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US 6,684,886 B1Granted
Intervertebral disc repair methods and apparatus
AssigneeProspine, Inc.
InventorNeville Alleyne
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Minimally invasive spinal surgery techniques include expanding an incision with an expanding cannula, inserting a retractor for retracting a nerve root, and inserting a thermal probe for repairing the annulus. A light absorbing dye may be applied to the annulus for localized heating.
Claims5
A method of treating a disc pathology comprising:
- making a posterior surgical incision to expose a portion of a patient's spine;
- inserting an expandable cannula into said incision;
- expanding said cannula;
- inserting a retractor into said cannula;
- retracting a portion of a nerve;
- selectively applying a light absorbing dye only to a specific area localized near a previously visualized disc pathology;
- and
- thermally shrinking annular collagen by applying thermal energy to said disc annulus without applying a damaging amount of heat to said nerve by directing light to said light absorbing dye so as to selectively heat said dye.
5 more elements
A method of treating a disc pathology comprising:
- making a surgical incision to expose a portion of a patient's spine;
- inserting a cannula into said incision;
- inserting a retractor into said cannula;
- retracting a portion of a nerve;
- selectively applying a mixture of light absorbing dye and protein sealant to a portion of a disc;
- and
- thermally shrinking annular collagen by applying thermal energy to said disc annulus without applying a damaging amount of heat to said nerve by directing light to said mixture so as to selectively heat said dye.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.