Spinal fluid introduction

• US 20040193045A1
• Filed: 02/23/2004
• Published: 09/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NeuroTherm, Inc. (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: NeuroTherm, Inc. (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Inventors: McNall, Ralph I., Hamilton, John V., Scarborough, Nelson, Uchida, Andy H., Lepke, Steven
• Granted Patent: US 7,662,133 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/432
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3401 Puncturing needles for the peridural or subarachnoid space or the plexus, e.g. for anaesthesia local anaesthesia A61M19/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8822 characterised by means facilitating expulsion of fluid from the introducer, e.g. a screw pump plunger, hydraulic force transmissions, application of vibrations or a vacuum
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0007 Epidural catheters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3331 Pressure; Flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1456 with a replaceable reservoir comprising a piston rod to be moved into the reservoir, e.g. the piston rod is part of the removable reservoir
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16827 controlling delivery of multiple fluids, e.g. sequencing, mixing or via separate flow-paths infusion of multiple fluids without using a controller A61M5/1407
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16854 by monitoring line pressure

Abstract

A fluid introduction system includes an introducer configured to create a pressure of at least 69 kPa within a spine, and an operator configured to actuate the introducer to introduce fluid into the spine according to a predetermined fluid introduction profile. The system can include a computer readable medium having code for receiving fluid introduction data indicative of a fluid introduction parameter, and for receiving response data indicative of a response of the patient at a time related to a time of the fluid introduction data. A method for introducing fluid includes positioning a first introducer in a first portion of a spine, positioning a second introducer in a second, different portion of the spine and, without removing the first and second introducers, introducing fluid into the first portion of the spine with the first introducer and introducing fluid into the second portion of the spine with the second introducer.

Claims

1. A fluid introduction system, comprising:

an introducer configured to create a pressure of at least 69 kPa within a spine; and

an operator configured to actuate the introducer to introduce fluid into the spine according to a predetermined fluid introduction profile.

2. The fluid introduction system of claim 1, wherein the introducer is configured to create a pressure of at least 69 kPa in an intervertebral disc.

3. The fluid introduction system of claim 1, wherein the predetermined fluid introduction profile is the introduction of fluid at a constant rate.

4. The fluid introduction system of claim 1, wherein the introducer is configured to introduce a repeatable amount of fluid into the spine.

5. The fluid introduction system of claim 1, wherein the introducer is configured to introduce fluid into the spine at a repeatable rate.

6. The fluid introduction system of claim 1, wherein the introducer is configured to introduce a non-pulsatile flow of fluid into the spine.

7. The fluid introduction system of claim 1, wherein the introducer is configured to create a pressure of at least 150 kPa in an intervertebral disc.

8. A fluid introduction system, comprising:

an introducer configured to introduce fluid into a spine of a patient;

an operator configured to actuate the introducer to introduce fluid into the spine of the patient;

a computer readable medium having code for receiving;

fluid introduction data indicative of a fluid introduction parameter; and

response data indicative of a response of the patient at a time related to a time of the fluid introduction data.

9. The fluid introduction system of claim 8, wherein the fluid introduction parameter is a pressure within an intervertebral disc of the patient at the time of the fluid introduction data.

10. The fluid introduction system of claim 8, wherein the fluid introduction parameter is a total amount of fluid introduced into an intervertebral disc of the patient at the time of the fluid introduction data.

11. The fluid introduction system of claim 8, wherein the fluid introduction system is configured to obtain the response data from an observation of the patient.

12. The fluid introduction system of claim 8, wherein the fluid introduction system is configured to obtain the response data upon a response by the patient.

13. The fluid introduction system of claim 8, wherein the introducer is configured to create a pressure of at least 100 kPa within the spine.

14. A fluid introduction system, comprising:

an introducer configured to introduce a non-pulsatile flow of fluid into a spine, the introducer having a flow rate-dependent impedance opposing the introduction of the fluid; and

an operator configured to actuate the introducer, the operator including code to control the actuation of the introducer based at least in part upon impedance data indicative of the impedance.

