Annulotomy closure device and related methods

• US 20080071301A1
• Filed: 10/31/2007
• Published: 03/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nuvasive Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Nuvasive Incorporated
• Inventors: Gillespie, Walter, Pastore, Selise, Matsuura, David, Marino, James
• Granted Patent: US 9,277,903 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/151
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0057 Implements for plugging an opening in the wall of a hollow or tubular organ, e.g. for sealing a vessel puncture or closing a cardiac septal defect sutures A61B17/04; closing rectum or urethra near body surface A61F2/0009
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/68 Internal fixation devices , including fasteners and spinal fixators, even if a part thereof projects from the skin bone staples A61B17/0642
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00261 Discectomy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00575 for closure at remote site, e.g. closing atrial septum defects
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00592 Elastic or resilient implements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00601 Implements entirely comprised between the two sides of the opening
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00606 Implements H-shaped in cross-section, i.e. with occluders on both sides of the opening
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00619 Locking means for locking the implement in expanded state
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00623 Introducing or retrieving devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00654 entirely comprised between the two sides of the opening
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0063 Implantable repair or support meshes, e.g. hernia meshes
• 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 2002/0068 having a special mesh pattern
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/0072 Delivery tools therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3008 radio-opaque, e.g. radio-opaque markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30171 rosette- or star-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30224 cylindrical
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30461 sutured, ligatured or stitched
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30571 Leaf springs
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30579 with mechanically expandable devices, e.g. fixation devices
• 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 2002/4495 : having a fabric structure, e.g. made from wires or fibres
• 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 2230/005 : Rosette-shaped, e.g. star-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0069 : cylindrical
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0098 : radio-opaque, e.g. radio-opaque markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 29/02 : Dilators made of swellable material balloon catheters for angioplasty A61M25/104

Abstract

A system for sealing a hole in a body, comprising a generally cylindrical mesh formed from a plurality of helical strands which is inserted into the hole, with at least one end of the cylindrical mesh being moved least partially through an interior portion of the cylindrical shaped mesh such that the mesh expands radially outwards against sides of the hole.

Claims

1. A method for preventing egress through a hole in a vertebral annulus, comprising:

introducing a blocking element through at least a portion of said hole; and

expanding said blocking element such that said blocking element engages the sides of said hole, said expanded blocking element configured to prevent the egress through said hole of at least one of a high viscosity liquid and a solid.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said blocking element is generally cylindrical in shape.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said blocking element is generally conical in shape.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said blocking element is comprised of surgical mesh.

5. A method for preventing egress through a hole in a spinal element, comprising:

providing a biocompatible blocking element configured to engage a hole in a spinal element;

introducing said blocking element through at least a portion of said hole; and

expanding said blocking element such that said blocking element engages the sides of said hole, said expanded blocking element configured to prevent the egress through said hole of at least one of a high viscosity liquid and a solid.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said blocking element is generally cylindrical in shape.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein said blocking element is generally conical in shape.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein said blocking element is comprised of surgical mesh.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein said spinal element is a vertebral annulus.

10. A method for preventing egress through a hole in a spinal element, comprising:

providing a biocompatible blocking element configured to engage a hole in a spinal element;

introducing said blocking element through at least a portion of said hole; and

expanding said blocking element such that said blocking element engages the sides of said hole, said expanded blocking element configured to prevent the egress through said hole of material located within said spinal element.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said blocking element is generally cylindrical in shape.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein said blocking element is generally conical in shape.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein said blocking element is comprised of surgical mesh.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein said spinal element is a vertebral annulus.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein said material comprises at least one of a high viscosity liquid and a solid.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein said material comprises soft tissue.