Devices and methods for the treatment of spinal disorders

• US 6,689,125 B1
• Filed: 01/22/2002
• Issued: 02/10/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: KRT Investors, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Spinalabs, LLC
• Inventors: Keith, Peter T., Atkinson, Robert E.
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Connor, Cary E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): STOKES, CANDICE CAPRI
• Application Number:
  US10/055,780
• Time in Patent Office: 749 Days
• Field of Search: 607/96, 607/98, 607/99, 607/100, 607/101, 607/102, 607/154, 607/113, 128/642, 128/653.1, 128/654.8, 606/32
• US Class Current: 606/32
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0401 Suture anchors, buttons or pledgets, i.e. means for attaching sutures to bone, cartilage or soft tissue; Instruments for applying or removing suture anchors A61B17/0642 takes precedence; fixation devices for tendons or ligaments A61F2/0811
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1671 for the spine
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3468 for implanting or removing devices, e.g. prostheses, implants, seeds, wires devices for implanting seeds A61M37/0069
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3472 for bones, e.g. intraosseus injections
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/842 Flexible wires, bands or straps A61B17/72, A61B17/82, A61B17/86 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/86 Pins or screws or threaded wires; nuts therefor A61B17/72 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8897 Guide wires or guide pins
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/08 by means of electrically-heated probes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/14 Probes or electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00084 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00261 Discectomy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00557 inflatable A61B2017/22051 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0409 Instruments for applying suture anchors for applying suture clamps, clips or locks A61B2017/0488
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/037 with a frangible part, e.g. by reduced diameter
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4435 Support means or repair of the natural disc wall, i.e. annulus, e.g. using plates, membranes or meshes

Abstract

Devices and methods for treating a damaged intervertebral disc to reduce or eliminate associated back pain. The present invention provides disc reinforcement therapy (DRT) which involves implanting one or more reinforcement members in and preferably around the annulus of the disc. The reinforcement members may be used to stabilize the annulus and/or compresses a portion of the annulus so as to reduce a bulge and/or close a fissure.

Claims

1. A method of treating an annulus of an intervertebral disc in a patient'"'"'s spine, the method comprising the steps of:

providing an elongate member having a treatment length;

positioning the treatment length in the annulus of the intervertebral disc; and

while the treatment length is in the annulus, applying therapy directly to the annulus with the treatment length.

2. A method as in claim 1, wherein the step of applying therapy comprises applying compression to the annulus with the treatment length.

3. A method as in claim 1, wherein the entire treatment length is positioned in the annulus.

4. A method as in claim 1, wherein the heating length has a circumference, and wherein the heating length is positioned in the annulus such that annular tissue completely surrounds the circumference of at least a portion of the heating length.

5. A method as in claim 1, wherein the treatment length applies heat and compression to the annulus.

6. A method as in claim 1, wherein the treatment length is implanted chronically.

7. A method as in claim 1 wherein the treatment length is implanted temporarily.

8. A method as in claim 1, wherein the step of applying therapy comprises heating the treatment length to directly apply heat to the annulus.

9. A method as in claim 8, wherein the heat is applied temporarily.

10. A method of treating an annulus of an intervertebral disc in a patient'"'"'s spine, the method comprising the steps of:

providing an elongate member having a heating length;

positioning the heating length in the annulus of the intervertebral disc; and

while the heating length is in the annulus, applying heat directly to the annulus with the heating length.

11. A method as in claim 10, wherein the entire heating length is positioned in the annulus.

12. A method as in claim 10, wherein the heating length has a circumference, and wherein the heating length is positioned in the annulus such that annular tissue completely surrounds the circumference of at least a portion of the heating length.

13. A method as in claim 10, wherein the heat is applied temporarily.

14. A method as in claim 10, wherein the heating length is implanted chronically.

15. A method as in claim 10 wherein the heating length is implanted temporarily.