Neuro decompression device

• US 7,041,140 B2
• Filed: 09/24/2002
• Issued: 05/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lacks Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Applied Medical Research
• Inventors: Picha, George J.
• Primary Examiner(s): SNOW, BRUCE EDWARD
• Application Number:
  US10/253,311
• Publication Number:
  US 20030078673A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,323 Days
• Field of Search: 623/23.74, 623/23.72, 623/23.73, 623/23.76, 623/17.11, 606/152, 606/76, 424/484, 424/486
• US Class Current: 623/23.74
• 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 2090/0816 for preventing adhesion
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/00 Filters implantable into blood vessels; Prostheses, i.e. artificial substitutes or replacements for parts of the body; Appliances for connecting them with the body; Devices providing patency to, or preventing collapsing of, tubular structures of the body, e.g. stents as cosmetic articles, see the relevant subclasses, e.g. wigs, hair pieces, A41G3/00, A41G5/00; artificial nails A45D31/00; dental prostheses A61C13/00; materials for prostheses A61L27/00; artificial hearts A61M60/00; artificial kidneys A61M1/14
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0077 Special surfaces of prostheses, e.g. for improving ingrowth A61F2/30767 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0067 Means for introducing or releasing pharmaceutical products into the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 31/14 Materials characterised by their function or physical properties , e.g. injectable or lubricating compositions, shape-memory materials, surface modified materials

Abstract

A method of using a neuro decompression device is disclosed that significantly reduces fibroplasia proximate to nerve tissue. The device used in the method utilizes particular surface topographies to disrupt scar tissue formation around nerves, and may include one or more drugs to influence tissue growth.

Claims

1. A method of reducing fibroplasia proximate to a nerve, said method comprising:

providing a device having a surface topography selected from the group consisting of;

(i) an irregular outer surface characterized by a plurality of depressions, (ii) an outer surface defining a plurality of outwardly extending projections, (iii) a plurality of fins, and (iv) combinations thereof; and

placing said device adjacent to said nerve, whereby fibroplasia in the vicinity of said device is reduced,

wherein the device is placed within a void resulting from removal of a bone along at least one of a vertebral foramen or a spinal canal, and said outer surface is characterized by a plurality of depressions, the depressions having a span ranging from about 50 microns to about 4000 microns.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said device is formed from a foamed polymer.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said foamed polymer is an open cell foam having an average cell diameter in the range from about 50 microns to about 4000 microns.

4. A method of reducing fibroplasia proximate to a nerve, said method comprising:

providing a device having a surface topography selected from the group consisting of;

(i) an irregular outer surface characterized by a plurality of depressions, (ii) an outer surface defining a plurality of outwardly extending projections, (iii) a plurality of fins, and (iv) combinations thereof; and

placing said device adjacent to said nerve, whereby fibroplasia in the vicinity of said device is reduced,

wherein the device is placed within a void resulting from removal of a bone along at least one of a vertebral foramen or a spinal canal,

further comprising impregnating said device with a drug selected from the group consisting of steroids, chondroitin sulfates, polyvinylpyrrolidone, glycoproteins, mucopolysaccharides, and combinations thereof.