Apparatus for treating spinal discs
First Claim
1. An apparatus for treating an interior region of a spinal disc that is accessed through an opening in an annulus fibrosis of the disc, comprising:
- an elongate member comprising proximal and distal ends, the distal end having a size for insertion into an opening into a spinal disc;
a sheet of bioabsorbable material on the distal portion of the elongate member such that a peripheral edge of the sheet is disposed generally against the distal portion, the sheet having sufficient surface area for substantially lining an interior region of a spinal disc; and
a closure device for substantially engaging tissue surrounding an opening into a spinal disc, whereby the closure device may substantially seal the opening.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus and methods for treating a spinal disc are disclosed. An opening is created in the annulus fibrosis, and nucleus pulposus is removed from the interior of the disc. The interior is lined with a nonporous, bioabsorbable liner, and filled with a fill material, such as nucleus pulposus, to cause the liner to expand to engage tissue surrounding the interior. The liner may be a sheet of extra-cellular matrix material that is introduced into-the interior, or a bladder of extra-cellular matrix material including a neck communicating with an interior region of the bladder. The sheet or bladder may be carried by a delivery device, e.g., a catheter or rod. After the interior region is filled, the opening is closed using a plug or other closure device. The plug may include threads on its external surface for securing the plug in the opening.
191 Citations
64 Claims
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1. An apparatus for treating an interior region of a spinal disc that is accessed through an opening in an annulus fibrosis of the disc, comprising:
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an elongate member comprising proximal and distal ends, the distal end having a size for insertion into an opening into a spinal disc;
a sheet of bioabsorbable material on the distal portion of the elongate member such that a peripheral edge of the sheet is disposed generally against the distal portion, the sheet having sufficient surface area for substantially lining an interior region of a spinal disc; and
a closure device for substantially engaging tissue surrounding an opening into a spinal disc, whereby the closure device may substantially seal the opening. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An apparatus for treating a spinal disc, comprising:
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a tubular member including a proximal end, a distal end having a size for insertion through an opening into a spinal disc, and a lumen extending between the proximal and distal ends;
a substantially nonporous bladder comprising a neck defining an opening communicating with an interior of the bladder, the neck being detachably connected to the distal end of the tubular member such that the interior of the bladder communicates with the lumen via the opening; and
a source of fill material communicating with the lumen, the fill material comprising nucleus pulposus. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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26. An apparatus for treating a spinal disc, comprising:
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an elongate member including a proximal end and a distal end having a size for insertion through an opening into a spinal disc; and
a substantially nonporous, bioabsorbable bladder comprising a neck defining an opening communicating with an interior of the bladder, the neck being detachably connected to the distal end of the tubular member.
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- 42. An apparatus for treating a spinal disc, comprising a substantially nonporous, bioabsorbable bladder comprising a neck defining an opening communicating with an interior of the bladder, the bladder being expandable from a collapsed configuration to an enlarged configuration, the bladder having a size and shape to fit within an interior of a spinal disc in the enlarged configuration.
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54. A device for closing an opening in a spinal disc, comprising:
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an elongate body formed from biocompatible material and comprising a connector on an exterior surface of the body for substantially engaging tissue surrounding the opening, the body comprising a lumen extending between its proximal and distal ends; and
a plug element within the body, the plug element being movable from a pocket within the body into the lumen for substantially sealing the lumen from fluid flow therethrough. - View Dependent Claims (55, 56, 57, 58, 59)
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60. An implant for treating an interior of a spinal disc, comprising:
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an elongate body of fill material comprising at least one of nucleus pulposus and naturally occurring extra-cellular matrix material; and
a plug member connected to one end of the elongate body, the plug member comprising a connector on an exterior portion thereof for engaging tissue surrounding an opening through which the body of fill material is introduced for substantially closing the opening. - View Dependent Claims (61, 62, 63, 64)
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Specification