Spinal diagnostic methods and apparatus
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- inserting a catheter into an intervertebral disc in a patient'"'"'s body, the catheter having an expandable member;
expanding the expandable member of the catheter within the intervertebral disc to anchor the catheter within the intervertebral disc;
introducing a substance through the catheter into the intervertebral disc in the patient'"'"'s body automatically via an automated injection device; and
treating the intervertebral disc with the introduced substance,wherein the substance is an anesthetic.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods, devices and systems facilitate diagnosis, and in some cases treatment, of back pain originating in intervertebral discs. Methods generally involve introducing one or more substances into one or more discs using a catheter device. In one embodiment, a patient assumes a position that causes back pain, and a substance such as an anesthetic or analgesic is introduced into the disc to determine whether the substance relieves the pain. Injections into multiple discs may optionally be performed, to help pinpoint a disc as a source of the patient'"'"'s pain. In some embodiments, the catheter device is left in place, and possibly coupled with another implantable device, to provide treatment of one or more discs. A catheter device includes at least one anchoring member for maintaining a distal portion of the catheter within a disc.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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inserting a catheter into an intervertebral disc in a patient'"'"'s body, the catheter having an expandable member; expanding the expandable member of the catheter within the intervertebral disc to anchor the catheter within the intervertebral disc; introducing a substance through the catheter into the intervertebral disc in the patient'"'"'s body automatically via an automated injection device; and treating the intervertebral disc with the introduced substance, wherein the substance is an anesthetic. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method comprising:
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inserting a catheter into an intervertebral disc of a patient'"'"'s body, the catheter having an expandable member; expanding the expandable member of the catheter within the intervertebral disc to anchor the catheter within the intervertebral disc; introducing a substance into the intervertebral disc in the patient'"'"'s body with an automated injection device; treating the intervertebral disc with the introduced substance; instructing the patient to assume various back-pain-generating positions; and recording one or more patient inputs describing back pain experienced by the patient, wherein the substance comprises an anesthetic. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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Specification