Spinal disc nucleus implant

• US 20050043796A1
• Filed: 07/01/2004
• Published: 02/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sentron Medical, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sentron Medical, Inc.
• Inventors: Henderson, Steven L., Grant, Richard L., Young, Joseph E.
• Application Number:
  US10/883,223
• Publication Number:
  US 20050043796A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/17.110
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1492 having a flexible, catheter-like structure, e.g. for heart ablation A61B18/1477 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00261 Discectomy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00214 Expandable means emitting energy, e.g. by elements carried thereon
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0022 Balloons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0044 Spinal cord
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00898 Alarms or notifications created in response to an abnormal condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2218/007 Aspiration
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/442 Intervertebral or spinal discs, e.g. resilient non-disc-shaped intervertebral inflatable pockets A61F2/441; non-disc-shaped intervertebral fusion implants A61F2/4455
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4611 of spinal prostheses
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30092 using shape memory or superelastic materials, e.g. nitinol
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30579 with mechanically expandable devices, e.g. fixation devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30841 Sharp anchoring protrusions for impaction into the bone, e.g. sharp pins, spikes
• 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 2002/444 for replacing the nucleus pulposus
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0033 electrically, e.g. heated by resistor
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0042 using a fluid, e.g. circulating
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00017 Iron- or Fe-based alloys, e.g. stainless steel
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00023 Titanium or titanium-based alloys, e.g. Ti-Ni alloys

Abstract

A device and method for repairing spinal discs in which the nucleus has been damaged. A central section of the nucleus is cored out using a device which ablates the tissue using RF energy. A nucleus implant comprising a shape memory material is placed in the central section of the disc through a cannula, which implant is activated by body heat to expand and fill the central section, such that the implant emulates the functions and strength of the disc'"'"'s natural nucleus.

Claims

1. An intervertebral replacement disc nucleus implant for implantation within the annulus of a spinal disc, comprising:

a shape memory material element having a first shape for easily inserting said element through an opening in the annulus, and a second shape wider than said first shape, which will not pass through said opening in the annulus, wherein said element transforms from said first shape to said second shape by exposure to external energy acting upon said element.

2. The implant of claim 1, wherein said external energy is provided by body heat.

3. The implant of claim 1, wherein said external energy comprises light energy.

4. The implant of claim 1, wherein said external energy comprises thermal energy.

5. The implant of claim 1, wherein said external energy comprises RF energy.

6. The implant of claim 1, wherein said shape memory material comprises a polymer.

20. The device of claim 1, further comprising securing means, molded into said shape memory material element, such that it is completely enclosed within said element when in said first shape, and extends from said element in said second shape.

21. The device of claim 20, wherein said securing means comprises a prong.

22. The device of claim 21, wherein said prong extends laterally from said shape memory material element.

7. A method of implanting a disc nucleus replacement device comprised of a shape memory material capable of having a first shape and a second wider shape into a spinal disc of a patient, comprising the steps of:

creating a space within the disc by removing all or a portion of the nucleus tissue;

inserting a cannula into the created space;

transporting the replacement device in the first shape through the cannula into the created space;

and applying external energy to said device to cause the device to transform into said second shape, filling the space created within the disc.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said external energy is applied by the body of the patient.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the space creating step is accomplished by ablating the nucleus tissue.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the nucleus tissue is ablated using RF energy.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein external energy is applied to said device through the cannula.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said external energy comprises heat energy.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein said external energy comprises light energy.

14. A device for removing tissue from the nucleus of a spinal disc, comprising:

a hollow tube which can be inserted into the nucleus of the disc;

an energy delivering element which can be inserted through said tube into the nucleus;

an RF energy source, coupled to said energy delivering element;

such that when RF energy is applied to said energy delivering element when it is contacting the nucleus tissue, said tissue is ablated, creating an open space within said nucleus.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein said energy delivering element comprises a conductive balloon.

16. The device of claim 14, wherein said energy delivering element comprises a conductive expandable ribbon.

17. A method for removing tissue from the nucleus of a spinal disc, for the purpose of implanting a nucleus implant, comprising the steps of:

inserting a hollow tube into the nucleus of a spinal disc;

inserting an expandable energy delivering element through said tube to contact said nucleus tissue;

applying RF energy to said energy delivering element;

slowly expanding said energy delivering element while RF energy is applied;

and ablating nucleus tissue to create a space within the disc to permit insertion of a nucleus implant.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said energy delivering element comprises a balloon.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein said energy delivering element comprises an expandable ribbon.