15. The fluid introduction system of claim 14, wherein the introducer includes an identifier including the impedance data and the operator is configured to receive the impedance data from the identifier of the introducer.

16. The fluid introduction system of claim 14, wherein the operator includes code to determine the impedance data based upon an actuation of the introducer.

17. The fluid introduction system of claim 16, comprising:

a pressure sensor configured to provide pressure data indicative of a pressure of fluid present in the introducer;

a fluid introduction sensor configured to provide fluid introduction data indicative of at least one of (a) a rate of fluid introduction and (b) an amount of fluid introduced into the portion of the spine; and

wherein the operator includes code to determine the impedance data based upon the pressure data and the fluid introduction data.

18. The fluid introduction system of claim 14, wherein the introducer is configured to create a pressure of at least 69 kPa within the spine.

19. A fluid introduction system, comprising:

a first introducer configured to introduce fluid into a first portion of a spine;

a second introducer configured to introduce fluid into a second, different portion of a spine and

an operator configurable to concurrently actuate the introduction of fluid into the first portion of the spine by the first introducer and the introduction of fluid into the second portion of the spine by the second introducer.

20. The fluid introduction system of claim 19, wherein the first and second portions of the spine are first and second different intervertebral discs.

21. The fluid introduction system of claim 20, wherein the first and second introducers are configurable to provide a simultaneous pressure of at least 69 kPa in each of the first and second intervertebral discs.

22. The fluid introduction system of claim 19, wherein the first and second introducers are actuable independently of one another.

23. A fluid introduction system, comprising:

an introducer configured to introduce a fluid having a dynamic viscosity of at least 750 Pa into a spine; and

an operator configured to actuate the introducer according to a predetermined introduction profile.

24. The fluid introduction system of claim 23, wherein the fluid is a polymeric fluid.

25. The fluid introduction system of claim 23, wherein the fluid is a non-Newtonian fluid.

26. The fluid introduction system of claim 23, wherein:

the introducer has an impedance that opposes the actuation of the introducer, the impedance being dependent upon the viscosity of the fluid; and

the fluid introduction system is configured to obtain impedance data indicative of the dynamic viscosity of the fluid.

27. A method for introducing fluid, comprising:

positioning a first introducer in a first portion of a spine;

positioning a second introducer in a second, different portion of the spine;

without removing the first and second introducers;

introducing fluid into the first portion of the spine with the first introducer; and

introducing fluid into the second portion of the spine with the second introducer.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the first and second portions of the spine are different intervertebral discs.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein introducing fluid into the first portion of the spine includes creating a pressure of at least 69 kPa in the first portion of the spine and introducing fluid into the second portion of the spine includes creating a pressure of at least 69 kPa in the second portion of the spine.

30. The method of claim 27, wherein introducing fluid into the first portion of the spine at least partially overlaps introducing fluid into the second portion of the spine.

31. The method of claim 27, wherein introducing fluid into the first portion of the spine is performed before introducing fluid into the second portion of the spine.

32. A syringe comprising:

a reservoir;

a plunger slidable with respect to the reservoir to apply pressure to fluid therein; and

a pressure transducer secured with respect to the plunger and configured to be in direct contact with fluid in the reservoir.

33. The syringe of claim 32, wherein a receivable portion of the plunger is receivable within the reservoir and the syringe comprises a cap secured with respect to the receivable portion of the plunger, the pressure transducer being disposed between at least a portion of the cap and at least a portion of the receivable portion of the plunger.

34. The syringe of claim 33, wherein the cap comprises a hole configured to allow fluid present within the reservoir to contact the pressure transducer.

35. The syringe of claim 33, wherein the cap and the plunger are not rotatable with respect to one another when the cap is secured with respect to the receivable portion of the plunger.

36. The syringe of claim 35, wherein the cap and the receivable portion of the plunger each comprise an asymmetrical portion, the asymmetrical portions of the cap and plunger mating with one another to secure the cap with respect to the plunger.