Method and system for cellular transplantation

• US 20050085790A1
• Filed: 09/14/2004
• Published: 04/21/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Invivo Therapeutics Holdings Corp.
• Original Assignee: James Guest
• Inventors: Casas, Carlos, Guest, James
• Granted Patent: US 7,666,177 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/506
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3468 for implanting or removing devices, e.g. prostheses, implants, seeds, wires devices for implanting seeds A61M37/0069
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00969 used for transplantation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0007 Epidural catheters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0041 pre-formed, e.g. specially adapted to fit with the anatomy of body channels urethral catheters A61F2/04

Abstract

The present invention provides a method for treating an injury of a spinal cord of a patient. The method includes implanting a therapeutic substance in the spinal cord under indirect visualization. The indirect visualization may be provided by an endoscope, and the therapeutic substance may include cells. The present invention also provides a device for treating an injury of the spinal cord. The device includes skin visualization means for visualizing the spinal cord through a skin puncture, and injection means for injecting a therapeutic substance into the spinal cord.

Claims

1. A method for treating an injury of a spinal cord of a patient, the method comprising implanting a therapeutic substance in the spinal cord under indirect visualization.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the indirect visualization is provided by an endoscope.

3. The method of claim 2 further including inserting the endoscope through a skin puncture site remote from the injury of the spinal cord.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein a distal portion of the endoscope is positioned in an interlaminar space of the patient.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein implanting the therapeutic substance includes inserting an injection member through the skin puncture site and into the spinal cord.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein implanting the therapeutic substance includes injecting the therapeutic substance through an aperture of the injection member.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein implanting the therapeutic substance includes at least partially withdrawing the injection member from the spinal cord while injecting the therapeutic substance to thereby form a trail of the therapeutic substance.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein a magnetic resonance imaging reflective material is implanted along with the therapeutic substance.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein implanting the therapeutic substance is performed under magnetic resonance imaging.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein the injection member is slideably disposed in a working channel of the endoscope.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the injection member includes a needle connected to a catheter, a distal portion of the needle being inserted into the spinal cord.

12. The method of claim 11 further including absorbing motion of the needle in the spinal cord relative to the endoscope by providing a flexible portion of the catheter between the needle and a distal end of the endoscope.

13. The method of claim 7 wherein the therapeutic substance includes cells.

14. The method of claim 13 further including injecting distention fluid in the interlaminar space.

15. The method of claim 5 wherein the injection member includes a needle with a side-hole aperture, a catheter connected to the needle, and a flexible hollow guidewire slideably disposed in lumens of the catheter and needle and through the side-hole aperture of the needle.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein implanting the therapeutic substance includes positioning a distal portion of the hollow guidewire within the spinal cord.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein implanting the therapeutic substance includes injecting the therapeutic substance from the hollow guide wire while the guide wire is being withdrawn from the spinal cord to thereby form a trail of therapeutic substance in the spinal cord.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the therapeutic substance includes cells.

19. A spinal cord injury treatment device comprising:

visualization means for visualizing a spinal cord through a skin puncture located remote from an injury site of the spinal cord; and

injection means for injecting a therapeutic substance into the spinal cord.

20. The device of claim 19 wherein the visualization means includes an endoscope.

21. The device of claim 20 wherein the endoscope and injection means are configured for insertion in an interlaminar space of the patient.

22. The device of claim 21 further including means for withdrawing the injection means while injecting the therapeutic substance to thereby form a trail of the therapeutic substance in the spinal cord.

23. The device of claim 22 wherein the means for withdrawing includes a catheter advancement member.

24. The device of claim 22 wherein the therapeutic substance includes a magnetic resonance imaging reflective material.

25. The device of claim 19 wherein the injection means includes a needle connected to a catheter, the needle having an aperture and the needle configured for at least partial insertion into the spinal cord.

26. The device of claim 25 wherein the injection means is configured for slideable insertion into a working channel of an endoscope.

27. The device of claim 26 wherein the catheter includes a flexible portion between the needle and endoscope, the flexible portion configured and dimensioned to dampen motion of the needle relative to the endoscope.

28. The device of claim 19 further including means for fluid distention.

29. The device of claim 28 wherein the means for fluid distention includes a syringe connected with an endoscope.

30. The device of claim 22 wherein the therapeutic substance includes cells.

31. A spinal cord injury treatment device comprising:

visualization means for visualizing a spinal cord through a skin puncture located remote from an injury site of the spinal cord; and

first and second injection means for injecting a therapeutic substance into the spinal cord.

32. The device of claim 31 wherein the visualization means includes an endoscope, a distal portion of the endoscope configured and dimensioned for insertion into an interlaminar space of the patient.

33. The device of claim 32 wherein the first and second injection means each include a needle connected to a catheter and a flexible hollow guidewire slideably disposed with a lumen of the needle and catheter.

34. The device of claim 33 wherein each needle includes a side-hole aperture.

35. The device of claim 34 wherein distal portions of each guide wire are dimensioned and configured for insertion into the spinal cord.

36. The device of claim 35 wherein distal portions of each flexible hollow guide wire are configured for ejecting the therapeutic substance.