DEVICE AND METHOD TREATMENT OR EVACUATION OF INTERVERTEBRAL DISC
First Claim
1. A method of treatment or evacuation of an interior of a mammalian intervertebral disc, comprising the steps of:
- a) forming an opening through a posterior wall of a mammalian intervertebral disc;
b) advancing an introducer comprising a guide through said opening in said posterior wall of the mammalian intervertebral disc, wherein said guide extends into the interior of the mammalian intervertebral disc;
c) with said introducer in position in said opening of said mammalian intervertebral disc, engaging the guide with an elongated tool formed of a shape memory material and comprising a preformed S-shape, wherein the S-shape comprises two separate and distinct arcs, and advancing said elongated tool along said guide, wherein said preformed, S-shape of said elongated tool is deformed by said guide while said preformed S-shape engages said guide;
d) continuing to advance said elongated tool along said guide until a portion of said elongated tool comprising said preformed S-shape exits said guide into the interior of the mammalian intervertebral disc, whereupon the preformed S-shape of said elongated tool assumes said preformed S-shape as said elongated tool exits said guide in the interior of the mammalian intervertebral disc;
e) positioning said elongated tool as desired within the interior of the mammalian intervertebral disc, wherein a distal end of the elongated tool is selectively positioned at different points in the interior of the mammalian intervertebral disc as the method of treatment is performed by the elongated tool by combining selective advancement and retraction of the elongated tool within the interior of the mammalian intervertebral disc with independent selective advancement and retraction of the introducer; and
f) withdrawing said elongated tool from the interior of the mammalian intervertebral disc.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of positioning an arcuate device against the inner walls of the disc, and particularly on the posterior and postero-lateral portions of the inner annulus of the disc. The arcuate device retains its predetermined arcuate shape when no pressure or force is applied to the catheter. In an embodiment, an arcuate cutter is used to remove tissue from the inner annulus of the disc. In another embodiment an arcuate device is used to progressively remove material from the interior of the mammalian intervertebral disc. In yet another embodiment, an arcuate device is used to remove the entire intervertebral disc and place supports to maintain a disc space.
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Citations
86 Claims
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1. A method of treatment or evacuation of an interior of a mammalian intervertebral disc, comprising the steps of:
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a) forming an opening through a posterior wall of a mammalian intervertebral disc; b) advancing an introducer comprising a guide through said opening in said posterior wall of the mammalian intervertebral disc, wherein said guide extends into the interior of the mammalian intervertebral disc; c) with said introducer in position in said opening of said mammalian intervertebral disc, engaging the guide with an elongated tool formed of a shape memory material and comprising a preformed S-shape, wherein the S-shape comprises two separate and distinct arcs, and advancing said elongated tool along said guide, wherein said preformed, S-shape of said elongated tool is deformed by said guide while said preformed S-shape engages said guide; d) continuing to advance said elongated tool along said guide until a portion of said elongated tool comprising said preformed S-shape exits said guide into the interior of the mammalian intervertebral disc, whereupon the preformed S-shape of said elongated tool assumes said preformed S-shape as said elongated tool exits said guide in the interior of the mammalian intervertebral disc; e) positioning said elongated tool as desired within the interior of the mammalian intervertebral disc, wherein a distal end of the elongated tool is selectively positioned at different points in the interior of the mammalian intervertebral disc as the method of treatment is performed by the elongated tool by combining selective advancement and retraction of the elongated tool within the interior of the mammalian intervertebral disc with independent selective advancement and retraction of the introducer; and f) withdrawing said elongated tool from the interior of the mammalian intervertebral disc. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 34, 35, 37, 38, 39, 42)
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10. A device for use in treatment or evacuation of an interior of a mammalian intervertebral disc, comprising:
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a) an introducer for introducing an elongated tool into the interior of the mammalian intervertebral disc, said introducer comprising a guide; and b) an elongated tool formed of shape memory material and comprising a preformed S-shape, wherein the S-shape comprises two separate and distinct arcs, and wherein said elongated tool engages said guide, and said elongated tool is transported into the interior of the mammalian intervertebral disc by said guide of said introducer, and said S-shape of said elongated tool is deformable and is deformed by said introducer as said elongated tool is transported along said guide, and said elongated tool regains its preformed S-shape upon exiting said guide of said introducer, wherein the guide and the elongated tool are constructed and arranged so that a distal end of the elongated tool is selectively positioned at different points of the mammalian intervertebral disc by combining selective advancement and retraction of the elongated tool within the interior of the mammalian intervertebral disc with independent selective advancement and retraction of the introducer. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 36, 40, 41, 43)
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44. A method of treatment or evacuation of an interior of a mammalian intervertebral disc, comprising the steps of:
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a) forming an opening through a posterior wall of a mammalian intervertebral disc; b) advancing an introducer comprising a guide through said opening in said posterior wall of the mammalian intervertebral disc, wherein said guide extends into the interior of the mammalian intervertebral disc; c) with said introducer in position in said opening of said mammalian intervertebral disc, engaging the guide with an elongated tool formed of a shape memory material and comprising a preformed S-shape, and advancing said elongated tool along said guide, wherein said preformed S-shape of said elongated tool is deformed by said guide while said preformed S-shape engages said guide; d) continuing to advance said elongated tool along said guide until a portion of said elongated tool comprising said preformed S-shape exits said guide into the interior of the mammalian intervertebral disc, whereupon the preformed S-shape of said elongated tool assumes said preformed S-shape as said elongated tool exits said guide in the interior of the mammalian intervertebral disc; e) positioning said elongated tool as desired within the interior of the mammalian intervertebral disc, wherein a distal end of the elongated tool is postionable on all interior surfaces of the mammalian intervertebral disc as the method of treatment is performed by the elongated tool by combining selective advancement and retraction of the elongated tool within the interior of the mammalian intervertebral disc with independent selective advancement and retraction of the introducer, and wherein selective advancement and retraction of the elongated tool within the interior of the mammalian intervertebral disc with independent selective advancement and retraction of the introducer; and f) withdrawing said elongated tool from the interior of the mammalian intervertebral disc. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58)
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59. A device for use in treatment or evacuation of an interior of a mammalian intervertebral disc, comprising:
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a) an introducer for introducing an elongated tool into the interior of the mammalian intervertebral disc, said introducer comprising a guide; and b) an elongated tool formed of shape memory material and comprising a preformed S-shape, and wherein said elongated tool engages said guide, and said elongated tool is transported into the interior of the mammalian intervertebral disc by said guide of said introducer, and said S-shape of said elongated tool is deformable and is deformed by said introducer as said elongated tool is transported along said guide, and said elongated tool regains its preformed S-shape upon exiting said guide of said introducer, wherein the guide and the elongated tool are constructed and arranged so that a distal end of the elongated tool is positionable on all interior surfaces of the mammalian intervertebral disc by combining selective advancement and retraction of the elongated tool within the interior of the mammalian intervertebral disc with independent selective advancement and retraction of the introducer. - View Dependent Claims (60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86)
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Specification