Methods of performing procedures in the spine
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of treating the spine, comprising the steps of:
- identifying a site on the anterior surface of the sacrum;
forming a lumen from the site through the sacrum, through a disk and into at least one vertebrae; and
performing a procedure using the lumen.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Disclosed are methods of accessing and treating the spine, while minimizing trauma to surrounding tissue. A device is introduced through tissue, to an access point on the spine. The device is thereafter advanced axially within the spine, from the access point across a treatment zone. In one application, the access point is on the anterior surface of the spine, and, in another application, the access point is on the posterior surface of the spine. The lumen created through the spine across the treatment zone may be either substantially linear, or curved.
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Citations
60 Claims
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1. A method of treating the spine, comprising the steps of:
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identifying a site on the anterior surface of the sacrum;
forming a lumen from the site through the sacrum, through a disk and into at least one vertebrae; and
performing a procedure using the lumen. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of treating the spine, comprising the steps of:
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identifying a site on the posterior surface of the sacrum;
forming a nonlinear lumen from the site through the sacrum, through a disk and through at least one lumbar vertebrae; and
performing a procedure using the lumen. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of treating the spine, comprising the steps of:
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identifying a site on the skin of a patient, within about 5 cm from the coccyx;
providing a percutaneous access at the site and through tissue to the sacrum;
creating a lumen through the sacrum and at least one lumbar vertebrae; and
using the lumen to perform a procedure. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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26. A method of treating the spine at a treatment site which is spaced apart from an access site, comprising the steps of:
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identifying an access site on the spine;
advancing a device through the access site and into the spine;
further advancing the device axially through the spine for a distance across a treatment zone; and
treating the spine in the treatment zone;
wherein the distance is at least about 5 cm.
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34. A method of treating the spine comprising creating a minimally invasive passageway through tissue and into the spine, wherein the passageway has a longitudinal axis and a length of at least about 5 times its width, and introducing at least one device through the passageway to treat the spine, wherein an extension of the axis extends through at least two intervertebral disks.
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40. A method of performing a procedure on the spine at a procedure site which is spaced apart from an access site, comprising the steps of:
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identifying an access site on the spine;
advancing a device through the access site and into the spine;
further advancing the device axially through at least one vertebrae and at least one disk to the procedure site; and
performing a procedure at the procedure site;
wherein the access site is on a healthy portion of the spine, and the procedure site is on an unhealthy or compromised portion of the spine. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42)
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43. A method of performing a procedure from the inside of the spine, while minimizing the cross sectional area of an access pathway to the procedure site, comprising the steps of:
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advancing a device through an access pathway in the spine to a procedure site, while the device has a first, reduced crossing profile; and
enlarging the crossing profile of a portion of the device at the treatment site to perform the procedure;
wherein the advancing step comprises advancing the device through at least one vertebrae and at least one disk. - View Dependent Claims (44, 46, 47, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 58, 59, 60)
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45. A method of fusing the spine, comprising the steps of:
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identifying a site on the anterior surface of the sacrum;
forming a lumen from the site through the sacrum, through a disk and into at least one vertebrae; and
introducing a fusion implant through the lumen.
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48. A method of accessing the spine through a site on the anterior of the sacrum, comprising the steps of:
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introducing an access device through a tissue tract from the surface of the skin to a first site on the anterior of the sacrum;
advancing the access device along the anterior surface of the sacrum to a second site; and
entering the sacrum at the second site.
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57. A method of positioning a linear access sheath from a paracoccygeal entrance point to the S2 vertebrae, comprising the steps of:
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introducing an access device through tissue in the paracoccygeal space;
advancing the distal end of the access device into contact with the sacrum;
sweeping the distal end along the anterior surface of the sacrum towards the S2 vertebrae, thereby displacing anatomical structures from the path of the access device; and
fixing the distal end of the access device with respect to the S2 vertebrae.
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Specification