Universal percutaneous spinal access system

• US 20050187556A1
• Filed: 02/09/2005
• Published: 08/25/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Synecor LLC
• Original Assignee: Synecor LLC
• Inventors: Williams, Michael S., Stack, Richard S.
• Application Number:
  US11/057,001
• Publication Number:
  US 20050187556A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/79
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1631 Special drive shafts, e.g. flexible shafts A61B17/1642, A61B17/164 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1671 for the spine
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8805 for introducing fluid filler into bone or extracting it A61B17/7097, A61B17/8833 take precedence

Abstract

A system for accessing the interior of a vertebral body or the intervertebral disc space above or below the vertebral body is disclosed. The system comprises a steerable cutting means for creating a path within or through the vertebral body to allow access for other devices to deliver a therapy, and may be housed within a flexible catheter shaft. The steerable cutting means may create a path to allow access to a device for removing tissue, and/or additional a devices for delivering a therapy, such as, for example, a filling material and/or a prosthesis. A method of accessing the interior of a vertebral body or the intervertebral disc space using the system, and a method of treatment of spinal disorders using the system are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A system for use in the treatment of a disorder of a vertebral body, an intervertebral disc, a spinal unit, or any portion thereof, the system comprising a steerable cutting means for creating a path within or through a vertebral body to allow access for a treatment.

2. The system according to claim 1 further comprising a means for delivering a therapy.

3. The system according to claim 1 wherein said therapy comprises a prosthesis.

4. The system according to claim 2 wherein said therapy comprises a filling material.

5. The system according to claim 1 wherein said treatment is selected from the group consisting of partial or complete discectomy, partial or total disc replacement, vertebroplasty, vertebral decompression, prosthesis delivery, and prosthesis deployment.

23. The system according to claim 1, wherein said means for penetrating a vertebral body comprises a high speed burr.

24. The system according to claim 1, wherein said means for penetrating a vertebral body comprises a vibrating tip.

25. The system according to claim 1, wherein said means for penetrating a vertebral body comprises a drill bit.

26. The system according to claim 1, said system further comprising a pressure regulator to control the delivery of a therapy.

27. The system according to claim 26, wherein said therapy comprises a curable polymeric foam.

28. The system according to claim 1, wherein said treatment comprises removal of tissue.

29. The system according to claim 28, wherein said treatment comprises removal of some or all of the native disc.

30. The system according to claim 1, wherein said means for penetrating a vertebral body comprises a flexible drill bit.

31. The system according to claim 1, wherein said means for penetrating a vertebral body comprises ultrasound.

6. A method for obtaining access to the interior of a vertebral body or to the intervertebral body disc space, said method comprising accessing the interior of a vertebral body from a transpedicular approach.

7. The method according to claim 6 wherein said method further comprises creating a path within the vertebral body.

8. The method according to claim 7 wherein said path is generally oriented along the horizontal plane.

9. The method according to claim 7 wherein said path is generally oriented in the vertical plane.

10. The method according to claim 9 wherein said method comprises the additional step of entering the intervertebral disc space either above or below the vertebral body.

32. The method according to claim 7 wherein said path is generally oriented between the vertical and the horizontal plane.

11. A method for treating a spinal disorder comprising obtaining access to the interior of a vertebral body from a transpedicular approach.

12. The method according to claim 11 wherein the method further comprises creating a path within said vertebral body.

13. The method according to claim 12 wherein said path is generally oriented in the horizontal plane.

14. The method according to claim 12 wherein said path is generally oriented in the vertical plane.

15. The method according to claim 12 wherein the method further comprises the step of delivering a prosthesis within the vertebral body.

16. The method according to claim 15 wherein the method further comprises the step of deploying the prosthesis within the vertebral body.

17. The method according to claim 12 wherein the method further comprises the step of introducing a filling material within the vertebral body.

18. The method according to claim 12 wherein the method further comprises the step of entering the intervertbral disc space.

19. The method according to claim 18 wherein the method further comprises the step of extracting some or all of the native disc.

20. The method according to claim 19 wherein the method further comprises the step of delivering a prosthesis to the intervertebral disc space.

21. The method according to claim 20 wherein the method further comprises the step of deploying the prosthesis.

22. The method according to claim 21 wherein the step of deploying the prosthesis comprises introducing a filling material into the prosthesis.

33. The method according to claim 12 wherein said path is generally oriented between the vertical and the horizontal plane.