Devices and methods for the restoration of a spinal disc
AssigneeSpine Wave, Inc.
InventorsLawrence M. Boyd, Maureen L. Upton
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system and method is provided for maintaining a proper intervertebral disc height during the replacement or augmentation of the spinal disc. In one embodiment, a cannulated distractor is used to distract the adjacent vertebrae and maintain a proper disc space height . The cannulated distractor is fluidly connected to a source of fluent material for injection into the disc space. The distraction includes a distraction tip resident within the disc space that includes a central lumen and a number of openings communicating with the lumen to dispense the fluent material within the disc space.
Claims8
A method for distracting two vertebral bodies of a human patient and delivering a flowable nucleus pulposus replacement material into an intervertebral disc space having an outer annulus, comprising the steps of:
- a) providing a flowable curable material having properties that upon curing emulate the properties of nucleus pulposus:
- b) providing a device for distracting and delivering a flowable material comprising, a body having a proximal portion and a distal portion, the distal portion defining a fixed shape sized and configured to distract the disc space of the human patient, the body also having a longitudinal passageway defining a first opening in the distal portion and defining a first injection port in the proximal portion;
- c) inserting the distal portion of the device through the outer annulus;
- d) distracting the vertebral bodies by advancing the shape into the disc space;
- and
- e) introducing the flowable material into the distracted disc space through the injection port and the first opening of the body, while the shape maintains the distraction of the vertebral bodies.
A kit for providing a nucleus pulposus replacement material for a human patient, comprising:
- a) device for distracting two adjacent vertebral bodies defining a disc space of the human patient therebetween and delivering a flowable nucleus pulposus replacement material into the disc space including a body having;
- i) a proximal portion;
- ii) a distal portion comprising a fixed shape sized and configured to distract the disc space of the human patient;
- and
- iii) a longitudinal passageway extending through the body and defining a first opening in the distal portion opening into the disc space;
- and
- b) a flowable curable nucleus pulposus replacement material having properties that upon introduction into and curing within the disc space function as a nucleus pulposus replacement.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.