Epidural thermal posterior annuloplasty
AssigneeExpanding Concepts, L.L.C.
InventorDarrell C. Brett
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus for thermally treating intervertebral discs includes an energy application head having an energy application region and a tissue protecting region. A control member operationally connected to the energy application head preferably controls the energy application head during treatment. Significantly, the energy application head is preferably wedge-shaped and has a thin insertion edge sloped to a thick region for lifting vulnerable tissues away from a site of energy application to the at least one intervertebral disc. Preferably, the energy application head has a smooth surface suitable for gliding over surfaces of an annulus fibrosis without snagging other tissues. The present invention also includes a method for thermally treating an intervertebral disc.
Claims25
An apparatus for thermally treating at least one intervertebral disc, comprising:
- (a) an energy application head having an energy application region and a tissue protecting region;
- (b) a circumferencial intersection between said energy application region and said tissue protecting region;
- (c) at least part of said circumferencial intersection being a thin insertion edge;
- (d) said tissue protecting region being sloped from said thin insertion edge to a thick region for lifting vulnerable tissues away from a site of energy application to said at least one intervertebral disc;
- and
- (e) a control member operationally connected to said energy application head, said control member suitable for controlling said energy application head during treatment of said at least one intervertebral disc.
An apparatus for thermally treating at least one intervertebral disc, comprising:
- (a) an energy application head having an energy application region and a tissue protecting region;
- (b) a thin insertion edge formed at the anterior portion of a circumferencial intersection between said energy application region and said tissue protecting region;
- (c) said tissue protecting region being sloped from said thin insertion edge to a thick region for lifting vulnerable tissues away from a site of energy application to said at least one intervertebral disc;
- and
- (d) a control member operationally connected to said energy application head, said control member suitable for controlling said energy application head during treatment of said at least one intervertebral disc.
An apparatus for thermally treating at least one intervertebral disc, comprising:
- (a) an energy application head having an energy application region and a tissue protecting region;
- (b) a thin insertion edge formed at the anterior portion of a circumferencial intersection between said energy application region and said tissue protecting region;
- (c) said tissue protecting region being sloped from said thin insertion edge to a thick region for lifting vulnerable tissues away from a site of energy application to said at least one intervertebral disc.
An apparatus for thermally treating at least one intervertebral disc, comprising:
- (a) an energy application head having an energy application region and a tissue protecting region;
- (b) a control member operationally connected to said energy application head, said control member suitable for controlling said energy application head during treatment of said at least one intervertebral disc;
- (c) said energy application head further comprising a thin insertion edge at the anterior intersection of said energy application region and said tissue protecting region;
- and
- (d) said tissue protecting region sloped to a thick region for lifting vulnerable tissues away from a site of energy application to said at least one intervertebral disc.
A method for epidurally treating at least one intervertebral disc using a disc refurbisher, said method comprising the steps of:
- (a) gaining access to a vertebral column;
- (b) inserting a thin insertion edge formed at the anterior portion of a circumferencial intersection between an energy application region and a tissue protecting region of an energy application head of said disc refurbisher;
- (c) epidurally approaching the posterior aspect of said at least one intervertebral disc;
- (d) lifting vulnerable tissues using said tissue protecting region, said tissue protecting region being sloped from said thin insertion edge to a thick region;
- and
- (e) applying energy to a posterior aspect of said at least one intervertebral disc using said energy application region.
A method for thermally treating an intervertebral disc while thermally protecting vulnerable tissues, said method comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a disc refurbisher, said disc refurbisher comprising:
- (i) an energy application head having an energy application region and a tissue protecting region;
- (ii) a thin insertion edge formed at the anterior portion of a circumferencial intersection between said energy application region and said tissue protecting region;
- (iii) said tissue protecting region being sloped from said thin insertion edge to a thick region for lifting vulnerable tissues away from a site of energy application to said at least one intervertebral disc;
- and
- (iv) a control member operationally connected to said energy application head, said control member suitable for controlling said energy application head during treatment of said intervertebral disc;
- (b) gaining access to a vertebral column;
- (c) epidurally approaching the posterior aspect of said at least one intervertebral disc using said control member to position said energy application head;
- (d) evaluating an extent of disc injury and calculating an amount of energy needed to thermally refurbish said at least one intervertebral disc;
- (e) applying energy using said disc refurbisher to a posterior aspect of said at least one intervertebral disc while maintaining a safe temperature in said vulnerable tissues near said at least one intervertebral disc;
- (f) monitoring an amount of energy delivered and a temperature in said vulnerable tissues near said at least one intervertebral disc;
- (g) observing and evaluating an amount of shrinkage and strengthening of said at least one intervertebral disc to determine an intensity and duration of further energy delivery;
- and
- (h) verifying that said shrinkage and strengthening of said at least one intervertebral disc is mechanically successful.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.