Method and apparatus for delivering an intervertebral disc implant
First Claim
1. A method of implanting material in an intervertebral disc nucleus space;
- the method comprising;
(a) providing a disc nucleus implant instrument having;
(i) a passageway effective for passing a material for replacing or augmenting an intervertebral disc nucleus, said passageway having a proximal end and a distal end; and
(ii) a dilator at the distal end of said passageway, said dilator being effective for dilating an opening in a disc annulus;
(b) providing a material suitable for replacing or augmenting an intervertebral disc nucleus in the passageway of said disc nucleus implant instrument;
(c) providing a hole in the annulus of a disc receiving the material for replacing or augmenting an intervertebral disc nucleus, said hole having an undilated size that is smaller than the cross-sectional size of the material for replacing or augmenting an intervertebral disc nucleus, and said hole having a dilated size that is larger than the cross-sectional size of the material for replacing or augmenting an intervertebral disc nucleus;
(d) introducing the dilator of said disc nucleus implant instrument into the hole in the disc annulus while said hole is not fully dilated;
(e) causing said dilator to dilate, and thus to dilate the hole in the disc annulus;
(f) passing said material for replacing or augmenting an intervertebral disc nucleus through said dilator and into said disc nucleus space while the hole in said disc annulus is dilated; and
(g) withdrawing said disc nucleus implant instrument and allowing said hole in said disc annulus to return to a size smaller than its dilated size.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for implanting a prosthetic spinal disc nucleus in an intervertebral disc nucleus space generally includes: (a) making a hole in the annulus of a disc, with the hole having an undilated size that is smaller than the cross-sectional size of a folded prosthetic disc nucleus; (b) using an implant instrument to dilate the hole in the disc annulus; (c) using the implant instrument to pass a straightened prosthetic disc nucleus through the dilated hole and into the disc nucleus space; (d) withdrawing the implant instrument and allowing the hole in the disc annulus to return to a size smaller that its dilated size; and (e) causing or allowing the prosthetic disc nucleus to assume a folded configuration with a cross-sectional size that is larger than its straightened size. A device for use in the method is also disclosed.
301 Citations
38 Claims
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1. A method of implanting material in an intervertebral disc nucleus space;
- the method comprising;
(a) providing a disc nucleus implant instrument having; (i) a passageway effective for passing a material for replacing or augmenting an intervertebral disc nucleus, said passageway having a proximal end and a distal end; and (ii) a dilator at the distal end of said passageway, said dilator being effective for dilating an opening in a disc annulus; (b) providing a material suitable for replacing or augmenting an intervertebral disc nucleus in the passageway of said disc nucleus implant instrument; (c) providing a hole in the annulus of a disc receiving the material for replacing or augmenting an intervertebral disc nucleus, said hole having an undilated size that is smaller than the cross-sectional size of the material for replacing or augmenting an intervertebral disc nucleus, and said hole having a dilated size that is larger than the cross-sectional size of the material for replacing or augmenting an intervertebral disc nucleus; (d) introducing the dilator of said disc nucleus implant instrument into the hole in the disc annulus while said hole is not fully dilated; (e) causing said dilator to dilate, and thus to dilate the hole in the disc annulus; (f) passing said material for replacing or augmenting an intervertebral disc nucleus through said dilator and into said disc nucleus space while the hole in said disc annulus is dilated; and (g) withdrawing said disc nucleus implant instrument and allowing said hole in said disc annulus to return to a size smaller than its dilated size. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
- the method comprising;
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16. A method of implanting a prosthetic spinal disc nucleus in an intervertebral disc nucleus space;
- the method comprising;
(a) providing a disc nucleus implant instrument having; (i) a passageway for passing a prosthetic disc nucleus, said passageway having a proximal end and a distal end; and (ii) a dilator at the distal end of said passageway, said dilator being effective for dilating an opening in a disc annulus; (b) providing a prosthetic disc nucleus having a first configuration and a second configuration, wherein said first configuration presents a first cross-sectional size and said second configuration presents a second cross-sectional size, wherein said first cross-sectional size is larger than said second cross-sectional size; (c) providing a hole in the annulus of a disc receiving the prosthetic disc nucleus, said hole having an undilated size that is smaller than the first cross-sectional size of said prosthetic disc nucleus, and said hole having a dilated size that is larger than the second cross-sectional size of said prosthetic disc nucleus; (d) providing said prosthetic disc nucleus in its second configuration in the passageway of said disc nucleus implant instrument; (e) introducing the dilator of said disc nucleus implant instrument into the hole in the disc annulus while said hole is not fully dilated; (f) causing said dilator to dilate, and thus to more fully dilate the hole in the disc annulus; (g) passing said prosthetic disc nucleus through said dilator and into said disc nucleus space while the disc annulus is more fully dilated and the prosthetic disc nucleus is in its second configuration; (h) withdrawing said disc nucleus implant instrument and allowing said disc annulus to return to a size smaller than its dilated size; (i) causing or allowing said prosthetic disc nucleus to assume its first configuration. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
- the method comprising;
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31. A device for implanting a prosthetic spinal disc nucleus, comprising:
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(a) a first channel member having a first end and a second end, said first channel member defining a channel from said first end to said second end, said channel comprising at least one side wall; (b) a post extending radially inward from said first channel member side wall, said post being located near the first end of said first channel member; (c) a second channel member having a first end and a second end, said second channel member defining a channel from said first end to said second end, said channel comprising at least one side wall; (d) a post extending radially inward from said second channel member side wall, said post being located near the first end of said second channel member;
wherein said first channel member and said second channel member are pivotally connected at their respective first ends;wherein the device assumes a loading configuration when the first channel member and the second channel member are pivotally connected to define an angle of less than 180 degrees; and wherein the device assumes an implanting configuration when the first channel member and the second channel member are pivotally connected to define an angle of approximately 180 degrees. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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Specification