STEVEN A. SPISAK, MD
Medical Practice at International Cir, San Jose, CA

2007021, Sep 13, 2007

Apr 17, 2006

11/405859

Jeffery Bleich - Palo Alto CA, US
Steven Spisak - San Jose CA, US
Vahid Saadat - Saratoga CA, US
Ronald Leguidleguid - Fremont CA, US
Jeffery Bleam - Boulder Creek CA, US
Michael Drews - Palo Alto CA, US
James Yurchenco - Palo Alto CA, US

A61B 17/16

606079000

A method for preventing unwanted damage to tissue in a spine of a patient during a tissue modification procedure may involve: advancing at least a distal portion of at least one barrier member over at least one guide member into an epidural space of the patient's spine; positioning at least an expanded portion of the barrier member between target tissue and non-target tissue; and performing at least one tissue modification procedure on the target tissue, using at least one tissue modification device. Generally, at least part of the barrier member may be disposed between the tissue modification device and the non-target tissue to prevent unwanted damage to the non-target tissue. In various embodiments, at least part of a barrier member may be advanced through a sheath- or catheter-like delivery device and may either automatically expand or be expandable from a collapsed configuration to an expanded configuration.

2006024, Oct 26, 2006

Mar 13, 2006

11/375265

Jeffery Bleich - Palo Alto CA, US
Vahid Saadat - Saratoga CA, US
Steven Spisak - San Jose CA, US
John Ashley - San Francisco CA, US

A61B 17/58

606103000

A method for modifying tissue in a patient may involve one or more of the following steps: advancing at least a distal portion of at least one elongate, at least partially flexible tissue modification device into a patient and between one or more target tissues and one or more non-target tissues; positioning at least one tissue modifying member of the tissue modification device adjacent the target tissue such that the tissue modifying member(s) face the target tissue and do not face the non-target tissue; applying an anchoring force to the tissue modification device at or near the distal portion or a proximal portion of the device; applying a tensioning force to the tissue modification device at or near an opposite end of the device relative to the end to which anchoring force is applied, while maintaining the anchoring force, to urge the tissue modifying member(s) against the target tissue; and modifying the target tissue, using the tissue modifying member(s), while preventing the tissue modifying member(s) from extending significantly beyond the target tissue toward the proximal or distal portion of the tissue modification device during tissue modification.

8585704, Nov 19, 2013

Oct 6, 2011

13/267683

Gregory P. Schmitz - Los Gatos CA, US
Jeffery L. Bleich - Palo Alto CA, US
Steven A. Spisak - San Jose CA, US
Roy Leguidleguid - Union City CA, US
Jefferey Bleam - Boulder Creek CA, US

Baxano Surgical, Inc. - Raleigh NC

A61B 17/00, A61B 17/14, A61B 17/32

606 79, 606177

A device for removing tissue from a patient may include an elongate flexible body having a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis therebetween, the elongate body having opposed first and second major surfaces with a lateral orientation across the axis, and a plurality of blades distributed laterally across the first major surface. Each blade may have a first end adjacent the first surface and extending to a cantilevered second end, a first edge between the first and second ends of the blade being oriented toward the distal end of the elongate body, a second edge between the first and second ends of the blade being oriented toward the proximal end of the elongate body, a height of the blade between its first and second ends, and an axial length of the blade between its first and second edges.

8579902, Nov 12, 2013

Mar 26, 2012

13/430500

Jeffery L. Bleich - Palo Alto CA, US
Edwin J. Hlavka - Minneapolis MN, US
Vahid Saadat - Atherton CA, US
Steven A. Spisak - San Jose CA, US
David R. Miller - Austin TX, US
James R. Yurchenco - Palo Alto CA, US

Baxano Signal, Inc. - Raleigh NC

A61B 17/00

606 79

Described herein are methods for achieving access to a compressed space in spinal anatomy. In some embodiments, a method for achieving access may include the steps of advancing a distal portion of a cannulated probe toward a neural foramen from a lateral side of the foramen, extending a first end of a elongate member from a distal end of the cannulated probe and through the neural foramen from the lateral side to a medial side of the foramen and at least partially around an anterior portion of a facet joint and posterior to a spinal disc, and extending the first end of the elongate member out of the patient, wherein a portion of the elongate member remains curved around the facet joint. In some embodiments, the method may further include the step of extending a first end of an inner cannula from a distal end of the cannulated probe.

