PHOTODYNAMIC BONE STABILIZATION SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR TREATING SPINE CONDITIONS

• US 20130006304A1
• Filed: 09/14/2012
• Published: 01/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Illuminoss Medical, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Illuminoss Medical, Inc.
• Inventors: Rabiner, Robert A., Colleran, Dennis P., Dye, Justin G.
• Application Number:
  US13/617,058
• Publication Number:
  US 20130006304A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/249
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7004 with a cross-section which varies along its length A61B17/7019 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7013 the shape of the element being adjustable before use adjustable length plates A61B17/7014
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7065 Devices with changeable shape, e.g. collapsible or having retractable arms to aid implantation; Tools therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00557 inflatable A61B2017/22051 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/30965 Reinforcing the prosthesis by embedding particles or fibres during moulding or dipping
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/441 made of inflatable pockets or chambers filled with fluid, e.g. with hydrogel
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4455 for the fusion of spinal bodies, e.g. intervertebral fusion of adjacent spinal bodies, e.g. fusion cages intervertebral discs A61F2/442
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4611 of spinal prostheses
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3008 radio-opaque, e.g. radio-opaque markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/302 toroidal, e.g. rings
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30579 with mechanically expandable devices, e.g. fixation devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30583 filled with hardenable fluid, e.g. curable in-situ
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30593 hollow
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30925 etched
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4495 having a fabric structure, e.g. made from wires or fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0085 hardenable in situ, e.g. epoxy resins
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0065 toroidal, e.g. ring-shaped, doughnut-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0098 radio-opaque, e.g. radio-opaque markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/0097 Coating or prosthesis-covering structure made of pharmaceutical products, e.g. antibiotics
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00976 Coating or prosthesis-covering structure made of proteins or of polypeptides, e.g. of bone morphogenic proteins BMP or of transforming growth factors TGF

Abstract

In an embodiment, an interspinous process spacer system includes a light-conducting fiber configured to transmit light energy; a liquid light-curable material; and a catheter having an elongated shaft with a proximal end adapter, a distal end releasably engaging an expandable interspinous process spacer device, and a longitudinal axis therebetween, wherein an inner void of the catheter is sufficiently designed for passage of the liquid light-curable material to the interspinous process spacer device, wherein an inner lumen of the catheter is sufficiently designed for passage of the light-conducting fiber to the interspinous process spacer device, wherein the interspinous process spacer device includes a circumferential groove, wherein the interspinous process spacer device is sufficiently designed to inflate and deflate as the liquid light-curable material is added, and wherein the interspinous process spacer device, when positioned between two spinous processes and inflated, is configured to engage the spinous processes at the groove.

Claims

1. An interspinous process spacer system comprising:

a light-conducting fiber configured to transmit light energy;

a liquid light-curable material; and

a catheter having an elongated shaft with a proximal end adapter, a distal end releasably engaging an expandable interspinous process spacer device, and a longitudinal axis therebetween,

wherein an inner void of the catheter is sufficiently designed for passage of the liquid light-curable material to the expandable interspinous process spacer device,

wherein an inner lumen of the catheter is sufficiently designed for passage of the light-conducting fiber to the expandable interspinous process spacer device,

wherein the expandable interspinous process spacer device includes a circumferential groove,

wherein the expandable interspinous process spacer device is sufficiently designed to inflate and deflate as the liquid light-curable material is added, and

wherein the expandable interspinous process spacer device, when positioned between two spinous processes and inflated, is configured to engage the spinous processes at the groove.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the proximal end adapter comprises:

a first adapter for infusion of the liquid light-curable material; and

a second adapter for introduction of the light-conducting fiber.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the light-conducting fiber is an optical fiber configured to transmit light with a wavelength between about 420 nanometers and about 500 nanometers.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the expandable interspinous process spacer device is fabricated from a thin-walled, non-compliant PET nylon aramet.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the expandable interspinous process spacer device is shaped to resemble a grooved pulley wheel.

