US 2005/0240171 A1 · Device and method for treatment of intervertebral disc disruption

Abstract

A method of positioning an arcuate catheter against an inner annular wall of the disc, and particularly on the posterior and postero-lateral portions of the inner annulus of the disc, by arthroscopy is presented. The arcuate catheter retains its predetermined arcuate shape when no pressure or force is applied to the catheter. This present device and method require no forward tip pressure on the inner annular wall of a mammalian intervertebral disc. An arcuate sheath having a cutter is used to remove tissue from the inner annulus of the disc. In another embodiment an arcuate sheath is used to progressively remove material from the interior of the mammalian intervertebral disc. In yet another embodiment, an arcuate sheath and catheter are used to remove the entire intervertebral disc and place supports to maintain a disc space.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A method of treatment of an interior of a mammalian intervertebral disc, comprising the steps of:

a) inserting a catheter into an interior of a mammalian disc, wherein a length of said catheter that is present in said interior of said mammalian disc is formed in an S shape when no material pressure is applied to said catheter;
b) performing a therapeutic process on said interior of said mammalian disc;
and
c) withdrawing said catheter from said mammalian disc.

1 more element

A method of treatment of an interior of a mammalian intervertebral disc, comprising the steps of:

a) inserting an introducer needle through a wall of a mammalian intervertebral disc and into an interior of said mammalian intervertebral disc;
b) advancing a lumen into said introducer needle;
c) advancing a catheter that extends though said lumen and into said interior of said mammalian intervertebral disc, wherein a length of said catheter that is present in said interior of said mammalian intervertebral disc has an arcuate shape, and said catheter has shape retention properties to maintain said arcuate shape when no pressure is applied to said catheter;
d) positioning said catheter against an interior posterior wall of said mammalian disc;
e) performing a therapeutic process to said posterior wall of said mammalian disc;
and
f) withdrawing said catheter from said interior of said mammalian disc.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

11/112,475Filed 23 Apr 2005

Priority

23 Apr 2004

Published

27 Oct 2005

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification10 codes

A61B 18/1492
Probes or electrodes therefor: having a flexible, catheter-like structure, e.g. for heart ablation
A61B 17/8811
For introducing fluid filler into bone or extracting it: characterised by the introducer tip, i.e. the part inserted into or onto the bone
A61B 17/8816
For introducing fluid filler into bone or extracting it: characterised by the conduit, e.g. tube, along which fluid flows into the body or by…
A61F 2/442
For the spine, e.g. vertebrae or spinal discs: intervertebral or spinal discs, e.g. resilient

Family

Application60/564,838Us provisional application · filed 23 Apr 2004

Application60/572,930Us provisional application · filed 20 May 2004

Application60/586,627Us provisional application · filed 9 Jul 2004

Application60/588,582Us provisional application · filed 16 Jul 2004

Application60/588,587Us provisional application · filed 16 Jul 2004

US 7,322,962 B2Related patent

US 2005/0240171 A1This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

Device and method for treatment of intervertebral disc disruption

Life of this patent

Device and method for treatment of intervertebral disc disruption

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18