Minimally invasive apparatus to manipulate and revitalize spinal column disc
First Claim
1. A method to treat a misaligned spine comprising the steps of (a) providing an implant shaped and dimensioned to slide down a guide wire to a selected position intermediate a pair of vertebra to contact and alter the alignment of said vertebra;
- (b) sliding said implant down a guide wire to said selected position.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus are provided to manipulate and revitalize a spinal column disc while minimizing or preventing the removal of material comprising the disc. The method allows a device to be inserted in the disc either through a pre-existing rupture or through an opening formed in the front, back, or sides of the disc. Increasing the space between the vertebra bounding the disc or removing disc material often is not necessary to insert the device in the disc. The device generates internal traction or other forces acting on the disc to alter the shape of the disc. The shape of the disc is altered to relieve pressure on nerves adjacent the disc. The shape of the disc is also altered to draw nuclear hernias back into the interior of the disc and to produce a disc shape that improves functioning of the disc.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. A method to treat a misaligned spine comprising the steps of
(a) providing an implant shaped and dimensioned to slide down a guide wire to a selected position intermediate a pair of vertebra to contact and alter the alignment of said vertebra; (b) sliding said implant down a guide wire to said selected position.
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2. A method to treat a misaligned spine comprising the steps of
(a) providing a guide member; -
(B) providing an articulated implant shaped and dimensioned to slide down and off said guide member in a first orientation to a first selected position intermediate a pair of vertebra, to articulate to a second orientation and pushed along a path of travel to a second selected position intermediate said pair of vertebra;
(c) sliding said implant down said guide member to said first selected position; and
,(d) pushing said implant in said second orientation along said path of travel to said second selected position.
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3. A method to insert an implant intermediate a pair of vertebra, comprising the steps of
(a) providing an articulated implant shaped and dimensioned to be pushed along an arcuate path of travel to a selected position intermediate the pair of vertebra; -
(b) inserting said implant intermediate the pair of vertebra;
(c) pushing said implant along said arcuate path of travel to said second selected position.
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4. A method to insert an implant intermediate a pair of vertebra, comprising the steps of
(a) providing a guide wire having a distal end; -
(b) providing a spinal implant shaped and dimensioned to slide along said guide wire to a selected position intermediate the pair of vertebra;
(c) inserting said guide wire to position said distal end adjacent the pair of vertebra;
(d) sliding said spinal implant along said guide wire to said selected position; and
,(e) removing said guide wire.
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5. A method to treat a misaligned spine, comprising the steps of
(a) determining the apex of the misaligned spine; -
(b) selecting an adjacent pair of vertebra, at least one of said pair of vertebra being located at said apex;
(c) determining at least one direction in which to move at least one of said pair of vertebra to correct at least partially the misalignment of the spine;
(d) determining a spinal implant shape and dimension to achieve movement of said at least one of said pair of vertebra to correct at least partially misalignment of the spine;
(e) providing a selected spinal implant having said shape and dimension;
(f) determining a location intermediate said adjacent pair of vertebra at which to position said selected spinal implant to achieve said movement of said at least one of said pair of vertebra; and
(g) inserting said selected spinal implant at said location.
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6. A method to alter the alignment of a vertebra, comprising the steps of
(a) identifying a disc space location adjacent the vertebra; -
(b) identifying a spinal implant shape and dimension to generate a force acting from said disc space to alter alignment of the vertebra;
(c) providing a selected spinal implant having said shape and dimension; and
,(d) inserting said selected spinal implant in said disc space.
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7. A method for inserting an implant comprising the steps of
(a) providing an implant; -
(b) providing a guide member shaped and dimensioned to permit said implant to move along said guide member without rotating on said guide member;
(c) moving said implant along said guide member to a selected location in a patient'"'"'s body.
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8. A method for fixing an implant adjacent tissue in the body of a patient, comprising the steps of
(a) forming an implant with an outer surface having at least one opening that expands in size as the distance from said outer surface into said opening increases; - and,
(b) inserting the implant adjacent viscoelastic tissue in the body to permit the tissue to move into said opening and expand inside said opening.
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9. A method to align vertebrae including the steps of
(a) providing an implant that aligns a pair of adjacent vertebra and permits movement of said pair of adjacent vertebra while, to protect the facets of said vertebrae, minimizing rotation of one of said vertebra with respect to the other of said vertebra; - and,
(b) inserting said implant between said pair of vertebra to engage each of said pair of vertebra, alter the alignment of said vertebrae, permit movement of said vertebrae, and minimize rotation of one of said vertebrae with respect to the other of said vertebrae.
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10. A method to insert an implant having at least one moving component, comprising the steps of
(a) providing a guide member to (i) engage and insert said implant while immobilizing said moving component, and (ii) once said implant is inserted, to disengage from said implant and permit said moving component to move; -
(b) engaging said implant with said guide member to immobilize said moving component;
(c) inserting said implant with said guide member; and
,(d) disengaging said guide member from said implant to permit movement of said moving component.
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11. A method to alter the alignment of the spine, comprising the steps of
(a) providing an implant shaped and dimensioned to engage each one of an adjacent pair of adjacent vertebra and including at least one displaceable member to translate at least laterally at least one of said pair with respect to the other of said pair; -
(b) inserting said implant intermediate said pair of vertebra to engage each of said pair; and
,(c) displacing said member to translate laterally at least one of said pair.
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Specification