Methods and devices for spinal disc annulus reconstruction and repair

• US 7,828,850 B2
• Filed: 02/10/2006
• Issued: 11/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: KRT Investors, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Anulex Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Wessman, Bradley J., Wales, Lawrence W., Burns, Matthew M., Burmeister, Paul, Houfburg, Rodney L., Cauthen, Joseph C. III, Dukart, Brian L.
• Primary Examiner(s): RAMANA, ANURADHA
• Application Number:
  US11/350,843
• Publication Number:
  US 20060129156A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,733 Days
• Field of Search: 623 1711- 1716, 623/1.11, 623/1.12, 623/1.2, 623/1.22, 623/1.23, 606151-157
• US Class Current: 623/17.16
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/04 for suturing wounds; Holders or packages for needles or suture materials suture materials A61L17/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/06166 Sutures suture materials A61L17/00; manufacture of artificial threads D01D; treatment of threads D06M
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0642 for bones, e.g. for osteosynthesis or connecting tendon to bone
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1155 Circular staplers comprising a plurality of staples
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00004 (bio)absorbable, (bio)resorbable or resorptive
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0409 Instruments for applying suture anchors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0417 T-fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0472 Multiple-needled, e.g. double-needled, instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/06052 Needle-suture combinations in which a suture is extending inside a hollow tubular needle, e.g. over the entire length of the needle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/06176 with protrusions, e.g. barbs
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0641 having at least three legs as part of one single body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0647 having one single leg, e.g. tacks
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0648 threaded, e.g. tacks with a screw thread
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0063 Implantable repair or support meshes, e.g. hernia meshes
• 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 2002/0072 Delivery tools therefor
• 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 2002/30092 : using shape memory or superelastic materials, e.g. nitinol
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30158 : trapezoidal
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30299 : umbrella-shaped or mushroom-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30579 : with mechanically expandable devices, e.g. fixation devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30777 : Oblong apertures
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30784 : Plurality of holes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30841 : Sharp anchoring protrusions for impaction into the bone, e.g. sharp pins, spikes
• 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 2002/4627 : 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 2210/0004 : bioabsorbable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0019 : operated at only one temperature whilst inside or touching the human body, e.g. constrained in a non-operative shape during surgery, another temperature only occurring before the operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0026 : trapezoidal
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0093 : Umbrella-shaped, e.g. mushroom-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00011 : Metals or alloys

Abstract

The present invention provides methods and devices for annulus disc repair with and without the use of a patch or stent. The methods and devices are particularly suited to the repair and/or reconstruction of the spinal disc wall (annulus) after surgical invasion or pathologic rupture, with reduced failure rate as compared to conventional surgical procedures.

Claims

1. A method for repairing intervertebral disc tissue, comprising:

inserting a first anchor member having a first elongate element attached thereto into disc tissue in proximity of a defect to be repaired;

inserting a second anchor member having a second elongate element attached thereto into the disc tissue in proximity of the defect to be repaired and in a different location opposite the defect from the first anchor;

providing an adjustable coupling between the second elongate element of the second anchor member to the first elongate element of the first anchor member; and

applying tension to at least one of the first and second elongate elements such that the tension is applied to the tissue around the defect to be repaired to reapproximate the defect.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the tissue to be repaired is annulus fibrosus of the intervertebral disc.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second elongate elements are slidably coupled to each other.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the first and second elongate elements are slidably coupled to each other by a third elongate element extending there between.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

a one slip knot formed on at least one of the first, second, and third elongate elements, the slip knot maintaining the first and second elongate elements in a fixed position with respect to each other.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the first, second, and third elongate elements are each formed in a loop, the loop of the first elongate element being attached to the first anchor member, and the loop of the second elongate element being attached to the second anchor member, and

wherein the loop of the third elongate element is connected to the loops of the first and second elongate elements.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein at least one of the loops includes a slip knot, and

wherein the step of tensioning includes pulling a terminal end of at least one of the loops which includes the slip knot to adjust a size of the at least one loop.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first elongate element is formed in a loop and is coupled to the first anchor member, and the second elongate element is formed in a loop and is coupled to the second anchor member, and

wherein the loop of the first elongate element is coupled to the loop of the second elongate element.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second elongate elements are fixedly attached to the first and second anchor members, respectively.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second elongate elements are coupled to each other by a third elongate element.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the third elongate element is formed in a loop.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the loop of the third elongate element includes a slip knot.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the loop of the third elongate element is selectively adjustable.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the first elongate element of the first anchor member is formed in a loop.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the second elongate element of the second anchor member is formed in a loop.