Methods for Limiting the Movement of Material Introduced Between Layers of Spinal Tissue

• US 20070055275A1
• Filed: 08/15/2006
• Published: 03/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IZI Medical Products LLC (Halma PLC)
• Original Assignee: Benvenue Medical, Inc. (Halma PLC)
• Inventors: Schaller, Laurent
• Granted Patent: US 7,670,375 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/92
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/70 Spinal positioners or stabilisers ; Bone stabilisers comprising fluid filler in an implant
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7097 Stabilisers comprising fluid filler in an implant, e.g. balloon; devices for inserting or filling such implants disc prostheses made of inflatable chambers or pockets filled with fluid A61F2/441; replacing the nucleus pulposus A61F2002/444
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8852 capable of being assembled or enlarged, or changing shape, inside the bone or disc
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00867 shape memory effect
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0256 for the spine
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/44 for the spine, e.g. vertebrae, spinal discs
• 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 2/4455 for the fusion of spinal bodies, e.g. intervertebral fusion of adjacent spinal bodies, e.g. fusion cages intervertebral discs A61F2/442
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4611 of spinal prostheses
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/2835 Bone graft implants for filling a bony defect or an endoprosthesis cavity, e.g. by synthetic material or biological material
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30092 using shape memory or superelastic materials, e.g. nitinol
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30153 rectangular
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30235 tubular, e.g. sleeves
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30263 cubical
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30289 helically-coiled
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30462 retained or tied with a rope, string, thread, wire or cable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3052 unrestrained in only one direction, e.g. moving unidirectionally
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30594 slotted, e.g. radial or meridian slot ending in a polar aperture, non-polar slots, horizontal or arcuate slots
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30601 telescopic
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30677 : Means for introducing or releasing pharmaceutical products, e.g. antibiotics, into the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30772 : Apertures or holes, e.g. of circular cross section
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4415 : elements of the prosthesis being arranged in a chain like manner
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/448 : comprising multiple adjacent spinal implants within the same intervertebral space or within the same vertebra, e.g. comprising two adjacent spinal implants
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4627 : with linear motion along or rotating motion about the instrument axis or the implantation direction, e.g. telescopic, along a guiding rod, screwing inside the instrument
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4635 : using minimally invasive surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4683 : by applying ultrasonic vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4688 : having operating or control means
• 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 2220/0025 : Connections or couplings between prosthetic parts, e.g. between modular parts; Connecting elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0075 : sutured, ligatured or stitched, retained or tied with a rope, string, thread, wire or cable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0019 : rectangular
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0069 : cylindrical
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0084 : cubical
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0091 : helically-coiled or spirally-coiled, i.e. having a 2-D spiral cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0067 : Means for introducing or releasing pharmaceutical products into the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00293 : containing a phosphorus-containing compound, e.g. apatite

Abstract

Methods for limiting the movement of flowable material introduced into or between tissue layers of the human spine. The method can include inserting a member between tissue layers of the human spine. The member has a first configuration for insertion of the elongated member between tissue layers. The shape of the member is changed into a second configuration that defines a barrier that limits or directs the movement of flowable material. Flowable material is introduced to a selected location between the tissue layers and the barrier acts to limit or direct the movement of the flowable material.

Claims

1. A method of limiting or directing the movement of flowable material introduced between tissue layers of the human spine, comprising:

inserting a generally elongated member between tissue layers of the human spine, said elongated member having a first configuration adapted for insertion between the tissue layers;

changing the configuration of the elongated member into a second configuration which defines a barrier that limits or directs the movement of flowable material; and

introducing flowable material to a selected location between the tissue layers, the barrier acting to limit or direct the movement of such flowable material.

2. The method of claim 1 in which the inserting the elongated member comprises inserting the elongated member through a cannula into between the tissue layers.

3. The method of claim 1 in which the barrier includes a resident volume, and the introducing flowable material comprises introducing flowable material into the resident volume.

4. The method of claim 1 in which the barrier includes a resident volume, and the introducing flowable material comprises introducing flowable material to a location outside of the resident volume.

5. The method of claim 1 further including employing the barrier to direct the movement of flowable material to a desired location.

6. The method of claim 1 in which the changing of configuration of the elongated member from the first configuration to the second configuration is the result of a self-forming of the elongated member into the shape of the second configuration.