8062298, Nov 22, 2011

Mar 16, 2007

11/687558

Gregory P. Schmitz - Los Gatos CA, US
Jeffrey L. Bleich - Palo Alto CA, US
Steven A. Spisak - San Jose CA, US
Roy Leguidleguid - Union City CA, US
Jefferey Bleam - Boulder Creek CA, US

Baxano, Inc. - San Jose CA

A61B 17/00

606 79

A device for modifying tissue in a patient may include: an elongate body having a rigid proximal portion and a flexible distal portion having first and second major surfaces; a proximal handle coupled with the proximal portion of the body; one or more tissue modifying members disposed along the first major surface of the distal portion of the body; a guidewire coupled with and extending from the distal portion of the body; and a distal handle removably couplable with the guidewire outside the patient.

8062300, Nov 22, 2011

Mar 16, 2007

11/687548

Gregory P. Schmitz - Los Gatos CA, US
Jeffrey L. Bleich - Palo Alto CA, US
Steven A. Spisak - San Jose CA, US
Roy Leguidleguid - Union City CA, US
Jefferey Bleam - Boulder Creek CA, US

Baxano, Inc. - San Jose CA

A61B 17/00

606 85

A device for modifying tissue in a patient may include: an elongate body having a rigid proximal portion and a flexible distal portion having first and second major surfaces; a proximal handle coupled with the proximal portion of the body; one or more tissue modifying members disposed along the first major surface of the distal portion of the body; a guidewire coupled with and extending from the distal portion of the body; and a distal handle removably couplable with the guidewire outside the patient.

8192435, Jun 5, 2012

Oct 15, 2005

11/251199

Jeffery L. Bleich - Palo Alto CA, US
Edwin J. Hlavka - Palo Alto CA, US
Vahid Saadat - Saratoga CA, US
Steven A. Spisak - San Jose CA, US
David R. Miller - Cupertino CA, US
James Yurchenco - Palo Alto CA, US

Baxano, Inc. - San Jose CA

A61B 17/00

606 79

Methods and apparatus are provided for selective surgical removal of tissue, e. g. , for enlargement of diseased spinal structures. The current invention includes specific tools that enable safe tissue modification in epidural space, including a barrier that separates the area where tissue modification will take place from adjacent vulnerable neural and vascular structures. In one variation, a tissue abrasion device is provided including a thin belt or ribbon with an abrasive cutting surface. The device optionally may be placed within a protective sheath that exposes the abrasive surface of the ribbon only in the area where tissue removal is desired.

7918849, Apr 5, 2011

Oct 15, 2005

11/251205

Jeffery L. Bleich - Palo Alto CA, US
Steven A. Spisak - San Jose CA, US

Baxano, Inc. - San Jose CA

A61B 18/04, A61B 18/14, A61N 1/00

606 32, 606 53, 606 79, 606 1, 606 41, 607 48, 607116, 607117

Methods are provided for access to a compressed space in the spinal anatomy. These methods may be used for selective surgical removal of tissue, e. g. , for enlargement of diseased spinal structures, such as impinged lateral recesses and pathologically narrowed neural foramen. In one variation, tissue may be ablated, resected, removed, or otherwise remodeled by standard small endoscopic tools delivered into the epidural space. In one variation, a tissue abrasion device is provided. A cannulated probe may be placed through the neural foramina of the spine and used to position a guidewire around the anterior border of a facet joint. Once properly positioned, a medical practitioner may use the guidewire with an abrasion device to enlarge the lateral recess and neural foramina. A nerve stimulator may be provided to reduce a risk of inadvertent neural abrasion.