Percutaneous disc clearing device

1. A method of conducting a discectomy using a discectomy tool, the method comprising:

introducing a cannula of a discectomy tool into a working channel formed in a patient until a cutting tip disposed at the distal end of the cannula is inserted into an annulus of a lumbar disc of the patient, the cannula having a longitudinal bore and an outer surface;

rotating a transmission shaft disposed in the longitudinal bore of the cannula, wherein a distal end of the transmission shaft is connected to the cutting tip such that the rotating of the transmission shaft causes rotating of the cutting tip in the annulus, wherein the transmission shaft comprises a flexible portion;

steering the cutting tip by axially moving a first steering element with respect to the cannula to induce flexion of the cannula and transmission shaft, wherein the first steering element is longitudinally disposed in a first longitudinal recess of the outer surface of the cannula and extends in the direction of the longitudinal bore such that the translating of the first steering element comprises movement along the first longitudinal recess; and

where the first longitudinal recess defines an opening along the outer surface and the first steering element has a maximum cross-section, wherein the maximum cross-section is greater than a width of the opening of the first longitudinal recess at the outer surface to prevent radial removal of the first steering element from the first longitudinal recess.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein steering the cutting tip comprises flexing a plurality of longitudinally repeating cutouts of the cannula.

3. The method of claim 1 ,

wherein the cannula has a second longitudinal recess in its outer surface, the tool further comprising a second steering element disposed in the second longitudinal recess of the outer surface; and

wherein steering the cutting tip comprises axially moving at least one of the first steering element or the second steering element to induce flexion of the cannula in respective different directions.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the cannula includes a first longitudinal face and a second opposed longitudinal face, and

wherein the first longitudinal face includes a plurality of alternating, opposed transverse cutouts therealong to form a substantially square wave of the first longitudinal face.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein axially moving the first steering element with respect to the cannula comprises moving a first steering wire disposed in the first longitudinal recess of the outer surface of the cannula substantially along a single bending plane.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising axially moving a second steering wire with respect to the cannula, the second steering wire contacting the outer surface of the cannula substantially along the single bending plane.

7. The method of claim 5 , comprising delivering an irrigation fluid to the distal end of the cannula via the throughbore of the transmission shaft.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the tool comprises a flexible helical auger disposed within the cannula, wherein rotating the transmission shaft comprises rotating the flexible helical auger to transport material from the cutting tip in a proximal direction through the cannula, and wherein steering the cutting tip comprises inducing flexion in the flexible helical auger.

9. The method of claim 8 , comprising rotating the transmission shaft occurs simultaneously with the steering.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein steering the cutting tip comprises steering the cutting tip through the annulus to remove material from the annulus, and wherein the removed material is transported proximally through the cannula by the flexible helical auger.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the flexible helical auger defines a proximal portion, an intermediate portion, and a distal portion, the proximal portion of the auger directly connected to a proximal portion of the transmission shaft such that relative rotation between the proximal portion of the auger and the proximal portion of the transmission shaft is prevented, the intermediate portion loosely wrapped around the flexible portion of the transmission shaft to allow transitional movement between the transmission shaft and the flexible helical auger, and the distal portion of the auger connected to the cutting tip such that relative rotation between the distal portion of the auger and the cutting tip is prevented.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the distal end of the flexible helical auger is directly connected to the cutting tip.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the flexible helical auger is a solid tube shaft of flexible material that is coaxial with the transmission shaft.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the transmission shaft and the auger are adapted to rotate within the longitudinal bore of the cannula, wherein the cutting tip extends out the bore at the distal end of the cannula.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein steering the cutting tip comprises steering the cutting tip through the annulus to remove material from the annulus.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the working channel comprises a rigid and straight portion in which a proximal portion of the tool is disposed.