Methods and apparatuses for treating the spine through an access device
First Claim
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1. A method of replacing a portion of a disc of a patient, the disc having an annulus and a nucleus, comprising:
- inserting an access device through an incision in the skin of the patient generally postero-laterally and advancing the access device until a distal portion thereof is located adjacent-the spine, said access device being inserted in a first configuration having a first cross-sectional area at the distal portion thereof;
configuring said access device such that the distal portion thereof is enlarged from the first configuration to a second configuration wherein the distal portion extends across at least a portion of the disc;
advancing an annulotomy tool through the access device to the intervertebral space;
forming an aperture in the annulus;
advancing a disc evacuation tool through the access device and through the aperture;
removing at least a portion of the nucleus through the access device to at least partially evacuate the intervertebral space; and
delivering a replacement disc nucleus into the partially evacuated intervertebral space through the access device.
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Abstract
In treating the spine of a patient, an access device is inserted through a minimally invasive incision in the skin of the patient, and advanced until a distal portion of the access device is located adjacent the spine. The access device is expanded from a first configuration to a second configuration, the second configuration having an enlarged cross-sectional area at the distal portion thereof such that the distal portion extends across at least a portion of an intervertebral space. A replacement disc nucleus is delivered through the access device into the intervertebral space.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A method of replacing a portion of a disc of a patient, the disc having an annulus and a nucleus, comprising:
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inserting an access device through an incision in the skin of the patient generally postero-laterally and advancing the access device until a distal portion thereof is located adjacent-the spine, said access device being inserted in a first configuration having a first cross-sectional area at the distal portion thereof;
configuring said access device such that the distal portion thereof is enlarged from the first configuration to a second configuration wherein the distal portion extends across at least a portion of the disc;
advancing an annulotomy tool through the access device to the intervertebral space;
forming an aperture in the annulus;
advancing a disc evacuation tool through the access device and through the aperture;
removing at least a portion of the nucleus through the access device to at least partially evacuate the intervertebral space; and
delivering a replacement disc nucleus into the partially evacuated intervertebral space through the access device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method of treating the spine of a patient, comprising:
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inserting an access device through a minimally invasive incision in the skin of the patient;
advancing the access device until a distal portion thereof is located adjacent the spine;
expanding said access device from a first configuration to a second configuration, the second configuration having an enlarged cross-sectional area at the distal portion thereof such that the distal portion extends across at least a portion of a disc;
delivering a replacement disc nucleus into an intervertebral space through the access device.
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22. A device for providing access to a surgical location within a patient, said device comprising:
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an elongate body having a proximal end, a distal end, and a passage extending therebetween, the elongate body defining a length between the proximal and distal ends such that the proximal end can be positioned outside the patient and the distal end can be positioned inside the patient adjacent the surgical location, the distal end being shaped to conform to a contour of an anatomical structure near the surgical location; and
wherein the elongate body is actuatable between a first configuration sized for insertion into the patient and a second configuration wherein the cross-sectional area of said passage at a first location is greater than the cross-sectional area of said passage at a second location, wherein the first location is distal to the second location. - View Dependent Claims (23)
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24. A device for accessing an intervertebral disc of a patient having a nucleus and an annulus, said device comprising:
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an elongate body having a proximal end, a distal end, and a passage extending therebetween, the elongate body defining a length between the proximal and distal ends such that the proximal end can be positioned outside the patient and the distal end can be advanced inside the patient and into the annulus; and
wherein the elongate body is actuatable between a first configuration sized for advancement to spine and a second configuration wherein the cross-sectional area of said passage at a first location is greater than the cross-sectional area of said passage at a second location, wherein the first location is distal to the second location. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26)
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27. A device for accessing an intervertebral disc of a patient having a nucleus and an annulus, said device comprising:
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an elongate body having a proximal end, a distal end, a passage extending therebetween, and a viewing element aperture located near the distal end, the elongate body defining a length between the proximal and distal ends such when the distal end is advanced into the patient to the annulus, the proximal end is positioned outside the patient; and
a viewing element extending through the aperture into the passage.
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Specification