Method for manipulating tissue of an intervertebral disc

A method of manipulating a disc tissue at a selected location of the intervertebral disc, the disc having a nucleus pulposus, an annulus fibrosus, and an inner wall of the annulus fibrosus, the method comprising:

• providing a catheter having a functional element adjacent a distal end of the catheter and a proximal end for externally guiding the distal end of the catheter within an intervertebral disc;
• positioning the functional element at the selected location of the disc by applying a sufficient force to advance the distal end of the catheter through the nucleus pulposus and adjacent the inner wall of the annulus, which force is insufficient to puncture the annulus fibrosus;
• and
• performing a function selected from the group consisting of adding material and removing material on the disc tissue at the selected location of the disc using the functional element.

A method of manipulating a disc tissue of an intervertebral disc, the disc having a nucleus pulposus, an annulus fibrosus, and an inner wall of the annulus fibrosus, the method comprising:

• providing a catheter having a functional element adjacent a distal end of the catheter and a proximal end for externally guiding the distal end of the catheter within an intervertebral disc;
• positioning the functional element along the inner wall of the annulus fibrosus by applying a sufficient force to advance the distal end of the catheter through the nucleus pulposus and adjacent the inner wall of the annulus, which force is insufficient to puncture the annulus fibrosus;
• and
• performing a function on the disc tissue along the inner wall of the annulus fibrosus using the functional element.

A method of manipulating a disc tissue of an intervertebral disc, the disc having a nucleus pulposus, an annulus fibrosus, and an inner wall of the annulus fibrosus, the method comprising:

• providing a catheter having a functional element adjacent a distal end of the catheter and a proximal end for externally guiding the distal end of the catheter within an intervertebral disc;
• positioning the functional element at a location selected from the group consisting of posterior medial inner, posterior lateral, anterior lateral and anterior medial wall of the annulus fibrosus or combinations thereof by applying a sufficient force to advance the distal end of the catheter through the nucleus pulposus and adjacent the inner wall of the annulus, which force is insufficient to puncture the annulus fibrosus;
• and
• performing a function on the disc tissue using the functional element at the selected location.

A method of manipulating a disc tissue of an intervertebral disc, the disc having a nucleus pulposus, an annular fibrosus, and an inner wall of the annulus fibrosus, the method comprising:

• providing a catheter having a functional element adjacent a distal end of the catheter and a proximal end for externally guiding the distal end of the catheter within an intervertebral disc;
• positioning the functional element at a first selected location of the disc by applying a sufficient force to advance the distal end of the catheter through the nucleus pulposus and adjacent the inner wall of the annulus, which force is insufficient to puncture the annulus fibrosus;
• performing a function on the disc tissue at the first selected location of the disc using the functional element;
• positioning the functional element at a second selected location;
• and
• performing a function on the disc tissue at the second selected location of the disc using the functional element.

A method of manipulating a disc tissue at a selected location of an intervertebral disc, the disc having a nucleus pulposus, an annulus fibrosis, and an inner wall of the annulus fibrosus, the method comprising:

• providing a catheter having a functional element adjacent a distal end of the catheter and a proximal end for externally guiding the distal end of the catheter within an intervertebral disc;
• positioning the functional element at the selected location of the disc by applying a sufficient force to advance the distal end of the catheter through the nucleus pulposus and adjacent the inner wall of the annulus such that the catheter conforms sufficiently to the inner wall of the annulus fibrosus to contact multiple locations on the inner wall;
• and
• performing a function on the disc tissue at the selected location of the disc using the functional element.

A method of manipulating a disc tissue of an intervertebral disc, the disc having a nucleus pulposus, an annulus fibrosus, and an inner wall of the annulus fibrosus, the method comprising:

• providing a catheter having a functional element adjacent a distal end of the catheter and a proximal end for externally guiding the distal end of the catheter within an intervertebral disc;
• positioning the functional element at an outer annulus/dural interface of the disc by applying a sufficient force to advance the distal end of the catheter through the nucleus pulposus and adjacent the inner wall of the annulus, which force is insufficient to puncture the annulus fibrosus;
• and
• performing a function on the disc tissue using the functional element.

A method of manipulating a disc tissue of an intervertebral disc, the disc having a nucleus pulposus, an annulus fibrosus, and an inner wall of the annulus fibrosus, the method comprising:

• providing a catheter having a functional element adjacent a distal end of the catheter and a proximal end for externally guiding the distal end of the catheter within an intervertebral disc;
• positioning the functional element at a posterior longitudinal ligament/annulus fibrosus interface of the disc by applying a sufficient force to advance the distal end of the catheter through the nucleus pulposus and adjacent the inner wall of the annulus, which force is insufficient to puncture the annulus fibrosus;
• and
• performing a function on the disc tissue using the functional element.

A method of manipulating a disc tissue at a selected location of an intervertebral disc, the disc having a nucleus pulposus, an annulus fibrosus, and an inner wall of the annulus fibrosus, the method comprising:

• providing a catheter having a functional element adjacent a distal end of the catheter and a proximal end for externally guiding the distal end of the catheter within an intervertebral disc;
• positioning the functional element at the selected location of the disc by twisting the proximal end of the catheter and applying a sufficient force to advance the distal end of the catheter through the nucleus pulposus and adjacent the inner wall of the annulus, which force is insufficient to puncture the annulus fibrosus;
• and
• performing a function on the disc tissue at the selected location of the disc using the functional element.