# US 8,540,684 B2 · Back pain relief and immuno protection of donor cells > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,540,684 B2 - Document ID: US8540684B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/930,632 - Filed: 2011-01-11 - Published: 2011-05-05 - Granted: 2013-09-24 - Earliest claimed: 2011-01-11 - Assignees: Aleeva Medical Inc. - Applicants: Jeffrey E. Yeung; Teresa T. Yeung - Inventors: Jeffrey E. Yeung; Teresa T. Yeung - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8540684B2 ## CPC - A61L 27/3658: {Intervertebral discs (mechanical aspects and structures of intervertebral discs A61F2/442)} - A61B 17/00: Surgical instruments, devices or methods (A61B18/00 takes precedence; dental tools A61C3/00; eye surgery A61F9/007; ear surgery A61F11/20) - A61B 17/7061: {for stabilising vertebrae or discs by improving the condition of their tissues, e.g. using implanted medication or fluid exchange (intraosseous injection devices A61B17/3472)} - A61L 27/3604: {characterised by the human or animal origin of the biological material, e.g. hair, fascia, fish scales, silk, shellac, pericardium, pleura, renal tissue, amniotic membrane, parenchymal tissue, fetal tissue, muscle tissue, fat tissue, enamel} - A61L 27/3804: {characterised by specific cells or progenitors thereof, e.g. fibroblasts, connective tissue cells, kidney cells} - A61L 27/3856: {Intervertebral discs (mechanical aspects and structures of intervertebral discs A61F2/442)} - A61P 5/00: Drugs for disorders of the endocrine system - A61P 19/00: Drugs for skeletal disorders - A61P 29/00: Non-central analgesic, antipyretic or antiinflammatory agents, e.g. antirheumatic agents; Non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs [NSAID] - A61F 2/94: Stents retaining their form, i.e. not being deformable, after placement in the predetermined place - A61F 2002/444: {for replacing the nucleus pulposus} - A61L 2430/38: for reconstruction of the spine, vertebrae or intervertebral discs - A61L: METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES (preservation of bodies or disinfecting characterised by the agents employed A01N; preserving, e.g. sterilising, food or foodstuffs A23; preparations for medical, dental or toiletry purposes A61K) - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - A61P: SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS - A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C) ## Abstract The intervertebral disc is avascular. With aging, endplates become occluded by calcified layers, and diffusion of nutrients and oxygen into the disc diminishes. The disc degenerates, and pain ensues. Conduits are delivered and deployed into the intervertebral disc to re-establish the exchange of nutrients and waste between the disc and bodily circulation to stop or reverse disc degeneration and relieve pain. The intervertebral disc installed with semi-permeable conduits may be used as an immuno-isolated capsule to encapsulate donor cells capable of biosynthesizing therapeutic molecules. The semi-permeable conduits establish the exchange of nutrients and therapeutic molecules between disc and bodily circulation to treat a disease without using immuno-suppressive drugs. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An elongated conduit for re-establishing exchange of nutrients and waste between an intervertebral disc and bodily circulation comprising: capillary action channels within said elongated conduit, a first portion, a middle portion and a second portion, and wherein said first portion is locatable within a patient's nucleus of the intervertebral disc, and said second portion is locatable within the patient's bodily circulation, thereby fluid is drawn through said capillary action channels to re-establish exchange of nutrients and waste between the intervertebral disc and bodily circulation. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The elongated conduit of claim 1, wherein said second portion is extended through an endplate and into a vertebra. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The elongated conduit of claim 1, wherein said second portion is extended outside the intervertebral disc. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The elongated conduit of claim 1, wherein said second portion is extended into a muscle. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The elongated conduit of claim 1, wherein said elongated conduit is a tube formed of a biocompatible material. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The elongated conduit of claim 1, wherein said elongated conduit is a multi-filament formed of a biocompatible material. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The elongated conduit of claim 6, wherein said multi-filament is braided. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The elongated conduit of claim 1, wherein said elongated conduit is a sponge formed of a biocompatible material. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The elongated conduit of claim 1, wherein said elongated conduit further comprises a plurality of protrusions extending therefrom. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The elongated conduit of claim 1, wherein said elongated conduit is formed of a multi-filament portion and a mono-filament portion. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The elongated conduit of claim 1, wherein said elongated conduit is formed of a biodegradable material. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The elongated conduit of claim 1, wherein said elongated conduit is formed of a non-degradable material. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The elongated conduit of claim 1, wherein said elongated conduit further comprises at least one indentation. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The elongated conduit of claim 1, wherein said capillary action channels having diameters ranging between 200 microns and 10 nanometers. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The elongated conduit of claim 1, further comprising a tube located around said middle portion of said conduit. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The elongated conduit of claim 15, wherein said tube is formed of a material chosen from the group of materials consisting of polytetrafluoroethylene, polypropylene, polyethylene, polyamide, polyester, polyurethane, silicon, poly-ether-ether-ketone, acetal resin, polysulfone, polycarbonate and polyethylene glycol. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The elongated conduit of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said elongated conduit is coated with fibrous tissue inhibitor. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) A treatment kit used to provide immunoisolated retention of donor cells within a patient's intervertebral disc: the elongated conduit of claim 1, and donor cells injectable into the intervertebral disc. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The treatment kit of claim 18, wherein the donor cells are from a gland. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The treatment kit of claim 18, wherein the donor cells are from tissue. ### Claim 21 (depends on 18) The treatment kit of claim 18, wherein the donor cells have an origin chosen from the group of origins consisting of the pituitary gland, hypothalamus, adrenal gland, adrenal medulla, fat cells, thyroid, parathyroid, pancreas, testes, ovary, pineal gland, adrenal cortex, liver, renal cortex, kidney, thalamus, parathyroid gland, ovary, corpus luteum, placenta, small intestine, skin cells, stem cells, gene therapy, tissue engineering and cell culture. ### Claim 22 (depends on 18) The treatment kit of claim 18, further comprising growth factor injectable into the intervertebral disc. ### Claim 23 (depends on 18) The treatment kit of claim 18, wherein the donor cells are capable of creating a therapeutic product. ### Claim 24 (depends on 18) The treatment kit of claim 18, wherein the donor cells are capable of creating a product chosen from the group of biosynthesized products consisting of adrenaline, adrenocorticotropic hormone, aldosterone, androgens, angiotensinogen (angiotensin I and II), antidiuretic hormone, atrial-natriuretic peptide, calcitonin, calciferol, cholecalciferol, calcitriol, cholecystokinin, corticotropin-releasing hormone, cortisol, dehydroepiandrosterone, dopamine, endorphin, enkephalin, ergocalciferol, erythropoietin, follicle stimulating hormone, gamma aminobutyrate, gastrin, ghrelin, glucagon, glucocorticoids, gonadotropin-releasing hormone, growth hormone-releasing hormone, human chorionic gonadotrophin, human growth hormone, insulin, insulin-like growth factor, leptin, lipotropin, luteinizing hormone, melanocyte-stimulating hormone, melatonin, mineralocorticoids, neuropeptide Y, neurotransmitter, noradrenaline, oestrogens, oxytocin, parathyroid hormone, peptide, pregnenolone, progesterone, prolactin, pro-opiomelanocortin, PYY-336, renin, secretin, somatostatin, testosterone, thrombopoietin, thyroid-stimulating hormone, thyrotropin-releasing hormone, thyroxine, triiodothyronine, trophic hormone, serotonin, and vasopressin.