Remotely-activated vertebroplasty injection device

• US 20040193171A1
• Filed: 03/31/2003
• Published: 09/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Depuy Synthes Products Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Depuy Acromed Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: DiMauro, Thomas M., Pellegrino, Richard, Reynolds, Martin A., Crombie, John
• Granted Patent: US 8,066,713 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/92
• 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: A61F 2/4601 for introducing bone substitute, for implanting bone graft implants or for compacting them in the bone cavity
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/48 Operating or control means, e.g. from outside the body, control of sphincters
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3008 radio-opaque, e.g. radio-opaque markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30523 by means of meshing gear teeth
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0025 Connections or couplings between prosthetic parts, e.g. between modular parts; Connecting elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0098 radio-opaque, e.g. radio-opaque markers

Abstract

A remotely-activated injection device for use in vertebroplasty is provided to inject a flourescent probe material into a patient. The injection device includes a pump defining an injection chamber having an exit opening; an actuator; and a cable having a first end coupled to the actuator, and a second end remotely engaging the pump. The actuator remotely controls the pump by responsive movement of the cable to thereby cause injection of a flourescent probe material from the injection chamber of the pump through the exit opening to the patient.

Claims

1. A device that injects a flourescent probe material into a patient, comprising:

a pump defining an injection chamber having an exit opening;

an actuator; and

a cable having a first end coupled to the actuator, and a second end engaging the pump, whereby the actuator controls the pump by responsive movement of the cable to thereby cause injection of a flourescent probe material from the injection chamber of the pump through the exit opening to the patient.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the actuator comprises:

a base; and

a lever having a first end portion pivotally-connected to the base, and a second end portion coupled to the first end of the cable, whereby pivotal movements of the lever cause responsive movement of the cable.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the pump comprises:

a piston disposed within an inner surface of the injection chamber;

a piston driver engaging the piston to allow axial movement of the piston along a first axis defined by first and second end portions of the injection chamber;

the second end of the cable engaging the piston driver; and

the actuator controlling the piston driver by responsive movement of the cable to thereby cause axial movement of the piston toward the exit opening of the injection chamber, thereby further causing injection of the flourescent probe material through the exit opening.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein the piston driver includes a gear mechanism.

5. The device of claim 4 wherein the gear mechanism comprises:

a wheel having a perimeter of teeth, the wheel engaging first and second opposing elements;

the first opposing element having an end mounted to the piston;

the second opposing element having an end coupled to the second end of the cable, whereby responsive movement of the cable causes axial movement of the second element, thereby causing rotational movement of the wheel, thereby further causing axial movement of the first element and the piston toward the exit opening of the injection chamber.

6. The device of claim 3 wherein the piston driver includes a pulley mechanism.

7. The device of claim 6 wherein the pulley mechanism comprises:

at least three pulley wheels, whereby a first pulley wheel of the at least three pulley wheels is positioned at a head end of the piston;

the at least three pulley wheels engaged by the second end of the cable such that the responsive movement of the cable causes the first pulley wheel to exert a force against the piston, thereby causing axial movement of the piston toward the exit opening of the injection chamber.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the cable is a rigid rod.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the pump comprises:

a piston disposed within an inner surface of the injection chamber, the piston having an outer surface;

a shaft having a first end and a second end, the first end of the shaft being mounted to the outer surface of the piston;

a lever having first and second ends, the first end of the lever being pivotally-connected to the pump, the second end of the lever positioned to bear upon the second end of the shaft;

the second end of the rigid rod coupled to the lever;

the actuator controlling the lever by responsive movement of the rigid rod to cause the lever to exert a force upon the second end of the shaft, thereby causing axial movement of the piston toward the exit opening of the injection chamber, thereby further causing injection of the flourescent probe material through the exit opening.

10. The device of claim 1, further comprising an anchor coupling the pump to a patient.

11. The device of claim 10, further comprising:

a needle coupled to the exit opening in the second end portion of the injection chamber; and

the needle being guided to the patient through the anchor.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the needle is angled.

13. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a flourescent probe material in the injection chamber.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein the flourescent probe material is a mixture of a bone cement and a flourescent probe.

15. The device of claim 1, wherein the flourescent probe material comprises barium.

16. The device of claim 1, wherein the flourescent probe material comprises tantalum.

17. A method of delivering a material into a patient having a vertebral body, comprising the steps of:

a) removing soft tissue from the vertebral body to create a skeleton having open porosity;

b) anchoring the device of claim 1 to the patient; and

c) delivering a hardenable material into the open porosity of the vertebral body.