IONTOPHORETIC AND ELECTROOSMOTIC DISC TREATMENT

• US 20090312816A1
• Filed: 07/10/2007
• Published: 12/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Discure Technologies Limited
• Original Assignee: Rainbow Medical Ltd.
• Inventors: Gross, Yossi
• Granted Patent: US 8,577,469 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/51
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/205 for promoting a biological process
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/306 Arrangements where at least part of the apparatus is introduced into the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/325 for iontophoresis, i.e. transfer of media in ionic state by an electromotoric force into the body electrodes for external use A61N1/0428
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/326 for promoting growth of cells, e.g. bone cells
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/327 for enhancing the absorption properties of tissue, e.g. by electroporation

Abstract

Apparatus (10) is provided for treating an intervertebral disc (20) of a subject. The apparatus (10) includes a first electrode (30), configured to be inserted into a nucleus pulposus (40) of the disc (20), and a second electrode (32), configured to be placed outside of the nucleus pulposus (40), in a vicinity of the nucleus pulposus (40). A control unit (34) is configured to drive a current between the first and second electrodes (30, 32), and to configure the current to electroosmotically drive fluid between inside and outside the nucleus pulposus (40). Other embodiments are also described.

Claims

1. Apparatus for treating an intervertebral disc of a subject, comprising:

a first electrode, configured to be inserted into a nucleus pulposus of the disc;

a second electrode, configured to be placed outside of the nucleus pulposus, in a vicinity of the nucleus pulposus; and

a control unit, configured to drive a current between the first and second electrodes, and to configure the current to electroosmotically drive fluid between inside and outside the nucleus pulposus.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second electrode is configured to be placed in the vicinity of an external surface of an annulus fibrosus of the disc.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second electrode is configured to be at least partially inserted into an annulus fibrosus of the disc.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, and comprising an activity sensor, configured to detect a level of activity of the subject, wherein the control unit is configured to drive the current responsively to the detected level of activity.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, and comprising an orientation sensor, configured to detect an orientation of the subject, wherein the control unit is configured to drive the current responsively to the detected orientation.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to drive the current based on a circadian cycle of the subject.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first electrode comprises a rigid support element having a non-conductive outer surface.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to configure the current to stimulate the formation of at least one type of new collagen fibers selected from the group consisting of:

new collagen fibers in the nucleus pulposus, and new collagen in an annulus fibrosus of the disc.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to generate oxygen by causing hydrolysis in at least one tissue selected from:

the nucleus pulposus, and an annulus fibrosus of the disc.

12. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to configure the current to electroosmotically drive the fluid into the nucleus pulposus.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the control unit is configured to configure the first electrode to have a negative charge, and the second electrode to have a positive charge.

14. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to configure the current to electroosmotically drive the fluid from the nucleus pulposus.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the control unit is configured to configure the first electrode to have a positive charge, and the second electrode to have a negative charge.

16. The apparatus according to claim 1, and comprising a pressure sensor, configured to sense a pressure within the disc, wherein the control unit is configured to drive the current responsively to the sensed pressure.

17. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the pressure sensor is integrated with the first electrode

9-10. -10. (canceled)

18-28. -28. (canceled)

29. Apparatus for treating an intervertebral disc, comprising:

a first electrode, configured to be inserted into a nucleus pulposus of the disc; and

a second electrode, electrically coupled to the first electrode, and configured to be placed outside of the nucleus pulposus, in a vicinity of the nucleus pulposus.

30. The apparatus according to claim 29, wherein the apparatus comprises a conductor, which provides the electrical coupling of the first electrode to the second electrode.

31. The apparatus according to claim 29, and comprising a resistor, which is electrically coupled between the first and second electrodes.

32. The apparatus according to claim 31, wherein the resistor has a variable resistance.

33. The apparatus according to claim 32, and comprising a pressure sensor, configured to sense a pressure within the disc, and to set the resistance responsively to the sensed pressure.

34. The apparatus according to claim 32, and comprising a control unit, configured to set the resistance.

35. A method for treating an intervertebral disc of a subject, comprising:

driving a current between a first site within a nucleus pulposus of the disc and a second site outside of the nucleus pulposus; and

configuring the current to electroosmotically drive fluid between inside and outside the nucleus pulposus.

36. The method according to claim 35, wherein the second site is in the vicinity of an external surface of an annulus fibrosus of the disc.

37. The method according to claim 35, wherein the second site is at least partially within an annulus fibrosus of the disc.

38. The method according to claim 35, wherein driving the current comprises detecting a level of activity of the subject, and driving the current responsively to the detected level of activity.

39. The method according to claim 35, wherein driving the current comprises detecting an orientation of the subject, and driving the current responsively to the detected orientation.

40. The method according to claim 35, wherein driving the current comprises driving the current based on a circadian cycle of the subject.

41. The method according to claim 35, wherein configuring the current comprises configuring the current to stimulate the formation of at least one type of new collagen fibers selected from the group consisting of:

new collagen fibers in the nucleus pulposus, and new collagen in an annulus fibrosus of the disc.

43. The method according to claim 35, and comprising replacing the nucleus pulposus with an artificial substitute material before driving the current.

44. The method according to claim 35, wherein configuring the current comprises configuring the current to generate oxygen by causing hydrolysis in at least one tissue selected from:

the nucleus pulposus, and an annulus fibrosus of the disc.

46. The method according to claim 35, wherein configuring the current comprises configuring the current to electroosmotically drive the fluid into the nucleus pulposus.

47. The method according to claim 46, wherein configuring the current comprises configuring the first site to have a negative charge, and the second site to have a positive charge.

48. The method according to claim 35, wherein configuring the current comprises configuring the current to electroosmotically drive the fluid from the nucleus pulposus.

49. The method according to claim 48, wherein configuring the current comprises configuring the first site to have a positive charge, and the second site to have a negative charge.

50. The method according to claim 35, wherein driving the current comprises sensing a pressure within the disc, and driving the current responsively to the sensed pressure.

42. (canceled)

45. (canceled)

51-60. -60. (canceled)

61. A method for treating an intervertebral disc, comprising:

identifying that the disc requires treatment; and

treating the disc by;

inserting a first electrode into a nucleus pulposus of the disc, and

placing a second electrode, which is electrically coupled to the first electrode, outside of the nucleus pulposus, in a vicinity of the nucleus pulposus.

62. The method according to claim 61, and comprising replacing the nucleus pulposus with an artificial substitute material before or during inserting of the first electrode.

63-66. -66. (canceled)