting members attached to a flexible wire.

10. A method for removing material from within a body, comprising:

inserting an instrument into the body having a distal portion that includes an adjustable length relative to a proximal portion; circulating a flexible member through the distal portion, wherein an exposed portion of the flexible member extends from the distal portion to remove the material from the body; and adjusting the length of the distal portion to adjust an amount of the exposed portion that extends from the distal portion.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising sliding the distal portion along a concentric axis relative to the proximal portion to adjust an amount of the exposed portion.

12. The method of claim 10 , further comprising rotating the distal portion about a concentric axis relative to the proximal portion to rotate the exposed portion.

13. The method of claim 10 , further comprising capturing the material in a container of the instrument.

14. The method of claim 10 , further comprising removing disc material from an intervertebral disc space.

15. An apparatus for removing material from within an intervertebral disc body, comprising:

a distal portion that includes an adjustable length relative to a proximal portion and an ingress channel and an egress channel; and

a flexible member that circulates through the ingress channel and the egress channel of the distal portion, wherein an exposed portion of the flexible member extends from the distal portion to remove the material, wherein the exposed portion includes an adjustable dimension that depends on the length of the distal portion.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the flexible member includes a continuous member that circulates within the instrument and configured to form the exposed portion as an adjustable loop.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein increasing the length of the distal portion causes more of the flexible member to remain within the distal portion and decreases a size of the adjustable loop.

18. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein decreasing the length of the distal portion causes less of the flexible member to remain within the distal portion and increases a size of the adjustable loop.

Assignments (17)
RELEASE OF PATENT SECURITY INTEREST AT REEL/FRAME NO. 62681/0020 Recorded May 1, 2026
From: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS AGENT
To: ALPHATEC SPINE, INC.; SAFEOP SURGICAL, INC.
Reel/Frame 075385/0575 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT COLLATERAL AT REEL/FRAME NO. 62310/0001 Recorded May 1, 2026
From: MIDCAP FUNDING IV TRUST, AS AGENT
To: ALPHATEC SPINE, INC.; SAFEOP SURGICAL, INC.
Reel/Frame 075316/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 7, 2023
From: ALPHATEC SPINE, INC.; SAFEOP SURGICAL, INC.
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 062681/0020 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 6, 2023
From: ALPHATEC SPINE, INC.; SAFEOP SURGICAL, INC.
To: MIDCAP FUNDING IV TRUST
Reel/Frame 062310/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AT REEL/FRAME NO. 036515/0808 Recorded Sep 27, 2022
From: MIDCAP FUNDING IV TRUST, AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MIDCAP FINANCIAL, LLC
To: ALPHATEC HOLDINGS, INC.; ALPHATEC SPINE, INC.; ALPHATEC INTERNATIONAL LLC; ALPHATEC PACIFIC, INC.
Reel/Frame 061554/0608 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT COLLATERAL AT REEL/FRAME NO. 47494/0562 Recorded Aug 11, 2021
From: SQUADRON MEDICAL FINANCE SOLUTIONS LLC
To: ALPHATEC HOLDINGS, INC.; ALPHATEC SPINE, INC.
Reel/Frame 057177/0687 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 3, 2020
From: MIDCAP FUNDING IV TRUST
To: ALPHATEC HOLDINGS, INC.; ALPHATEC SPINE, INC.
Reel/Frame 052832/0132 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 9, 2018
From: ALPHATEC HOLDINGS, INC.; ALPHATEC SPINE, INC.
To: SQUADRON MEDICAL FINANCE SOLUTIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 047494/0562 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 8, 2018
From: GLOBUS MEDICAL, INC.
To: ALPHATEC HOLDINGS, INC.; ALPHATEC SPINE, INC.
Reel/Frame 047485/0084 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE INCORRECT SERIAL NUMBER 13060424 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 036515 FRAME: 0808. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SECURITY INTEREST. Recorded Apr 10, 2017
From: ALPHATEC HOLDINGS, INC.; ALPHATEC SPINE, INC.; ALPHATEC INTERNATIONAL LLC; ALPHATEC PACIFIC, INC.
To: MIDCAP FINANCIAL LLC
Reel/Frame 042214/0845 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE INADVERTENT INCLUSION OF APP. NO. 13252427 IN THE CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 039537 FRAME 0252. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SECURITY INTEREST. Recorded Nov 17, 2016
From: ALPHATEC HOLDINGS INC.; ALPHATEC SPINE, INC.; ALPHATEC INTERNATIONAL LLC; ALPHATEC PACIFIC, INC.
To: MIDCAP FINANCIAL LLC
Reel/Frame 040649/0808 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE INADVERTENT INCLUSION OF APP. NO. 13252427 IN THE SECURITY INTEREST RECORDATION PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 036515 FRAME 0808. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SECURITY INTEREST RECORDED AS TO THE PROPERTIES BELOW. Recorded Sep 28, 2016
From: ALPHATEC HOLDINGS, INC.; ALPHATEC SPINE, INC.; ALPHATEC INTERNATIONAL LLC; ALPHATEC PACIFIC, INC.
To: MIDCAP FINANCIAL LLC
Reel/Frame 040170/0945 →
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 22, 2016
From: ALPHATEC HOLDINGS, INC.; ALPHATEC SPINE, INC.
To: GLOBUS MEDICAL, INC.
Reel/Frame 040108/0202 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 8, 2016
From: DEERFIELD PRIVATE DESIGN FUND II, L.P.; DEERFIELD PRIVATE DESIGN INTERNATIONAL II, L.P.; DEERFIELD SPECIAL SITUATIONS FUND, L.P.; DEERFIELD SPECIAL SITUATIONS INTERNATIONAL MASTER FUND, L.P.
To: ALPHATEC HOLDINGS, INC.; ALPHATEC SPINE, INC.; ALPHATEC INTERNATIONAL LLC; ALPHATEC PACIFIC, INC.
Reel/Frame 039950/0360 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 1, 2015
From: ALPHATEC HOLDINGS, INC; ALPHATEC SPINE, INC; ALPHATEC INTERNATIONAL LLC; ALPHATEC PACIFIC, INC.
To: MIDCAP FINANCIAL LLC
Reel/Frame 036515/0808 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 27, 2014
From: ALPHATEC HOLDINGS, INC.; ALPHATEC SPINE, INC.; ALPHATEC INTERNATIONAL LLC; ALPHATEC PACIFIC, INC.
To: DEERFIELD PRIVATE DESIGN FUND II, L.P.; DEERFIELD PRIVATE DESIGN INTERNATIONAL II, L.P.; DEERFIELD SPECIAL SITUATIONS FUND, L.P.; DEERFIELD SPECIAL SITUATIONS INTERNATIONAL MASTER FUND, L.P.
Reel/Frame 032551/0037 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 10, 2012
From: WILLIAMS, LAWRENCE EUGENE
To: ALPHATEC SPINE, INC.
Reel/Frame 028520/0479 →