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US 6,645,204 B2Granted
Intervertebral disc device employing flexible probe
AssigneeOratec Interventions, Inc.
InventorsHugh Sharkey, Andy Uchida, John Ashley
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An intervertebral disc device is provided comprising a distal probe sized to be extended from a distal end of an introducer that is percutaneously delivered into an interior of an intervertebral disc, a distal section of the probe comprising a flexible neck which tapers in a proximal to distal direction, and a distal tip which is larger in cross sectional diameter than the flexible neck adjacent the distal tip, the flexible neck and distal tip serving to prevent the probe distal end from piercing an internal wall of the intervertebral disc; and a proximal handle for externally guiding the probe within an intervertebral disc.
Claims66
An intervertebral disc device comprising:
- a probe sized to be extended from a distal end of an introducer that is percutaneously delivered into an interior of an intervertebral disc, a distal section of the probe comprising a flexible neck which tapers in a proximal to distal direction, and a distal tip which is larger in cross sectional diameter than the flexible neck adjacent the distal tip, the flexible neck and distal tip serving to prevent the probe distal end from piercing an internal wall of the intervertebral disc;
- and
- a proximal handle for externally guiding the probe within an intervertebral disc,
- wherein the flexible neck is predisposed to bending in opposing directions along a single plane relative to a longitudinal axis of the probe.
1 more element
A method for treating an interior of an intervertebral disc comprising:
- inserting an introducer through a skin of a person such that a distal end of the introducer travels within the person via a posterior lateral approach to an intervertebral disc such that the distal end of the introducer is positioned in or adjacent an intervertebral disc;
- extending a probe from the distal end of the introducer such that the probe is positioned within the intervertebral disc, the probe having a flexible neck adjacent a distal tip of the probe such that the flexibility of the neck of the probe causes the probe to bend within the intervertebral disc such that the distal tip trails behind a portion of the probe as the probe is advanced through tissue within an intervertebral disc, wherein the flexible neck is predisposed to bending in opposing directions along a single plane relative to a longitudinal axis of the probe, and extending the probe causes the probe to bend along one of the opposing directions;
- and
- treating tissue within the interior of the intervertebral disc using the probe.
1 more element
An intervertebral disc device comprising:
- a probe sized to be extended from a distal end of an introducer that is percutaneously delivered into an interior of an intervertebral disc, a distal section of the probe comprising a flexible neck which tapers in a proximal to distal direction, and a distal tip which is larger in cross sectional diameter than the flexible neck adjacent the distal tip, the flexible neck and distal tip serving to prevent the probe distal section from piercing an internal wall of the intervertebral disc;
- and
- a proximal handle for externally guiding the probe within an intervertebral disc,
- wherein the flexible neck is predisposed to bending in at least two directions along at least two different planes relative to a longitudinal axis of the probe.
1 more element
An intervertebral disc device comprising:
- a probe sized to be extended from a distal end of an introducer that is percutaneously delivered into an interior of an intervertebral disc, a distal section of the probe comprising a flexible neck which tapers in a proximal to distal direction, and a distal tip which is larger in cross sectional diameter than the flexible neck adjacent the distal tip, the flexible neck and distal tip serving to prevent the probe distal section from piercing an internal wall of the intervertebral disc;
- and
- a proximal handle for externally guiding the probe within an intervertebral disc,
- wherein the neck is formed of a flexible coil.
1 more element
An intervertebral disc device comprising:
- a probe sized to be extended from a distal end of an introducer that is percutaneously delivered into an interior of an intervertebral disc, a distal section of the probe comprising a flexible neck which tapers in a proximal to distal direction, and a distal tip which is larger in cross sectional diameter than the flexible neck adjacent the distal tip, the flexible neck and distal tip serving to prevent the probe distal section from piercing an internal wall of the intervertebral disc;
- and
- a proximal handle for externally guiding the probe within an intervertebral disc,
- wherein the distal tip is asymmetrical about a longitudinal axis of the probe.
1 more element
An intervertebral disc device comprising:
- a probe sized to be extended from a distal end of an introducer that is percutaneously delivered into an interior of an intervertebral disc, a distal section of the probe comprising a flexible neck which tapers in a proximal to distal direction, and a distal tip which is larger in cross sectional diameter than the flexible neck adjacent the distal tip, the flexible neck and distal tip serving to prevent the probe distal section from piercing an internal wall of the intervertebral disc;
- and
- a proximal handle for externally guiding the probe within an intervertebral disc,
- wherein the distal tip is attached to the neck of the probe by a spring.
1 more element
An intervertebral disc device comprising:
- a probe sized to be extended from a distal end of an introducer that is percutaneously delivered into an interior of an intervertebral disc, a distal section of the probe comprising a flexible neck which tapers in a proximal to distal direction, and a distal tip which is larger in cross sectional diameter than the flexible neck adjacent the distal tip, the flexible neck and distal tip serving to prevent the probe distal section from piercing an internal wall of the intervertebral disc;
- and
- a proximal handle for externally guiding the probe within an intervertebral disc,
- wherein the distal tip is attached to the neck of the probe by a pivot mechanism.
1 more element
An intervertebral disc device comprising:
- a probe sized to be extended from a distal end of an introducer that is percutaneously delivered into an interior of an intervertebral disc, a distal section of the probe comprising a flexible neck which tapers in a proximal to distal direction, and a distal tip which is larger in cross sectional diameter than the flexible neck adjacent the distal tip, the flexible neck and distal tip serving to prevent the probe distal section from piercing an internal wall of the intervertebral disc;
- and
- a proximal handle for externally guiding the probe within an intervertebral disc,
- wherein the distal tip is attached to the neck of the probe by a ball and socket mechanism.
1 more element
An intervertebral disc device comprising:
- a probe sized to be extended from a distal end of an introducer that is percutaneously delivered into an interior of an intervertebral disc, a distal section of the probe comprising a flexible neck which tapers in a proximal to distal direction, and a distal tip which is larger in cross sectional diameter than the flexible neck adjacent the distal tip, the flexible neck and distal tip serving to prevent the probe distal section from piercing an internal wall of the intervertebral disc;
- a connector system which enables an introducer to be removably attached to the connector system, the probe being positionable within the introducer for delivery within the intervertebral disc with assistance of the introducer;
- and
- a proximal handle for externally guiding the probe within an intervertebral disc.
1 more element
A method for treating an interior of an intervertebral disc comprising:
- inserting an introducer through a skin of a person such that a distal end of the introducer travels within the person via a posterior lateral approach to an intervertebral disc such that the distal end of the introducer is positioned in or adjacent an intervertebral disc;
- extending a probe from the distal end of the introducer such that the probe is positioned within the intervertebral disc, the probe having a flexible neck adjacent a distal tip of the probe such that the flexibility of the neck of the probe causes the probe to bend within the intervertebral disc such that the distal tip trails behind a portion of the probe as the probe is advanced through tissue within an intervertebral disc, wherein the distal tip is asymmetrical about a longitudinal axis of the probe which predisposes the probe to bend in a particular direction relative to the longitudinal axis of the probe;
- and
- treating tissue within the interior of the intervertebral disc using the probe.
1 more element
A method for accessing an intervertebral disc, the method comprising:
- inserting an elongated probe into an intervertebral disc, the probe including a distal section that includes a tip and a flexible section, the flexible section bending as a result of pressure from tissue in the intervertebral disc such that a portion proximal of the tip leads distal insertion;
- and
- advancing the probe through the intervertebral disc with the portion proximal of the tip leading distal advancement.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.