Mechanical apparatus and method for artificial disc replacement
First Claim
1. A method for treating an inter-vertebral disc in a patient'"'"'s spine, the disc having an annulus and a nucleus, the method comprising:
- inserting a circumferentially expandable device into the inter-vertebral space to repair or reinforce a damaged annulus or nucleus;
positioning an mechanically expansile loop circumferentially around said annular tissues such that said expansile loop substantially encircles the inside of the annular space; and
expanding said mechanically expansile loop within said annular space, said expanded expansile loop having an inside surface whereby expanding said expansile loop forms an inner central area.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates to a device and method which may be used to reinforce the native annulus during spinal surgery. The device is a catheter based device which is placed into the inter-vertebral space following discectomy performed by either traditional surgical or endoscopic approaches. The distal end of the catheter is comprised of an expansile loop which may be increased in diameter by advancement of a portion of the catheter via its proximal end, such proximal end remaining external to the body. The expansile loop may be formed such that when the loop is diametrically contracted the loop feeds into its other end, similar to a snake eating its own tail. Stabilization of the outer portion of the loop and pulling out the inner portion will thereby increase the overall diameter of the loop while maintaining it as a closed loop or torus. The expansile loop can use an attachment means to secure it to substantially healthy tissues of the annulus, nucleus, or endplates. The present invention comprises four embodiments and can be used to 1) facilitate disk fusing, 2) perform an artificial replacement of the nucleus, 3) perform an artificial replacement of the annulus, or 4, perform an artificial replacement of both the nucleus and annulus.
187 Citations
18 Claims
-
1. A method for treating an inter-vertebral disc in a patient'"'"'s spine, the disc having an annulus and a nucleus, the method comprising:
-
inserting a circumferentially expandable device into the inter-vertebral space to repair or reinforce a damaged annulus or nucleus;
positioning an mechanically expansile loop circumferentially around said annular tissues such that said expansile loop substantially encircles the inside of the annular space; and
expanding said mechanically expansile loop within said annular space, said expanded expansile loop having an inside surface whereby expanding said expansile loop forms an inner central area. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A method for treating an inter-vertebral disc in a patient'"'"'s spine, the disc having an annulus and a nucleus, the method comprising:
-
enclosing a biomaterial with a circumferentially configured expansile loop resulting in a preloaded expansile loop;
advancing said preloaded expandable device into the inter-vertebral space to repair or reinforce a damaged annulus or nucleus; and
expanding said preloaded expansile loop within said inter-vertebral space to inner portion of the native annulus whereby the bone allograft, autograft or bone cage is maintained within the inner portion of the expansile loop. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. An apparatus for treating an inter-vertebral disc in a patient'"'"'s spine, comprising:
-
An internal shaft member;
said shaft member having a proximal end and a terminal end, said terminal end fitted with a first attachment means;
A inner tubular member, said inner tubular member in coaxial alignment with said shaft member, said inner tubular member having a proximal end and a terminal end;
a outer tubular member, said outer tubular member surrounding at least a portion of said inner tubular member, said outer tubular member having a proximal end and a terminal end;
an expansile mesh, said expansile mesh having one or more control elements, said expansile exiting said terminal end of said inner tubular member; and
said control elements in close proximity to said expansile mesh entering from said terminal end of said outer tubular member and extending the longitudinal length of said outer tubular member. - View Dependent Claims (18)
-
Specification