Flex-tight interlocking connection tubing for delivery of bone cements/biomaterials for vertebroplasty

• US 20040122438A1
• Filed: 12/23/2002
• Published: 06/24/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Corporation
• Inventors: Abrams, Robert M.
• Application Number:
  US10/329,150
• Publication Number:
  US 20040122438A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/93
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8816 characterised by the conduit, e.g. tube, along which fluid flows into the body or by conduit connections

Abstract

An apparatus for delivering compounds into a vertebra includes a plurality of sequential tubes connected to one another by pivotable joints, the tubes including a first end, a second end, and a lumen extending therebetween. Each pivotable joint between adjacent tubes includes a locking mechanism, e.g., a clamp or locking nut, for securing the adjacent tubes relative to one another. During use, a needle is inserted into the vertebra, one end of the tubes is connected to the needle and a syringe or other delivery device is connected to the other end. The joints between the tubes are locked, thereby substantially securing the tubes from pivotal movement relative to one another, and the compound, e.g., bone cement and/or biomaterials, is injected through the tubes and out the needle into the tissue structure.

Claims

1. An apparatus for delivering a compound into a tissue structure, comprising:

a first tubular member comprising first and second ends and a lumen extending therebetween;

a second tubular member comprising first and second ends and a lumen extending therebetween, the first end of the second tubular member being pivotally coupled to the second end of the first tubular member such that the lumens of the first and second tubular members communicate with one another;

a locking mechanism carried by at least one of the first and second tubular members for selectively securing the first and second tubular members from pivotal movement relative to one another; and

a cannula communicating with the second end of the second tubular member and comprising an outlet communicating with the lumen of the second tubular member for delivering a compound passing through the lumens out the outlet.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second end of the first tubular member and the first end of the second tubular member are coupled to one another by a ball joint.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the locking mechanism comprises a locking nut surrounding the ball joint, the locking nut being securable against the ball joint to prevent pivotal movement of the first and second tubular members relative to one another.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the locking mechanism comprises a clamp that may be secured against the ball joint to prevent pivotal movement of the first and second tubular members relative to one another.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the clamp comprises a “

C”

shaped body received around the ball joint and a nut connected to ends of the “

C”

shaped body, the “

C”

shaped body compressing the ball joint when the nut is tightened onto the ends to secure the first and second tubular members from pivotal movement relative to one another.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first and second tubular members are coupled to one another by a joint having at least one degree of freedom.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the first and second tubular members are coupled to one another by a joint having two degrees of freedom.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a third tubular member comprising first and second ends, the first end pivotally coupled to the second end of the second tubular member, the second of the third tubular member communicating with the needle; and

a locking mechanism for securing the second and third tubular members from pivotal movement relative to one another.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first and second tubular members are substantially rigid.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a source containing a flowable compound coupled to the first end of the first tubular member

11. An apparatus for delivering a compound into a tissue structure, comprising:

a plurality of tubes connected to one another by pivotable joints, the tubes including a first end and a second end and a lumen extending therebetween

a locking mechanism at each pivotable joint for securing the adjacent tubes relative to one another;

a source of compound for treating a tissue structure coupled to the first end of the plurality of tubes; and

a cannula coupled to the second end of the plurality of tubes and comprising an outlet communicating with the lumen of the tubes for delivering the compound out the outlet from the source of flowable material via the lumen of the tubes.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the pivotable joints comprise ball joints.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the locking mechanism comprises at least one of a locking nut that surrounds the ball joint, the locking nut being securable against the respective ball joint to prevent pivotal movement of the adjacent tubes relative to one another.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the locking mechanism comprises a clamp that may be secured against the ball joint to prevent pivotal movement of the first and second tubular members relative to one another.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the plurality of tubes are substantially rigid.

16. A method for delivering material into a tissue structure using a plurality of tubes connected sequentially to one another by pivotable joints, the method comprising:

inserting a cannula into the tissue structure to be treated;

connecting one end of the tubes to the cannula;

locking joints between the plurality of tubes, thereby substantially securing the tubes from pivotal movement relative to one another; and

injecting material through the tubes and out the cannula into the tissue structure.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the cannula comprises a needle that is inserted percutaneously through cutaneous tissue overlying the tissue structure before being inserted into the tissue structure.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the cannula is inserted into the tissue structure before the one end of the tubes is connected to the needle.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the material comprises at least one of bone cement and biomaterial.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the tissue structure comprises a hard tissue structure.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the hard tissue structure comprises a vertebra, and wherein the cannula comprises a needle, the needling penetrating through cortical bone of the vertebra into cancellous bone of the vertebra when inserted into the vertebra.

22. The method of claim 16, wherein the material is contained in a delivery device that is connected to an end of the tubes opposite the cannula.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising adjusting a position of the delivery device relative to the cannula before locking the joints between the plurality of tubes, the tubes being free to pivot relative to one another as the delivery device is adjusted.