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US 6,673,063 B2Granted
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. The present invention also includes a method for thermally treating an intervertebral disc.
Claims30
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;
- and
- (c) said energy application head having a distance between said energy application region and said tissue protecting region wherein said distance is variable to protect tissue of said at least one intervertebral disc.
1 more element
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;
- and
- (c) said energy application head having a distance between said energy application region and said tissue protecting region wherein said distance automatically varies to protect tissue of said at least one intervertebral disc.
1 more element
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;
- and
- (c) said energy application head having a distance between said energy application region and said tissue protecting region wherein said distance is variable in proportion to an amount of energy being delivered to said at least one intervertebral disc.
1 more element
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;
- and
- (c) said energy application head having a distance between said energy application region and said tissue protecting region wherein said distance automatically varies in proportion to an amount of energy being delivered to said at least one intervertebral disc.
1 more element
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, said energy application head being wedge-shaped;
- (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;
- and
- (c) said energy application head having a distance between said energy application region and said tissue protecting region wherein said distance automatically varies in proportion to an amount of energy being delivered to said at least one intervertebral disc.
1 more element
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 having a thin insertion edge sloped to a thick region for lifting vulnerable tissues away from a site of energy application to said at least one intervertebral disc;
- and
- (d) said energy application head having a distance between said energy application region and said tissue protecting region wherein said distance automatically varies in proportion to an amount of energy being delivered to said at least one intervertebral disc.
2 more elements
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) epidurally approaching the posterior aspect of said at least one intervertebral disc;
- (c) applying energy to a posterior aspect of said at least one intervertebral disc using said disc refurbisher, said disc refurbisher having an energy application head having an energy application head having an energy application region and a tissue protecting region, said energy application head having a distance between said energy application region and said tissue protecting region;
- and
- (d) varying said distance between said energy application region and said tissue protecting region to protect vulnerable tissues associated with said at least one intervertebral disc from said energy.
2 more elements
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, said energy application head having a distance between said energy application region and said tissue protecting region;
- and
- (ii) 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) varying said distance between said energy application region and said tissue protecting region to protect vulnerable tissues associated with said at least one intervertebral disc from said energy;
- (g) monitoring an amount of energy delivered and a temperature in said vulnerable tissues near said at least one intervertebral disc;
- (h) 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
- (j) verifying that said shrinkage and strengthening of said at least one intervertebral disc is mechanically successful.
10 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.