Flexible transport auger
A flexible auger design for low-torque transmitting drive shafts, which allows effective tissue material transport through curved, flexible tubes and channels. A hollow auger has a hollow center, so that the helical member hugs the inner wall of the tube and material is transported along the center axis and the inner wall of the tube. The hollow flexible auger allows for transportation of material from an operative location in the patient (material removal) as well as to operative location in the patient (material delivery).
1. A biomedical material transfer device comprising:
a) a transfer element having a proximal end portion, a distal end portion, and an intermediate portion comprising a flexible, hollow auger,
b) a drive element adapted to rotate the transfer element, the drive element having a distal end portion,
c) an outer cannula, wherein the hollow auger is disposed within the outer cannula,
d) a flexible inner shaft disposed within the hollow auger,
e) a first helical lumen formed between the hollow auger and the flexible inner shaft configured to transport material therethrough, and
f) a second helical lumen formed between the outer cannula and the hollow auger configured to transport material therethrough,
wherein the distal end portion of the drive element is connected to the proximal end portion of the transfer element, and
wherein the proximal end portion of the transfer element comprises an inlet adapted to provide irrigation through one of the first helical lumen and the second helical lumen.
2. The device of claim 1 wherein the hollow auger comprises a tube and a substantially helical element housed within the tube.
3. The device of claim 2 wherein the tube has an inner surface and the substantially helical element extends inwardly from the inner surface.
4. The device of claim 3 wherein the transfer element comprises a substantially helical element and a membrane wrapped around the substantially helical element.
5. The device of claim 4 wherein the membrane is a heat-shrunk membrane.
6. The device of claim 2 wherein the substantially helical element has a first diameter D 1 , the tube has a minimum diameter D 2 , and the first diameter D 1 is greater than the minimum diameter D 2 .
7. The device of claim 2 wherein the tube has a thread-like topology.
8. The device of claim 2 wherein the tube of the transfer element is integral with the substantially helical element housed within the tube.
9. The device of claim 2 wherein the tube of the transfer element is not integral with the substantially helical element housed within the tube.
10. The device of claim 2 wherein the tube of the transfer element rotates with the substantially helical element housed within the tube.
11. The device of claim 2 wherein the substantially helical element housed within the tube rotates independently of the tube of the transfer element.
12. The device of claim 2 wherein the substantially helical element housed within the tube has a thickness, and the tube has an outer diameter, and the thickness is between 3% and 30% of the diameter.
13. The device of claim 2 wherein the distal end portion of the transfer element comprises a cutting tip.
14. The device of claim 13 wherein the cutting tip has a proximal end portion adapted to mate with the substantially helical element.
15. The device of claim 2 wherein the substantially helical element housed within the tube has a variable pitch.
16. The device of claim 1 wherein the proximal end portion of the transfer element comprises a tube having a threaded surface.
17. The device of claim 1 wherein the proximal end portion of the transfer element comprises a tube having a threaded outer surface.
18. The device of claim 1 wherein the intermediate portion of the transfer element is flexible.
19. The device of claim 1 wherein the distal end portion of the transfer element is adapted to cut intervertebral disc tissue.
20. The device of claim 1 wherein the transfer element has an outer diameter of no more than 30 mm.
21. The device of claim 1 wherein the distal end portion of the transfer element comprises a distal end opening.
22. The device of claim 1 wherein the drive element comprises a drive handle.
23. The device of claim 1 wherein the drive element comprises a motor.
24. The device of claim 1 wherein the device further comprises:
a tubular shaft connecting the transfer element and drive element.
25. The device of claim 24 wherein the tubular shaft is transparent.
26. The device of claim 1 wherein the flexible inner shaft is hollow.
27. The device of claim 26 wherein the flexible inner shaft comprises a narrow-wound spring.
28. The device of claim 1 wherein the hollow auger comprises a substantially helical element and a membrane shrunk wrapped around the substantially helical element.
29. The device of claim 1 wherein the outer cannula comprises a wall and an inner bore, wherein the wall has at least one lumen therein.
30. The device of claim 29 further comprising:
a wire running longitudinally in the lumen.
31. The device of claim 1 wherein the outer cannula comprises a wall and an inner bore, wherein the wall has at least one stationary wire running longitudinally therein.
32. The device of claim 1 wherein the hollow auger has a steering mechanism attached thereto.
33. The device of claim 1 wherein the proximal end portion of the transfer element is more rigid than the hollow auger.
34. The device of claim 1 wherein the hollow auger has a length having a variable bending stiffness.
35. The device of claim 1 further comprising:
a first inlet at the distal end portion of the transfer element in communication with the first helical lumen; and
a second inlet at the distal end portion of the transfer element in communication with the second helical lumen.
36. A material transfer device comprising:
a transfer element having a proximal end portion, a distal end portion, and an intermediate portion comprising a flexible, hollow auger, the hollow auger comprising a substantially helical element and a membrane wrapped around the substantially helical element, wherein an exterior of the membrane has a thread-like topology;
an outer sleeve in which the hollow auger is disposed;
a drive element adapted to rotate the hollow auger axially relative to the outer sleeve to transport material through a space between the hollow auger and the outer sleeve, the drive element having a distal end portion;
the distal end portion of the drive element being connected to the proximal end portion of the transfer element; and
a fluid port disposed in the proximal end portion of the transfer element in fluid communication with, and adapted to provide fluid transfer with, the space between the hollow auger and the outer sleeve.
37. The device of claim 36 ,
wherein the distal end portion of the transfer element comprises a cutting tip, and
wherein the cutting tip has a proximal end portion adapted to mate with the substantially helical element.
38. The device of claim 36 , wherein the drive element comprises a motor.
39. The device of claim 36 , wherein the device further comprises:
a tubular shaft connecting the transfer element and the drive element.
40. The device of claim 36 wherein the hollow auger has a steering mechanism attached thereto.