Annulus fibrosus stent

• US 20050278027A1
• Filed: 06/10/2005
• Published: 12/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Edward Robert Jr. Hyde
• Original Assignee: Edward Robert Jr. Hyde
• Inventors: Hyde, Edward Robert Jr.
• Application Number:
  US11/150,798
• Publication Number:
  US 20050278027A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/17.120
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/30744 End caps, e.g. for closing an endoprosthetic cavity
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/441 made of inflatable pockets or chambers filled with fluid, e.g. with hydrogel
• 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 2002/30004 the prosthesis being made from materials having different values of a given property at different locations within the same prosthesis
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30062 (bio)absorbable, biodegradable, bioerodable, (bio)resorbable, resorptive
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30079 magnetic
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30092 using shape memory or superelastic materials, e.g. nitinol
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30143 hexagonal
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30171 rosette- or star-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/302 toroidal, e.g. rings
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30242 spherical
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30291 spirally-coiled, i.e. having a 2D spiral cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30331 made by longitudinally pushing a protrusion into a complementarily-shaped recess, e.g. held by friction fit
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30563 having elastic means or damping means, different from springs, e.g. including an elastomeric core or shock absorbers
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30566 Helical springs
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30579 with mechanically expandable devices, e.g. fixation devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30583 filled with hardenable fluid, e.g. curable in-situ
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30584 filled with gas
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30593 hollow
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30604 modular
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30677 : Means for introducing or releasing pharmaceutical products, e.g. antibiotics, into the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30785 : parallel
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30787 : inclined obliquely with respect to each other
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30841 : Sharp anchoring protrusions for impaction into the bone, e.g. sharp pins, spikes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30971 : Laminates, i.e. layered products
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4415 : elements of the prosthesis being arranged in a chain like manner
• 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 2002/4631 : the prosthesis being specially adapted for being cemented
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0004 : bioabsorbable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0014 : using shape memory or superelastic materials, e.g. nitinol
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0085 : hardenable in situ, e.g. epoxy resins
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/009 : magnetic
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0033 : made by longitudinally pushing a protrusion into a complementary-shaped recess, e.g. held by friction fit
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0017 : Angular shapes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/005 : Rosette-shaped, e.g. star-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0065 : toroidal, e.g. ring-shaped, doughnut-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0071 : spherical
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0091 : helically-coiled or spirally-coiled, i.e. having a 2-D spiral cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0014 : having different values of a given property or geometrical feature, e.g. mechanical property or material property, at different locations within the same prosthesis
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00161 : Carbon; Graphite
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00293 : containing a phosphorus-containing compound, e.g. apatite
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00796 : Coating or prosthesis-covering structure made of a phosphorus-containing compound, e.g. hydroxy(l)apatite

Abstract

The Annulus Fibrosus Stent (AFS) is a platform of barriers used in the intervertebral disc. The barrier can be inserted into an intervertebral disc to act to reinforce and/or supplement the disc. The AFS can be inserted at any of the many different stages of disc pathology. The AFS can be inserted to prevent pressure and dissection of disc material which in and of itself can decrease and/or eliminate pain from damaged AF fibers. The AFS can be inserted before disc pathology progresses to a substantial event such as a disc herniation. It can be inserted at any time in the progression of the natural history of disc disease. It can even be inserted when substantially the entire intervertebral disc has been removed. It can be inserted in conjunction with another procedure such as a Nucleus Pulposus Replacement (NPR) or Total Disc Replacement (TDR), etc. The various shapes and material of the AFS in this patent are designed to address particular clinical situations, particular anatomy and particular stages of disc degeneration. The AFS can be inserted directly through the AF, or by a technique of detaching part of the AF with bone without actually cutting a substantial part of AF fibers or layers of fibers or by the Transosseous approach.

Claims

1. ) a device to be inserted into a intervertebral disc that substantially forms wall, barrier or reinforcement parallel to the vertical axis of the disc annulus fibrosus, internal to the outer boundary of the annulus fibrosus, that spans part of the disc height, preventing or inhibiting the movement of natural or synthetic material from an internal region of a disc to the outside of a disc.

2. ) the device of claim 1 that is substantially a thin solid tube of material, wire or line coiled in any chosen diameter smaller than the natural boundary of a disc in the axial plain

3. ) the device of claim 1 that is a sheet of material that can be rolled up and then deployed

4. ) the device of claim 1 where the device is deployable such as a bladder and can be filled with a gas, liquid or another material that cures to a solid

5. ) the device of claim 1 where the device can have projections or cavities on the surface to promote stabilization

6. ) the device of claim 1 where the device is modular and can be assembled by inserting individual parts into the disc and assembling the device

7. ) the device of claim 6 where the modular elements can be rings and the assembled device a cage made from individual elements

8. ) the device of claim 1 where it can be a substantially hollow ellipsoid or bladder that can be deployed after insertion

9. ) the device of claim 8 where there is a aperture to insert additional devices

10. ) the device of claim 8 where the hollow ellipsoid can have perforations

11. ) the device of claim 1 where the device can be made several interlocking pieces that can be assembled outside the disc and then deployed after insertion

12. ) the device of claim 1 where the device can be folded in an multifold pattern and the unfolded after insertion

13. ) the device of claim 12 where the unfolded device can be reinforced by additional structures such as rings or other suitable reinforcing structures

14. ) the device of claim 1 where it can be made of a shaped memory material

15. ) the device of claim 14 where it can be a shaped memory plastic

16. ) the device of claim 14 where it can be a shaped memory alloy

17. ) the device of claim 1 that can be coated with materials to promote fixation

18. ) the device of claim 1 where the device is not completely circumferential

19. ) the device of claim 1 where the device extends substantially from the vertebral body above the disc to the vertebral body below the disc

20. ) the device of claim 1 where it can be a mesh, net or cage that can be compressed, inserted and then deployed after insertion