Intervertebral diagnostic and manipulation device

• US 6,821,276 B2
• Filed: 12/11/2001
• Issued: 11/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Intrinsic Therapeutics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Intrinsic Therapeutics, Inc.
• Inventors: Einhorn, Jacob, Banks, Thomas, Redmond, Russel J., Moore, Robert Kevin, Vidal, Claude A., Lambrecht, Gregory H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Woo, Julian W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, VI X
• Application Number:
  US10/020,507
• Publication Number:
  US 20020156530A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,078 Days
• Field of Search: 606/79, 606/80, 606/84, 606/61, 606/170, 606/191, 606/180, 606/166-167, 606/41, 606/45, 604/164.01, 604/164.13, 604/165.01, 604/165.04
• US Class Current: 606/45
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/320708 Curettes, e.g. hollow scraping instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/70 Spinal positioners or stabilisers ; Bone stabilisers comprising fluid filler in an implant
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00261 Discectomy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22077 with a part piercing the tissue A61B2017/22044 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320044 Blunt dissectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/3445 used as instrument channel for multiple instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/061 for measuring dimensions, e.g. length
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/062 penetration depth
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1076 for measuring dimensions inside body cavities, e.g. using catheters A61B3/1005 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4514 Cartilage
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2846 Support means for bone substitute or for bone graft implants, e.g. membranes or plates for covering bone defects nets or sleeves applied to surface of endoprostheses A61F2/30907; bone plates A61B17/80; bone regeneration in dental surgery A61C8/0006
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/30723 Plugs or restrictors for sealing a cement-receiving space tools for inserting plugs A61F2/4614; sealing collars for use during cementing A61B17/8808
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/30907 Nets or sleeves applied to surface of prostheses or in cement
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/441 made of inflatable pockets or chambers filled with fluid, e.g. with hydrogel
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/442 Intervertebral or spinal discs, e.g. resilient non-disc-shaped intervertebral inflatable pockets A61F2/441; non-disc-shaped intervertebral fusion implants A61F2/4455
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4601 for introducing bone substitute, for implanting bone graft implants or for compacting them in the bone cavity
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4611 of spinal prostheses
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4657 Measuring instruments used for implanting artificial joints for surgical instruments A61B90/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/2817 Bone stimulation by chemical reactions or by osteogenic or biological products for enhancing ossification, e.g. by bone morphogenetic or morphogenic proteins [BMP] or by transforming growth factors [TGF]
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30062 (bio)absorbable, biodegradable, bioerodable, (bio)resorbable, resorptive
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30075 : swellable, e.g. when wetted
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30131 : horseshoe- or crescent- or C-shaped or U-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30224 : cylindrical
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30228 : Cylinders of elliptical or oval basis
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30291 : spirally-coiled, i.e. having a 2D spiral cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30462 : retained or tied with a rope, string, thread, wire or cable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30571 : Leaf springs
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30583 : filled with hardenable fluid, e.g. curable in-situ
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30589 : Sealing means
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30677 : Means for introducing or releasing pharmaceutical products, e.g. antibiotics, into the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30777 : Oblong apertures
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30785 : parallel
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/444 : for replacing the nucleus pulposus
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/448 : comprising multiple adjacent spinal implants within the same intervertebral space or within the same vertebra, e.g. comprising two adjacent spinal implants
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4627 : with linear motion along or rotating motion about the instrument axis or the implantation direction, e.g. telescopic, along a guiding rod, screwing inside the instrument
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4635 : using minimally invasive surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4658 : for measuring dimensions, e.g. length
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4661 : for measuring thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4662 : for measuring penetration depth
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0004 : bioabsorbable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0061 : swellable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0085 : hardenable in situ, e.g. epoxy resins
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0075 : sutured, ligatured or stitched, retained or tied with a rope, string, thread, wire or cable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0013 : Horseshoe-shaped, e.g. crescent-shaped, C-shaped, U-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0069 : cylindrical
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0091 : helically-coiled or spirally-coiled, i.e. having a 2-D spiral cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00017 : Iron- or Fe-based alloys, e.g. stainless steel
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00023 : Titanium or titanium-based alloys, e.g. Ti-Ni alloys
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00029 : Cobalt-based alloys, e.g. Co-Cr alloys or Vitallium
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00293 : containing a phosphorus-containing compound, e.g. apatite
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00365 : Proteins; Polypeptides; Degradation products thereof
• 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

The present invention relates generally to intervertebral disc devices and methods and instrumentation for intervertebral disc procedures. An intervertebral disc repair and diagnostic device that is minimally invasive, actively guided, and provides direct and consistent access to the inner surface of the posterior anulus, which will not unintentionally exit the posterior anulus and cause harm to the spinal cord, is provided.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a hollow delivery cannula having a distal end and a proximal end, said cannula dimensioned to fit within an iatrogenic hole or naturally occurring lesion in an anulus fibrosus;

an advancer coupled to a probe member housed within said cannula, said probe member having a proximal end connected to said advancer and distal end connected to a probe tip, said probe member capable of being advanced outward from said distal end of said cannula; and

a curved passage within said distal end of said cannula wherein said probe member travels through said passage and may be advanced outward therefrom at an angle between 30 and 150 degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis of the cannula and wherein the passage restricts travel of the probe with respect to the axis of the cannula substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis thereby preventing rotation of the probe.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a means for measuring the distance advanced by the probe, said means coupled to said advancer; and

a means for measuring the distance advanced by the cannula within said anulotomy or said lesion coupled to said cannula.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the probe member has a noncircular cross-sectional geometry.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the probe member has an ablation element coupled to said probe member proximal to said tip.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the probe member comprises nitinol.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the tip is selected from the group consisting of:

a blunt-shaped tip, a sharpened tip, a scoop-shaped tip, and a chisel-shaped tip.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the tip is curved backward facing towards the interior of the disc.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the probe tip is curved downward with respect to the longitudinal axis and curved around until it faces the insertion device such that an interior aspect of the intervertebral disc is exposed only to a curved surface as the probe is deployed.

9. A device for treating the spine, comprising:

an elongate guide having a longitudinal axis;

an axially movable actuator, carried by the guide;

a probe, movable with the actuator; and

a deflection surface carried by the guide;

a passage adjacent the deflection surface;

wherein axial movement of the actuator causes the probe to advance along the deflection surface and through the passage at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis and wherein the passage restricts movement of the probe substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis there by preventing rotation of the probe.

10. A device for treating the spine as in claim 9, wherein the guide comprises an elongate tubular body having at least one lumen extending therethrough.

11. A device for treating the spine as in claim 10, wherein the actuator extends through at least a portion of the guide.

12. A device for treating the spine as in claim 9, wherein the probe comprises and elongate, flexible body attached to the actuator.

13. A device for treating the spine as in claim 12, wherein the probe is biased in a nonlinear configuration.

14. A device for treating the spine as in claim 13, wherein the probe comprises a nickel titanium alloy.