Method of delivering an implant through an annular defect in an intervertebral disc

• US 20040260300A1
• Filed: 06/21/2004
• Published: 12/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Intrinsic Therapeutics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Intrinsic Therapeutics, Inc.
• Inventors: Moore, Robert Kevin, Lambrecht, Gregory H., Kavanaugh, Sean, Gorensek, Bogomir
• Application Number:
  US10/873,074
• Publication Number:
  US 20040260300A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/86.00R
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7225 for bone compression
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4611 of spinal prostheses
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4435 Support means or repair of the natural disc wall, i.e. annulus, e.g. using plates, membranes or meshes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4627 with linear motion along or rotating motion about the instrument axis or the implantation direction, e.g. telescopic, along a guiding rod, screwing inside the instrument

Abstract

The present invention relates generally to devices and methods for delivering medical devices, such as implants, to desired tissue sites, such as the intervertebral disc. In one aspect, an intervertebral disc repair and diagnostic device that is minimally invasive and that provides precise access to the desired site is provided. In some aspects, the device and method are adapted to deliver, position and expand implants that are initially oriented and compressed for minimally invasive, yet precise and effective implantation.

Claims

1. A method of delivering and positioning an implant within an intervertebral disc comprising:

providing a cannula coupled to a depth stop, wherein said cannula is slideably engaged with an advancer coupled to an implant, wherein said implant is operable to exhibit a compressed profile along one or more axes;

compressing said implant along a first axis;

inserting said cannula into a interverterbral disc;

placing said depth stop at a position adjacent an external surface of an intervertebral disc and delivering said implant relative to said position;

positioning said cannula such that the implant is positioned beyond the innermost surface of the anulus;

rotating the cannula, thereby rotating implant in a range of about 80 degrees to about 120 degrees;

retracting the cannula, thereby initially expanding the implant;

advancing one or more expanders, thereby further expanding the implant;

advancing the cannula, thereby substantially completely expanding the implant;

uncoupling the implant from the advancer; and

removing the cannula and the advancer from the disc.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of compressing the implant comprises folding the implant.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of expanding the implant comprises unfolding the implant.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the implant is a barrier or patch.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of inserting the implant through a defect or iatrogenic hole.

6. A method of delivering an implant within an intervertebral disc comprising:

providing an implant that is capable of exhibiting a compressed profile along one or more axes;

compressing said implant along a first axis;

inserting said implant within an intervertebral disc along a second axis and beyond the innermost lamella of an anulus lamella;

rotating the implant about an axis perpendicular to said second axis; and

causing or allowing the implant to transform from a compressed profile to an expanded profile.

7. A method of delivering an implant within an intervertebral disc comprising:

providing a delivery device having an elongate implant advancer carried within or alongside an elongate sleeve,

wherein the advancer is releaseably coupled to an implant,

wherein the implant is compressed within the sleeve at a distal end of the sleeve;

advancing the distal end of the sleeve with an intervertebral disc along a first axis;

rotating the advancer;

releasing the implant from the sleeve thereby decompressing the implant; and

releasing the implant from the advancer.

8. A method of delivering an implant in an intervertebral disc wherein the disc has a defect or iatrogenic hole forming a void in the anulus of the disc comprising:

providing a compressible implant having a first and second axis

compressing an implant along a first axis;

orienting the implant to such that the short axis of the compressed implant presents a profile the is smaller than the largest dimension of the void;

inserting the implant beyond the defect or iatrogenic hole;

rotating the implant clockwise or counterclockwise about ninety degrees;

causing or allowing the implant to expand or unfold; and

retracting at least a portion of the implant against an inner surface of the anulus.

9. A method of delivering an implant in an intervertebral disc along an innermost surface of an anulus of the disc comprising:

inserting the implant within the disc and beyond the innermost surface of the anulus;

retracting the implant toward the innermost surface of the anulus; and

deflecting at least a portion of the implant against the innermost surface of the anulus, thereby causing the implant to advance laterally along said surface.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising expanding the implant.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising simultaneously retracting and deflecting the implant.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising simultaneously retracting and deflecting the implant in a synchronized manner.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising rotating the implant.