BALLOON CANNULA SYSTEM FOR ACCESSING AND VISUALIZING SPINE AND RELATED METHODS
First Claim
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1. A method for minimally invasively accessing a body site, comprising:
- providing a tubular body with an inflatable member located at a distal end of the tubular body and protruding distally from the distal end of the tubular body, wherein the inflatable member has a common lumen, an unexpanded configuration and an expanded configuration;
inserting the tubular body toward a non-vascular target site in a body;
inflating the inflatable member to the expanded configuration while in the body; and
visualizing the non-vascular target site from the tubular body and through the common lumen of the distally protruding inflatable member.
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Abstract
Balloon cannula systems may be used for accessing and visualizing the spine and related methods of treatment, including a forward-looking balloon system for creating a working space and the balloon system having atraumatic dissection capability to allow visualization in spine. The devices and methods described may be used, for example, to perform annulus repair, herniated disc excision, and denervation of neurological tissue; to dispense pharmacological agents and/or cell or tissue therapy agents; to diagnose disc degeneration and bony degeneration, spinal stenosis, and nucleus decompression, and to perform disc augmentation.
145 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A method for minimally invasively accessing a body site, comprising:
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providing a tubular body with an inflatable member located at a distal end of the tubular body and protruding distally from the distal end of the tubular body, wherein the inflatable member has a common lumen, an unexpanded configuration and an expanded configuration; inserting the tubular body toward a non-vascular target site in a body; inflating the inflatable member to the expanded configuration while in the body; and visualizing the non-vascular target site from the tubular body and through the common lumen of the distally protruding inflatable member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method of manufacturing a medical component, comprising:
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providing a first tubular body comprising a proximal end and a distal end; providing a second tubular body comprising a proximal end, a distal end and an intermediate section therebetween; attaching the proximal end of the second tubular body at a first attachment site proximal to the distal end of the first tubular body while positioning the distal end of the second tubular body distal to the distal end of the first tubular body; and attaching the distal end of the second tubular body to the first tubular body so that at least a portion of the intermediate section of the second tubular body is distal to the distal end of the first tubular body. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for treating intervertebral disc degeneration in a spine, comprising:
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introducing a balloon cannula device having direct visualization capability into a portion of a spine; inflating the balloon cannula to create a forward looking capability to enhance visualization and displacement of tissues; and introducing a therapy device into the balloon cannula device to treat disc degeneration. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for treating intervertebral disc degeneration in a spine of a body, comprising:
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making an incision into a skin of the body; introducing a balloon cannula device having direct visualization component into a portion of the spine; inflating the balloon cannula to create a forward looking capability to enhance visualization and displacement of tissues; introducing therapy device into balloon cannula device to treat disc degeneration; and treating the disc degeneration.
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20. A method for treating intervertebral disc degeneration, comprising:
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introducing a balloon cannula device having direct visualization capability into a portion of the spine; steering the balloon cannula device to a position adjacent an outer surface of the disc or nervous tissues using visualization information provided by the balloon cannula device; displacing the nervous tissues or other tissues with a portion of the balloon cannula device to create a working area; using the balloon cannula device to deliver a therapy device for treating intervertebral disc degeneration; and
treating the disc degeneration. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification