Methods for injecting a curable biomaterial into an intervertebral space
First Claim
1. A method of treating a diseased or damaged spinal disc having an inner nucleus pulposus and an outer annulus, comprising the steps of:
- providing access to the nucleus pulposus through the annulus;
removing at least a portion of said nucleus pulposus to create an intradiscal space;
determining the size of said intradiscal space; and
sealably introducing under pressure a curable biomaterial through said annulus directly into said intradiscal space.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for treating a diseased or damaged spinal disc comprises the steps of: (a) providing access to the nucleus pulposus through the annulus; (b) removing at least a portion of the nucleus pulposus to create an intradiscal space; determining the size of the intradiscal space; and (c) sealably introducing under pressure a curable biomaterial through the annulus directly into the intradiscal space. The method may include the additional steps of applying a force to distract the opposing vertebral bodies about the intradiscal space and then removing the distraction force after the biomaterial has cured. The step of determining the size of the intradiscal space may be accomplished by expanding a compliant balloon within the intradiscal space using a contrast medium capable of visualization under fluoroscopy. The curable material is sealably introduced through a vented needle inserted through the opening. The curable biomaterial is introduced until a quantity of the material flows into the vent.
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Citations
63 Claims
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1. A method of treating a diseased or damaged spinal disc having an inner nucleus pulposus and an outer annulus, comprising the steps of:
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providing access to the nucleus pulposus through the annulus;
removing at least a portion of said nucleus pulposus to create an intradiscal space;
determining the size of said intradiscal space; and
sealably introducing under pressure a curable biomaterial through said annulus directly into said intradiscal space. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A method of treating a diseased or damaged spinal disc between opposing vertebral bodies having an inner nucleus pulposus and an outer annulus, comprising the steps of:
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forming an opening through the annulus to provide access to the nucleus pulposus;
removing at least a portion of the nucleus pulposus to create an intradiscal space;
applying a force to distract the opposing vertebral bodies about the intradiscal space;
removing the distraction force; and
then sealably introducing under pressure a curable biomaterial through said opening directly into said intradiscal space. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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45. A method of treating a diseased or damaged spinal disc having an inner nucleus pulposus and an outer annulus, comprising the steps of:
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forming an opening through said annulus to provide access to the nucleus pulposus;
removing at least a portion of the nucleus pulposus to create an intradiscal space;
determining the size of said intradiscal space;
introducing into said annulus opening a vented needle with a seal in a manner such that said seal forms a fluid-tight seal about said opening and said vented needle communicates with said intradiscal space; and
introducing under pressure a curable biomaterial through said needle directly into said intradiscal space. - View Dependent Claims (46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54)
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55. A method of treating a diseased or damaged spinal disc between two opposing vertebral bodies having an inner nucleus pulposus and an outer annulus, comprising the steps of:
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performing an annulotomy to create an opening through said annulus;
performing a nucleotomy to remove at least a portion of said nucleus pulposus and create and intradiscal space;
distracting the opposed vertebral bodies about the intradiscal space;
determining the size of the created intradiscal space;
providing a vented needle with a seal therein;
inserting said vented needle into said opening through said annulus and in communication with said intradiscal space and placing said seal against at least the exterior surface of said annulus adjacent said opening to form a fluid-tight seal thereat;
introducing under an introduction pressure a curable biomaterial through said needle directly into said intradiscal space; and
substantially maintaining said introduction pressure and said seal until said biomaterial is at least partially cured. - View Dependent Claims (56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63)
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Specification