US 11,717,372 B2
Shape memory surgical sponge for retracting the dura during a laminectomy procedure
Daniel Lieberman, Phoenix, AZ (US)
Assigned to Phoenix Spine Holdings, Inc., Phoenix, AZ (US)
Filed by Phoenix Spine Holdings, Inc., Phoenix, AZ (US)
Filed on Feb. 22, 2018, as Appl. No. 15/902,795.
Prior Publication US 2019/0254768 A1, Aug. 22, 2019
Int. Cl. A61B 90/00 (2016.01); A61B 18/20 (2006.01); A61F 13/36 (2006.01); A61B 17/00 (2006.01); A61B 17/16 (2006.01); A61B 18/00 (2006.01); A61B 17/02 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 90/03 (2016.02) [A61B 18/20 (2013.01); A61B 90/04 (2016.02); A61F 13/36 (2013.01); A61B 17/1671 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00867 (2013.01); A61B 2017/0212 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00339 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00601 (2013.01); A61B 2090/036 (2016.02); A61B 2090/049 (2016.02); A61B 2090/08021 (2016.02); A61B 2217/007 (2013.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of isolating a dura structure from a cutting tool during a laminectomy procedure, the method comprising:
crimping a pre-formed memory shape patty for retracting the dura structure away from the cutting tool during the laminectomy procedure, wherein the patty comprises a memory shape support structure material and an absorbent material secured to the memory shape support structure material;
inserting the crimped patty into an installation tube;
positioning a distal end of the installation tube in an interlaminar space proximate an epidural space between adjacent vertebrae;
sliding the crimped patty along the installation tube in such a way that there remains a direct visual path through the tube to the epidural space;
discharging the crimped patty from the distal end of the installation tube into the interlaminar space proximate the epidural space;
removing a first portion of a lamina using the cutting tool;
positioning the patty between the dura structure and the cutting tool; and
thereafter removing a second portion of the lamina with the patty disposed between the dura structure and the cutting tool;
wherein the positioning and discharging of the patty is accomplished by decompressing the lamina while maintaining the patty between the cutting tool and the dura structure during the laminectomy procedure; and
wherein the patty unfolds and expands into the epidural space under the intrinsic spring action of the memory shape support structure material during the laminectomy procedure decompression as the resulting epidural space increases, to approach the patty's pre-formed shape, isolating and urging the dura structure away from the cutting tool.