DEVICES AND METHODS FOR MEASURING THE SPACE AROUND A NERVE ROOT
First Claim
1. A method of measuring the size of a compliant region adjacent to a patient'"'"'s nerve root, the method comprising:
- advancing a guidewire from a first position outside of the patient'"'"'s body, through an intervertebral foramen, and out of the patient'"'"'s body at a second position;
advancing a measurement device adjacent to a portion of the nerve root, wherein the measurement device is coupled to the guidewire; and
estimating a size of the compliant region adjacent to the nerve root, based on the advancement of the measurement device.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Described herein are method, systems and devices for measuring the region adjacent to or around a nerve root, such as the space within an intervertebral foramen before, during and/or after a spinal decompression procedure. Measurement devices may be advanced by pulling on them using a guidewire passing through the intervertebral foramen and out of the subject. The measurement device may include sounds for determining one or more dimensions of the space around a nerve root within an intervertebral space, lateral recess or central canal. Various embodiments of sounds, including calibrated, inflatable, expandable, moldable, and tapered sounds (or combinations of these) are described.
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Citations
42 Claims
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1. A method of measuring the size of a compliant region adjacent to a patient'"'"'s nerve root, the method comprising:
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advancing a guidewire from a first position outside of the patient'"'"'s body, through an intervertebral foramen, and out of the patient'"'"'s body at a second position; advancing a measurement device adjacent to a portion of the nerve root, wherein the measurement device is coupled to the guidewire; and estimating a size of the compliant region adjacent to the nerve root, based on the advancement of the measurement device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of measuring the size of a compliant region adjacent to a patient'"'"'s nerve root as part of a spinal decompression procedure, the method comprising:
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advancing a guidewire from a first position outside of the patient'"'"'s body, through an intervertebral foramen, and out of the patient'"'"'s body at a second position; pulling the measurement device at least partially into the intervertebral foramen, wherein the measurement device is coupled to the proximal portion of the guidewire; expanding a portion of the measurement device; and estimating a size of the compliant region adjacent to the nerve root, based on the expansion of the measurement device. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A measurement device for measuring the size of a compliant region adjacent to a patient'"'"'s nerve root as part of a spinal decompression procedure, the device comprising:
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a proximal end configured to be gripped; a guidewire coupling region at the distal end, the guidewire coupling region configured to mate with the proximal end of a guidewire; and a sound region near the distal end, wherein the sound region is configured to be flexibly pulled at least partially through the intervertebral foramen and provide indication of the dimension of the intervertebral foramen. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A system for measuring the size of a compliant region adjacent to a patient'"'"'s nerve root as part of a spinal decompression procedure, the system comprising:
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a guidewire having a distal end and a proximal end, and configured to pass from a first position outside of a patient'"'"'s body, through an intervertebral foramen, and out of the patient'"'"'s body at a second position; and a measurement device including a sound region near the distal end, and a guidewire coupling region at the distal end, the guidewire coupling region configured to mate with the proximal end of the guidewire;
wherein the sound region is configured to be flexibly advanced at least partially through the intervertebral foramen and provide indication of the dimension of the intervertebral foramen. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A device for measuring an intervertebral foramen as part of a spinal decompression procedure, the device comprising:
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a flexible wire passable through an intervertebral foramen and including a distal tip coupler for coupling with a guidewire; and a distal tapered sound region fixedly coupled with the flexible wire for passing into the intervertebral foramen;
wherein the tapered sound comprises a moldable material configured to hold the shape of at least a portion of the intervertebral foramen when withdrawn from the intervertebral foramen.
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36. A device for measuring an intervertebral foramen as part of a spinal decompression procedure, the device comprising:
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a flexible catheter passable into an intervertebral foramen and having proximal and distal ends; an inflatable balloon disposed along the catheter at or near its distal end; and a coupler disposed along the catheter at or near its distal end for coupling the catheter with a guidewire. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38)
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39. A device for percutaneously measuring an intervertebral foramen as part of a spinal decompression procedure, the device comprising:
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a flexible catheter configured to pass through an intervertebral foramen, the catheter having proximal and distal portions, and an expansion region; a plurality of long, flexible expansion members configured to pass into the expansion region, wherein the expansion region is configured to expand as the expansion members are passed therein; and a guidewire coupling region configured to couple the catheter with a guidewire that can advance the catheter into the foramen. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41)
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42. A method of measuring the size of a compliant region adjacent to a patient'"'"'s nerve root, the method comprising:
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advancing a guidewire from a first position outside of the patient'"'"'s body, through an intervertebral foramen, and out of the patient'"'"'s body at a second position; applying an electrical current between a pair of tight bipolar electrodes on a measurement device; advancing the measurement device until the patient'"'"'s nerve root is stimulated by the applied electrical current, wherein the measurement device is coupled to the guidewire; and estimating a size of the region adjacent to the nerve root, based on the advancement of the measurement device.
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Specification