Minimally invasive system for manipulating intervertebral disc tissue

• US 7,144,397 B2
• Filed: 12/19/2003
• Issued: 12/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Intrinsic Therapeutics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Intrinsic Therapeutics, Inc.
• Inventors: Einhorn, Jacob, Moore, Robert Kevin, Banks, Thomas, Vidal, Claude A., Lambrecht, Gregory H., Redmond, Russel J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hayes, Michael J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, VI X
• Application Number:
  US10/742,156
• Publication Number:
  US 20040133229A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,082 Days
• Field of Search: 606/45, 606/41, 606/61, 606 79- 80, 606/84, 606/170, 606/191, 606/180, 604/165.01, 604/164.01, 604/164.13
• US Class Current: 606/79
• 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 blunt suture needles A61B2017/06085
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/3445 used as instrument channel for multiple instruments catheters A61B2017/22072
• 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 method of manipulating a bodily tissue, wherein the tissue is enclosed by a definable outer layer of the same or different bodily tissue, the method comprising:

locating an opening in the outer layer, wherein said outer layer comprises bony or spinal tissue;

inserting within said opening to a point past the outer layer a distal end of a hollow cannula,

said cannula having a proximal end and a distal end and having an elongated longitudinal axis,

said cannula slideably housing an advancer coupled to a probe member,

said probe member having a proximal end connected to the advancer and said distal end of said probe member connected to a tip,

said distal end of the probe member capable of being advanced and retracted through a curved slot at the distal end of the cannula via longitudinal movement of the advancer within said cannula; and

advancing the advancer within the cannula and causing the probe member to be advanced outward from the curved passage at an angle between 30 and 150 degrees relative to the long axis of the cannula such that the probe tip travels and manipulates tissue parallel to the intersection of the tissue with the definable outer layer of tissue.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising locating an opening in the outer layer of a tissue within an intervertebral disc.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising guiding said cannula.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said cannula is guided by tactile feedback.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein said cannula is guided by auditory signals or visual images.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said auditory signals are obtained by ultrasound.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein said visual images are obtained by a method selected from the group consisting of:

magnetic resonance imaging, ultrasound, and fluoroscopy.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said opening is naturally occurring or iatrogenic hole.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising inserting a prosthetic device beyond said opening in the outer layer.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising ablating a target tissue.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said bony or spinal tissue comprises intervertebral disc tissue.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein said bony or spinal tissue comprises anulus fibrosis.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising forcibly parting at least a portion of the tissue without cutting it.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising forcibly cutting at least a portion of the tissue.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising aspirating fluid using one or more lumens located within said cannula.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising delivering material using one or more lumens located within said cannula.