Epidural thermal posterior annuloplasty
First Claim
1. An apparatus for thermally treating at least one intervertebral disc, comprising:
- (a) an energy application head having an energy application region and a tissue protecting region;
(b) a circumferencial intersection between said energy application region and said tissue protecting region;
(c) at least part of said circumferencial intersection being a thin insertion edge;
(d) said tissue protecting region being sloped from said thin insertion edge to a thick region for lifting vulnerable tissues away from a site of energy application to said at least one intervertebral disc; and
(e) a control member operationally connected to said energy application head, said control member suitable for controlling said energy application head during treatment of said at least one intervertebral disc.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for thermally treating intervertebral discs includes an energy application head having an energy application region and a tissue protecting region. A control member operationally connected to the energy application head preferably controls the energy application head during treatment. Significantly, the energy application head is preferably wedge-shaped and has a thin insertion edge sloped to a thick region for lifting vulnerable tissues away from a site of energy application to the at least one intervertebral disc. Preferably, the energy application head has a smooth surface suitable for gliding over surfaces of an annulus fibrosis without snagging other tissues. The present invention also includes a method for thermally treating an intervertebral disc.
96 Citations
25 Claims
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1. An apparatus for thermally treating at least one intervertebral disc, comprising:
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(a) an energy application head having an energy application region and a tissue protecting region;
(b) a circumferencial intersection between said energy application region and said tissue protecting region;
(c) at least part of said circumferencial intersection being a thin insertion edge;
(d) said tissue protecting region being sloped from said thin insertion edge to a thick region for lifting vulnerable tissues away from a site of energy application to said at least one intervertebral disc; and
(e) a control member operationally connected to said energy application head, said control member suitable for controlling said energy application head during treatment of said at least one intervertebral disc. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An apparatus for thermally treating at least one intervertebral disc, comprising:
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(a) an energy application head having an energy application region and a tissue protecting region;
(b) a thin insertion edge formed at the anterior portion of a circumferencial intersection between said energy application region and said tissue protecting region;
(c) said tissue protecting region being sloped from said thin insertion edge to a thick region for lifting vulnerable tissues away from a site of energy application to said at least one intervertebral disc; and
(d) a control member operationally connected to said energy application head, said control member suitable for controlling said energy application head during treatment of said at least one intervertebral disc. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. An apparatus for thermally treating at least one intervertebral disc, comprising:
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(a) an energy application head having an energy application region and a tissue protecting region;
(b) a thin insertion edge formed at the anterior portion of a circumferencial intersection between said energy application region and said tissue protecting region;
(c) said tissue protecting region being sloped from said thin insertion edge to a thick region for lifting vulnerable tissues away from a site of energy application to said at least one intervertebral disc. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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20. An apparatus for thermally treating at least one intervertebral disc, comprising:
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(a) an energy application head having an energy application region and a tissue protecting region;
(b) a control member operationally connected to said energy application head, said control member suitable for controlling said energy application head during treatment of said at least one intervertebral disc;
(c) said energy application head further comprising a thin insertion edge at the anterior intersection of said energy application region and said tissue protecting region; and
(d) said tissue protecting region sloped to a thick region for lifting vulnerable tissues away from a site of energy application to said at least one intervertebral disc. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
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24. A method for epidurally treating at least one intervertebral disc using a disc refurbisher, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) gaining access to a vertebral column;
(b) inserting a thin insertion edge formed at the anterior portion of a circumferencial intersection between an energy application region and a tissue protecting region of an energy application head of said disc refurbisher;
(c) epidurally approaching the posterior aspect of said at least one intervertebral disc;
(d) lifting vulnerable tissues using said tissue protecting region, said tissue protecting region being sloped from said thin insertion edge to a thick region; and
(e) applying energy to a posterior aspect of said at least one intervertebral disc using said energy application region.
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25. A method for thermally treating an intervertebral disc while thermally protecting vulnerable tissues, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing a disc refurbisher, said disc refurbisher comprising;
(i) an energy application head having an energy application region and a tissue protecting region;
(ii) a thin insertion edge formed at the anterior portion of a circumferencial intersection between said energy application region and said tissue protecting region;
(iii) said tissue protecting region being sloped from said thin insertion edge to a thick region for lifting vulnerable tissues away from a site of energy application to said at least one intervertebral disc; and
(iv) a control member operationally connected to said energy application head, said control member suitable for controlling said energy application head during treatment of said intervertebral disc;
(b) gaining access to a vertebral column;
(c) epidurally approaching the posterior aspect of said at least one intervertebral disc using said control member to position said energy application head;
(d) evaluating an extent of disc injury and calculating an amount of energy needed to thermally refurbish said at least one intervertebral disc;
(e) applying energy using said disc refurbisher to a posterior aspect of said at least one intervertebral disc while maintaining a safe temperature in said vulnerable tissues near said at least one intervertebral disc;
(f) monitoring an amount of energy delivered and a temperature in said vulnerable tissues near said at least one intervertebral disc;
(g) observing and evaluating an amount of shrinkage and strengthening of said at least one intervertebral disc to determine an intensity and duration of further energy delivery; and
(h) verifying that said shrinkage and strengthening of said at least one intervertebral disc is mechanically successful.
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Specification