6. The system of claim 1 for use in treating spinal stenosis.

7. A method comprising:

providing a system comprising;

a light-conducting fiber configured to transmit light energy;

a liquid light-curable material; and

a catheter having an elongated shaft with a proximal end adapter, a distal end releasably engaging an expandable interbody device, and a longitudinal axis therebetween,

wherein an inner void of the catheter is sufficiently designed for passage of the liquid light-curable material to the expandable interbody device,

wherein an inner lumen of the catheter is sufficiently designed for passage of the light-conducting fiber to the expandable interbody device, and

wherein the expandable interbody device is sufficiently designed to inflate and deflate as the liquid light-curable material is added;

removing at least a portion of a damaged intervertebral disc, the damaged intervertebral disc positioned between an upper vertebral body and a lower vertebral body;

inserting the expandable interbody device between the upper vertebral body and the lower vertebral body in place of the damaged intervertebral disc;

infusing the liquid light-curable material into the expandable interbody device to inflate the expandable interbody device;

inserting the light-conducting fiber into the inner lumen of the catheter so that the light-conducting fiber resides in the expandable interbody device;

activating the light-conducting fiber to transmit light energy to the expandable interbody device to initiate polymerization of the liquid light-curable material within the expandable interbody device; and

completing the polymerization of the liquid light-curable material to harden the expandable interbody device,

wherein at least a portion of an outer surface of the hardened expandable interbody device engages the upper vertebral body and the lower vertebral body.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein insertion of the expandable interbody device between the upper vertebral body and the lower vertebral body is by a posterior approach.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the expandable interbody device is fabricated from a thin-walled, non-compliant PET nylon aramet.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein the hardened expandable interbody device restores an original disc height between the upper vertebral body and the lower vertebral body.

11. The method of claim 7 wherein the hardened expandable interbody device restores an original disc height at an anterior portion, a middle portion and a posterior portion between the upper vertebral body and the lower vertebral body.

12. The method of claim 7 wherein a thickness of the hardened expandable interbody device is constant as the hardened expandable interbody device engages the upper vertebral body and the lower vertebral body.

13. The method of claim 7 wherein a thickness of the hardened expandable interbody device varies as the hardened expandable interbody device engages the upper vertebral body and the lower vertebral body.

14. The method of claim 7 further comprising removing the light-conducting fiber from the catheter.

15. The method of claim 7 further comprising releasing the expandable interbody device from the catheter.

16. The method of claim 7 further comprising placing bone graft around the interbody device.

17. A method comprising:

providing a system comprising;

a light-conducting fiber configured to transmit light energy;

a liquid light-curable material; and

a catheter having an elongated shaft with a proximal end adapter, a distal end releasably engaging an expandable spinal fusion device, and a longitudinal axis therebetween,

wherein an inner void of the catheter is sufficiently designed for passage of the liquid light-curable material to the expandable spinal fusion device,

wherein an inner lumen of the catheter is sufficiently designed for passage of the light-conducting fiber to the expandable spinal fusion device, and

wherein the expandable spinal fusion device is sufficiently designed to inflate and deflate as the liquid light-curable material is added;

placing pedicle screws at consecutive spine segments, each of the pedicle screws having openings;

inserting the expandable spinal fusion device into the openings of the pedicle screws to connect the pedicle screws together;

infusing the liquid light-curable material into the expandable spinal fusion device to inflate the expandable spinal fusion device;

inserting the light-conducting fiber into the inner lumen of the catheter so that the light-conducting fiber resides in the expandable spinal fusion device;

activating the light-conducting fiber to transmit light energy to the expandable spinal fusion device to initiate polymerization of the liquid light-curable material within the expandable spinal fusion device; and

completing the polymerization of the liquid light-curable material to harden the expandable spinal fusion device,

wherein the hardened expandable spinal fusion device is sufficiently designed to fixate the spine segment.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising removing the light-conducting fiber from the catheter.

19. The method of claim 17 further comprising releasing the expandable spinal fusion device from the catheter.

20. The method of claim 17 for use in treating a condition selected from the group consisting of degenerative disc disease, spinal disc herniation, discogenic pain, spinal tumor, spinal stenosis, vertebral fracture, scoliosis, kyphosis, spondylolisthesis, spondylosis, Posterior Rami Syndrome, other degenerative spinal conditions and any condition that causes instability of the spine.