7. The method of claim 6 in which the elongated member is comprised of a shape memory material.

8. The method of claim 1 in which the barrier comprises a helical shape comprising a plurality of stacked windings.

9. The method of claim 1 in which the first configuration of the elongated member is generally linear.

10. A method of limiting or directing the movement of flowable material introduced into a vertebral body of a human vertebra, comprising:

inserting a generally elongated member into the vertebral body, said elongated member having a first configuration adapted for insertion into the vertebral body;

changing the configuration of the elongated member into a second configuration which defines a barrier that limits or directs the movement of flowable material introduced into the vertebral body; and

introducing flowable material to a selected location within the vertebral body, the barrier acting to limit or direct the movement of such flowable material.

11. The method of claim 10 in which the inserting the elongated member comprises inserting the elongated member through a cannula into the vertebral body.

12. The method of claim 10 in which the barrier includes a resident volume, and the introducing flowable material comprises introducing flowable material into the resident volume.

13. The method of claim 10 in which the barrier includes a resident volume, and the introducing flowable material comprises introducing flowable material to a location outside of the resident volume.

14. The method of claim 10 further including employing the barrier to direct the movement of flowable material to a desired location.

15. The method of claim 10 in which the changing of configuration of the elongated member from the first configuration to the second configuration is the result of a self-forming of the elongated member into the shape of the second configuration.

16. The method of claim 15 in which the elongated member is comprised of a shape memory material.

17. The method of claim 10 in which the barrier comprises a helical shape comprising a plurality of stacked windings.

18. The method of claim 10 in which the first configuration of the elongated member is generally linear.

19. A method of limiting or directing the movement of flowable material introduced between a superior vertebra and an inferior vertebra, comprising:

inserting a generally elongated member between a superior vertebra and an inferior vertebra, said elongated member having a first configuration adapted for insertion between the superior and inferior vertebrae;

changing the configuration of the elongated member into a second configuration which defines a barrier that limits or directs the movement of flowable material; and

introducing flowable material to a selected location between the superior vertebra and the inferior vertebra, the barrier acting to limit or direct the movement of such flowable material.

20. The method of claim 19 in which the inserting the elongated member comprises inserting the elongated member through a cannula into between the superior and inferior vertebrae.

21. The method of claim 19 in which the barrier includes a resident volume, and the introducing flowable material comprises introducing flowable material into the resident volume.

22. The method of claim 19 in which the barrier includes a resident volume, and the introducing flowable material comprises introducing flowable material to a location outside of the resident volume.

23. The method of claim 19 further including employing the barrier to direct the movement of flowable material to a desired location.

24. The method of claim 19 in which the changing of configuration of the elongated member from the first configuration to the second configuration is the result of a self-forming of the elongated member into the shape of the second configuration.

25. The method of claim 24 in which the elongated member is comprised of a shape memory material.

26. The method of claim 19 in which the barrier comprises a helical shape comprising a plurality of stacked windings.

27. The method of claim 19 in which the first configuration of the elongated member is generally linear.

28. A method of limiting or directing the movement of flowable material introduced into a vertebral body of a human vertebra, comprising:

inserting at least a distal end portion of a guide member into a vertebral body, said guide member having a first configuration for insertion into the vertebral body;

changing the configuration of distal end portion of the guide member into a second configuration defining a predetermined shape;

advancing an elongated member over the distal end portion of the guide member so that the elongated member substantially conforms to the predetermined shape of the distal end portion of the guide wire to form a barrier that limits or directs the movement of flowable material introduced into the vertebral body;

introducing flowable material to a selected location within the vertebral body, the barrier acting to limit or direct the movement of such flowable material.

29. The method of claim 28 in which the inserting the guide member comprises inserting the guide member through a cannula into vertebral body.

30. The method of claim 28 in which the barrier includes a resident volume, and the introducing flowable material comprises introducing flowable material into the resident volume.

31. The method of claim 28 in which the barrier includes a resident volume, and the introducing flowable material comprises introducing flowable material to a location outside of the resident volume.

32. The method of claim 28 further including employing the barrier to direct the movement of flowable material to a desired location.

33. The method of claim 28 in which the changing of configuration of the guide member from the first configuration to the second configuration is the result of a self-forming of the guide member into the shape of the second configuration.

34. The method of claim 33 in which the guide member is comprised of a shape memory material.

35. The method of claim 28 in which the distal end portion of the guide member comprises a helical shape comprising a plurality of stacked windings.

36. The method of claim 28 in which the first configuration of the guide member is generally linear.