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US 2008/0082104 A1Published application
Methods and apparatuses for facilitating percutaneous fusion
AssigneeLanx, Inc.
InventorJeffery Thramann
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A delivery mechanism comprising a dilator, catheter, lumen or the like is provided to allow a filler material to be injected to a gap in a partially fused intervertebral disc space to allow correction of the incomplete, partial, or deteriorated fusion.
Claims24
A method of correct incomplete or partial bone fusions in patients, the method comprising the steps of:
- placing a guide having a distal end and a proximate end such that the distal end resides proximate the incomplete or partial bone fusion and the distal end resides external to a skin of the patient;
- guiding a distal end of a delivery tool to a surgical site using the guide;
- providing a reservoir of filler material at a proximate end of the delivery tool, the filler material adapted to promote bone fusion;
- injecting the filler material to the surgical site;
- removing the delivery tool from the guide;
- and
- removing the guide from the patient.
4 more elements
An apparatus for delivering filler material to a bone fusion site to facilitate correcting an incomplete or partial bone fusion, the apparatus comprising;
- a reservoir adapted to contain filler material that promotes bone fusion, the reservoir having an outlet and a plunger opposite the outlet;
- and
- a delivery mechanism having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end coupled to the outlet and in fluid communication with the reservoir, the distal end in fluid communication with the proximal end.
A system for correcting incomplete or partial bone fusions, comprising:
- a guide having a proximate end and a distal end, the proximate end adapted to be located external to a patient and the distal end adapted to be located at a surgical site;
- a delivery mechanism slidably coupled to the guide, the delivery mechanism having a distal end adapted to access the surgical site and a proximal end;
- a reservoir comprising an outlet coupled to the proximal end and a plunger opposite the proximal end, the reservoir in fluid communication with the surgical site through the delivery mechanism;
- and
- a filler, the filler contained in the reservoir and adapted to be injected to the surgical site, such that as the plunger is moved towards the outlet, the filler is injected to the surgical site.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.