HELICAL GROOVE DILATING DEVICE AND RELATED METHODS

• US 20120065659A1
• Filed: 08/09/2011
• Published: 03/15/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Expanding Innovations Inc.
• Original Assignee: Expanding Innovations Inc.
• Inventors: TO, John T.
• Application Number:
  US13/206,375
• Publication Number:
  US 20120065659A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/192
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/3135 for examination of the epidural or the spinal space
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/317 for bones or joints, e.g. osteoscopes, arthroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/32 Devices for opening or enlarging the visual field, e.g. of a tube of the body dilators A61M29/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0218 for minimally invasive surgery A61B17/0281, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3417 Details of tips or shafts, e.g. grooves, expandable, bendable; Multiple coaxial sliding cannulas, e.g. for dilating syringe needles A61M5/32; dilators A61M29/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3472 for bones, e.g. intraosseus injections
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00261 Discectomy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/003 Steerable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2937 with flexible part
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320044 Blunt dissectors blunt suture needles A61B2017/06085
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/349 Trocar with thread on outside
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3614 using optical fibre
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 29/02 Dilators made of swellable material balloon catheters for angioplasty A61M25/104

Abstract

Dilators with a threaded distal portion may be used for penetrating and dilating stiff tissues and bones. The threaded portion of a dilator engages the tissue between the insertion site and the target site, and may be rotated for advancing through the target tissue in a more controlled fashion. The devices and methods described may be used in procedures, for example, where ligaments surrounding the epidural space need to be dilated in order to deliver one or more surgical instruments into the epidural space.

Claims

1. A dilating device, comprising:

an elongate shaft with a threaded portion at the distal end of the elongate shaft;

wherein the threaded portion comprises a distal port at its distal end;

wherein the shaft comprises a proximal port;

the proximal port communicating the distal port through a lumen.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the export is connected to a pressure applicator.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the pressure applicator comprises a pump.

4. The device of claim 2, wherein the pressure applicator comprise a syringe.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the threaded portion comprises a taper configuration.

6. The device of claim 5, where in the threaded portion comprises a taper angle of between about 5 degrees and about 45 degrees.

7. The device of claim 5, wherein the threaded portion comprises a longitudinal length of between about 0.5 mm and about 5 mm.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the threaded portion comprise a single thread.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the thread comprises a thread pitch of between about 0.25 mm and about 1.5 mm.

10. The device of claim 8, wherein the thread comprises a width of between about 0.05 mm and about 0.5 mm.

11. The device of claim 8, wherein the thread comprises a depth of between about 0.05 mm and about 0.5 mm.

12. The device of claim 8, wherein the thread comprises a helix angle of between about 5 degrees and about 85 degrees.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein the threaded portion is double-threaded.

14. A method for dilating a target tissue, comprising:

introducing a dilating device having a distal threaded portion;

pushing the dilating device axially until the thread portion engages the target tissue;

rotating the dilating device until the distal end of the dilating device passes through the target device.

15. A method for treating intervertebral disc degeneration in a spine, comprising:

rotating a dilating device having a distal threaded portion to dilate tissues enclosing a target site;

advancing a retractor cannula device having direct visualization capability over the dilating device to the target site, wherein the cannula device contains at least one lumen configured to encase an endoscope;

proximally withdrawing the dilating device;

urging the retractor cannula into an open configuration to create a forward looking capability to enhance visualization and displacement of tissues;

and introducing a therapy device into the retractor cannula device to treat disc degeneration.

16. A method for treating intervertebral disc degeneration in a spine of a body, comprising:

making in incision into a skin of the body;

introducing a dilating device having a distal threaded portion to a target tissue;

dilating the target tissue by rotating the dilating device until the distal end of the dilating device passes through the target tissue;

introducing a retractor cannula device having direct visualization component over the dilating device to a portion of the spine;

proximally withdrawing the dilating device;

urging the retractor cannula device into an open configuration to create a forward looking capability to enhance visualization and displacement of tissues;

introducing therapy device into retractor cannula device to treat disc degeneration; and

treating the disc degeneration.