SPINAL INTERVENTION TECHNIQUES AND INSTRUMENTS FOR POST-LAMINECTOMY SYNDROME AND OTHER SPINAL DISORDERS

• US 20080216846A1
• Filed: 02/11/2008
• Published: 09/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Bruce Levin
• Original Assignee: Bruce Levin
• Inventors: LEVIN, Bruce
• Application Number:
  US12/029,174
• Publication Number:
  US 20080216846A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/898
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/22 Implements for squeezing-off ulcers or the like on the inside of inner organs of the body; Implements for scraping-out cavities of body organs, e.g. bones; Calculus removers; Calculus smashing apparatus; Apparatus for removing obstructions in blood vessels, not otherwise provided for dilators A61M29/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/22012 in direct contact with, or very close to, the obstruction or concrement for removing obstructions in blood vessels by laser A61B18/245
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/320758 with a rotating cutting instrument, e.g. motor driven A61B17/320725, A61B17/32075 and A61B17/320783 take precedence; for removing intra-ocular material A61F9/00763; endoscopic rotatable cutting instruments A61B17/32002
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/14 Probes or electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00261 Discectomy

Abstract

The invention relates to methods and instruments for relieving spinal nerve impingement disorders (SNIDs) and symptoms associated with SNIDs. The methods involve separating a spinal neural structure and a transforaminal or peliforaminal ligament.

Claims

1. A method of relieving a spinal nerve impingement disorder of a vertebrate, the method comprising displacing at least one of a transforaminal ligament and a periforaminal ligament from a spinal neural structure (SNS) to a degree sufficient to relieve the disorder.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the ligament and the SNS are adhered prior to displacing the ligament.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the ligament and the SNS are not adhered after displacing the ligament.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the ligament is removed from the vertebrate.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the ligament is displace from the SNS using a percutaneously inserted instrument.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the instrument is selected from the group consisting of picks, needles, probes, cannulas, elevators, spatulas, spoons, separators, dissectors, hooks, awls, burnishers, rasps, curettes, drills, bits, screws, trephines, scalpels, scissors, forceps, retractors, pliers, syringes, and balloons.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the ligament is displaced by urging the instrument against the ligament.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the non-neural tissue is displaced by urging the instrument against the SNS.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein the ligament is displaced by pressure applied by a fluid supplied using the instrument.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the ligament is displaced by ablating a portion of the ligament.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the ligament is ablated using an agent selected from the group consisting of heat, cold, electricity, abrasion, ultrasound, vibration, laser light, maser radiation, fluid pressure, gamma radiation, a chemical, and an enzyme.