Method and apparatus for delivering or removing material from the interior of an intervertebral disc
First Claim
1. An externally guidable intervertebral disc apparatus having a longitudinal axis comprising:
- a proximal end for externally guiding the distal end of the apparatus within an intervertebral disc; and
a self-navigating intradiscal section adjacent a distal end of the apparatus which navigates itself adjacent an inner wall of an annulus of the disc when the apparatus is extended into the intervertebral disc, the intradiscal section having (a) sufficient rigidity to be advanceable through a nucleus pulposus and around the inner wall of an annulus fibrosus under a force applied longitudinally to the proximal end of the apparatus, (b) insufficient penetration ability to be advanceable out through the annulus fibrosus under the applied force, and (c) sufficient flexibility in a direction of a disc plane to be compliant with the inner wall.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An externally guidable intervertebral disc apparatus manipulates disc tissue present at a selected location of an intervertebral disc, comprising a catheter having a distal end, a proximal end, and a longitudinal axis, the catheter having an intradiscal section at the distal end of the catheter, the intradiscal section being extendible into the disc, having sufficient rigidity to be advanceable through the nucleus pulposus of the disc under a force applied longitudinally to the proximal end, having sufficient flexibility in a direction of the disc plane to be compliant with the inner wall, having insufficient penetration ability to be advanceable through the inner wall of the annulus fibrosus under the applied force; and a functional element located in the intradiscal section for adding or removing energy or a material at the selected location of the disc. Methods of using the apparatus are also disclosed.
472 Citations
29 Claims
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1. An externally guidable intervertebral disc apparatus having a longitudinal axis comprising:
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a proximal end for externally guiding the distal end of the apparatus within an intervertebral disc; and a self-navigating intradiscal section adjacent a distal end of the apparatus which navigates itself adjacent an inner wall of an annulus of the disc when the apparatus is extended into the intervertebral disc, the intradiscal section having (a) sufficient rigidity to be advanceable through a nucleus pulposus and around the inner wall of an annulus fibrosus under a force applied longitudinally to the proximal end of the apparatus, (b) insufficient penetration ability to be advanceable out through the annulus fibrosus under the applied force, and (c) sufficient flexibility in a direction of a disc plane to be compliant with the inner wall. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification