Abrasive cutting system and method

Abstract

A high pressure fluid jet system is provided, which is useful for cutting hard material during a surgical procedure. The cutting of hard material is more efficient as the system delivers abrasive solid particles with the high pressure fluid. In an exemplary embodiment, abrasive solid particles can be mixed with a pressurized stream of fluid prior to delivery of the fluid to a nozzle of an application tool. Alternatively, the abrasive solid particles can be entrained in the pressurized fluid stream or the pressurized fluid stream can erode a solid or suspension form of the abrasive particles.

1 . A method of effecting cutting during a surgical procedure, comprising: 
 providing a surgical tool effective to deliver a pressurized stream of a fluid through a nozzle; and    delivering the pressurized stream of fluid through the surgical tool and out of the nozzle to hard material within a patient to effect cutting of the hard material within the patient in a desired pattern such that the fluid that cuts the hard material includes a delivery liquid having a plurality of abrasive solid particles formed from an organic material.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the delivery liquid is a saline solution.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the abrasive solid particles are bioabsorbable.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the abrasive solid particles are selected from the group consisting of polyglycolic acid, polylactic acid, polyethylene oxide, and blends and copolymers thereof.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the abrasive solid particles are formed from particles having a particle size in the range of about 5 to 200 microns.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pressurized stream of fluid is delivered through the nozzle at a pressure in the range of about 1,000 to 20,000 psi.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the abrasive solid particles are mixed with the pressurized stream of fluid prior to delivery through the nozzle.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of abrasive solid particles are entrained in the pressurized fluid stream after the pressurized fluid stream exits the nozzle.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pressurized fluid stream that exits the nozzle contacts a solid material, at least a portion of which is eroded by the fluid stream to entrain the plurality of solid particles in the fluid stream.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the solid material is a rod formed of an abrasive material.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the solid material is a plate having a solid region and an open region, the open region being formed in a desired shape and being occluded by an abrasive agglomerate, such that when the plate is contacted by the pressurized fluid stream, the hard material is cut in a pattern that is in the shape of the open region.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 providing a cutting template having a region formed of a solid material resistant to erosion by the pressurized fluid stream and an opening in said region forming a cutting region having a size and shape corresponding to a desired pattern, the cutting region being occupied by a plug of abrasive material; and    directing the pressurized fluid stream over the cutting template to entrain with the pressurized fluid stream abrasive solid particles eroded from the plug of abrasive material to effect cutting of the hard material.    
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the hard material is selected from the group consisting of bone, bone cement, and bioadhesives.  
   
   
       14 . A system for cutting tissue during a surgical procedure, comprising: 
 a surgical apparatus effective to deliver a stream of pressurized fluid; and    a plate having a cutting template having a region formed of a solid material resistant to erosion by the pressurized fluid and an opening in said region, the opening being occluded by a plug of abrasive material.    
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the opening is formed in the shape of a desired cutting pattern.  
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the abrasive solid particles are selected from the group consisting of polyglycolic acid, polylactic acid, polyethylene oxide, and blends and copolymers thereof.  
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the abrasive material formed from particles having a particle size in the range of about 5 to 200 microns.