SUPPLEMENTATION OR REPLACEMENT OF A NUCLEUS PULPOSUS OF AN INTERVERTEBRAL DISC
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Abstract
A degenerated nucleus pulposus located in a central core region of an intervertebral disc within the annulus fibrosus is supplemented or replaced by a method wherein an amount of a biocompatible material is introduced into the central core region by a process including the steps of 1) forming a channel through a vertebral body adjacent to said intervertebral disc, extending from an exterior surface of the vertebral body to the central core region of the annulus fibrosus; 2) introducing an amount of a biocompatible material through the channel into the central core region of the annulus fibrosus; 3) pressurizing the biocompatible material through the channel to a postsurgical pressure sufficient to alleviate symptoms caused by the degenerated nucleus pulposus; and 4) sealing the channel while maintaining the sufficient postsurgical pressure. After sealing the channel, a vertebroplasty may optionally be performed in the vertebra.
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Citations
48 Claims
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1-28. -28. (canceled)
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29. A method for replacing or supplementing an intervertebral disc located between endplates of adjacent superior and inferior vertebral bodies, the endplates of the vertebral bodies each defining a longitudinal axis, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) forming a channel through one of the superior and inferior vertebral bodies adjacent to the intervertebral disc, the channel extending from an exterior surface of the vertebral body to the intervertebral disc, the channel having a longitudinal axis defining a vertical approach angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the endplate of the vertebral body through which the channel is formed, the vertical approach angle being in a range from about 10°
to about 70°
;(b) introducing a biocompatible material through the channel into the intervertebral disc; and (c) sealing the channel with a plug. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
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48. A method for replacing or supplementing a nucleus pulposus in an intervertebral disc having an annulus fibrosus surrounding a nucleus pulposus, the intervertebral disc being located between endplates of adjacent superior and inferior vertebral bodies, the endplates of the vertebral bodies each defining a longitudinal axis, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) forming a channel through one of the superior and inferior vertebral bodies adjacent to the intervertebral disc, the channel extending from an exterior surface of the vertebral body to the nucleus pulposus, the channel having a longitudinal axis defining a vertical approach angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the endplate of the vertebra through which the channel is formed, the vertical approach angle being about 40°
, the longitudinal axis of the channel forms a lateral approach angle with respect to a spinous process plane of the adjacent vertebral bodies, the lateral approach angle being about 50°
;(b) introducing an amount of a biocompatible material through the channel into the annulus fibrosus; and (c) sealing the channel with a plug.
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Specification