Device and method for treatment of intervertebral disc disruption

• US 20050240171A1
• Filed: 04/23/2005
• Published: 10/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Leonard Edward Forrest
• Original Assignee: Leonard Edward Forrest
• Inventors: Forrest, Leonard Edward
• Granted Patent: US 7,322,962 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/27
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8811 characterised by the introducer tip, i.e. the part inserted into or onto the bone
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8816 characterised by the conduit, e.g. tube, along which fluid flows into the body or by conduit connections
• 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 2017/00238 Type of minimally invasive operation A61B2017/00805 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00261 Discectomy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00831 Material properties
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0044 Spinal cord
• 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

Abstract

A method of positioning an arcuate catheter against an inner annular wall of the disc, and particularly on the posterior and postero-lateral portions of the inner annulus of the disc, by arthroscopy is presented. The arcuate catheter retains its predetermined arcuate shape when no pressure or force is applied to the catheter. This present device and method require no forward tip pressure on the inner annular wall of a mammalian intervertebral disc. An arcuate sheath having a cutter is used to remove tissue from the inner annulus of the disc. In another embodiment an arcuate sheath is used to progressively remove material from the interior of the mammalian intervertebral disc. In yet another embodiment, an arcuate sheath and catheter are used to remove the entire intervertebral disc and place supports to maintain a disc space.

Claims

1. A method of treatment of an interior of a mammalian intervertebral disc, comprising the steps of:

a) inserting a catheter into an interior of a mammalian disc, wherein a length of said catheter that is present in said interior of said mammalian disc is formed in an S shape when no material pressure is applied to said catheter;

b) performing a therapeutic process on said interior of said mammalian disc; and

c) withdrawing said catheter from said mammalian disc.

2. A method of treatment of an interior of a mammalian intervertebral disc as described in claim 1, wherein said catheter is inserted into said mammalian intervertebral disc through a lumen that is positioned through a posterior wall of said mammalian intervertebral disc, and wherein at least a portion of said catheter is generally linear while present within said lumen, and wherein said catheter has an S shape after a length of said catheter sufficient to reach a lateral posterior wall that is opposite said lumen.

3. A method of treatment of an interior of a mammalian intervertebral disc as described in claim 1, wherein said catheter does not contact an anterior wall of said mammalian intervertebral disc when said catheter is in position for treatment, and wherein an antero lateral wall of said mammalian intervertebral disc is not part of said anterior wall.

4. A method of treatment of an interior of a mammalian intervertebral disc as described in claim 2, wherein said catheter is positioned against a lateral posterior wall of said mammalian disc by retracting an end of said lumen that is present within said interior of said mammalian disc toward said posterior wall of said mammalian intervertebral disc.

5. A method of treatment of an interior of a mammalian intervertebral disc as described in claim 1, wherein said catheter does not contact an anterior portion of said interior of said mammalian disc.

10. A method of treatment of an interior of a mammalian intervertebral disc as described in claim 1, further comprising a forward tip on end of said catheter that deforms upon striking a wall of said mammalian intervertebral disc.

12. A method of treatment of an interior of a mammalian intervertebral disc as described in claim 1, wherein a said catheter applies heat to seal a void in a wall of said mammalian intervertebral disc thorough which said catheter extends as said catheter is withdrawn from said interior of said mammalian intervertebral disc.

15. A method of treatment of an interior of a mammalian intervertebral disc as described in claim 1, wherein said catheter enters a wall of said mammalian intervertebral disc within a range of not less than forty five degrees.

6. A method of treatment of an interior of a mammalian intervertebral disc, comprising the steps of:

a) inserting an introducer needle through a wall of a mammalian intervertebral disc and into an interior of said mammalian intervertebral disc;

b) advancing a lumen into said introducer needle;

c) advancing a catheter that extends though said lumen and into said interior of said mammalian intervertebral disc, wherein a length of said catheter that is present in said interior of said mammalian intervertebral disc has an arcuate shape, and said catheter has shape retention properties to maintain said arcuate shape when no pressure is applied to said catheter;

d) positioning said catheter against an interior posterior wall of said mammalian disc;

e) performing a therapeutic process to said posterior wall of said mammalian disc; and

f) withdrawing said catheter from said interior of said mammalian disc.

7. A method of treatment of an interior of a mammalian intervertebral disc as described in claim 6, wherein said lumen is positioned through a posterior wall of said mammalian intervertebral disc, and wherein a portion of said catheter that is positioned in an interior of said mammalian intervertebral disc is generally linear while advancing through said lumen, and wherein said catheter that is present in said interior of said mammalian intervertebral disc has an arcuate shape after a length of said catheter sufficient to reach a lateral posterior wall that is opposite the lumen exits said catheter.

8. A method of treatment of an interior of a mammalian intervertebral disc as described in claim 6, wherein said catheter does not contact an anterior wall of said mammalian intervertebral disc when said catheter is in position for treatment, and wherein an antero lateral wall of said mammalian intervertebral disc is not part of said anterior wall.

9. A method of treatment of an interior of a mammalian intervertebral disc as described in claim 6, wherein said catheter is positioned against a lateral posterior wall of said mammalian disc by retracting an end of said lumen that is present within said interior of said mammalian disc toward said posterior wall of said mammalian intervertebral disc.

11. A method of treatment of an interior of a mammalian intervertebral disc as described in claim 6, further comprising a forward tip on end of said catheter that deforms upon striking a wall of said mammalian intervertebral disc.

13. A method of treatment of an interior of a mammalian intervertebral disc as described in claim 6, wherein a said catheter applies heat to seal a void in a wall of said mammalian intervertebral disc thorough which said introducer needle extends as said catheter is withdrawn from said interior of said mammalian intervertebral disc.

14. A method of treatment of an interior of a mammalian intervertebral disc as described in claim 6, wherein a length of said catheter that is present in said interior of said mammalian disc is formed in an S shape when no material pressure is applied to said catheter.

16. A method of treatment of an interior of a mammalian intervertebral disc as described in claim 6, wherein said catheter enters said wall of said mammalian intervertebral disc within a range of not less than forty five degrees.

17. A device used in an interior of a mammalian intervertebral disc, comprising:

a) a lumen; and

b) a catheter that extends though said lumen, wherein a length of said catheter that is inserted into an interior of a mammalian intervertebral disc has an S shape, and said catheter has shape retention properties to maintain said S shape when no material pressure is applied to said catheter.

18. A device used in an interior of a mammalian intervertebral disc as described in claim 17, further comprising an introducer needle that slidably engages said lumen.