Percutaneous methods for injecting a curable biomaterial into an intervertebral space
First Claim
1. A method for treating a spinal disc having an outer relatively intact annulus defining a disc space and an inner defective nucleus pulposus within said disc space, comprising the steps of:
- determining the integrity of said annulus by subjecting the annulus to a first pressure applied internally of said annulus;
providing access to said nucleus pulposus through said annulus without removing any tissue from said annulus or from said nucleus pulposus; and
sealably injecting curable biomaterial through said annulus access directly into said nucleus pulposus at a second pressure selected to be correlated with said first pressure, wherein said curable biomaterial is injected at a pressure selected to not cause distraction of said disc space.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for treating a spinal disc comprises the steps of: determining the integrity of the annulus by subjecting the annulus to a first pressure applied internally of the annulus; providing access to the nucleus pulposus through the annulus without removing any tissue from the annulus or from the nucleus pulposus; and sealably injecting curable biomaterial through the annulus access directly into the nucleus pulposus at a second pressure correlated with the first pressure. The integrity of the annulus may be determined by a pre-operative discogram using a contrast medium that has a viscosity substantially similar to the viscosity of the biomaterial to be injected. The curable biomaterial may be injected under a pressure sufficient to distract opposing vertebral bodies communicating with the disc space.
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Citations
68 Claims
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1. A method for treating a spinal disc having an outer relatively intact annulus defining a disc space and an inner defective nucleus pulposus within said disc space, comprising the steps of:
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determining the integrity of said annulus by subjecting the annulus to a first pressure applied internally of said annulus; providing access to said nucleus pulposus through said annulus without removing any tissue from said annulus or from said nucleus pulposus; and sealably injecting curable biomaterial through said annulus access directly into said nucleus pulposus at a second pressure selected to be correlated with said first pressure, wherein said curable biomaterial is injected at a pressure selected to not cause distraction of said disc space. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method for treating a spinal disc having an outer relatively intact annulus defining a disc space and a defective nucleus pulposus within said disc space, comprising the steps of:
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providing access to said nucleus pulposus through said annulus without removing any tissue from said annulus or from said nucleus pulposus; and sealably injecting under pressure a curable biomaterial having strong adhesive properties directly into said nucleus pulposus, said pressure being selected to fill fissures in said nucleus pulposus, said biomaterial upon curing, augmenting and adhering to said nucleus pulposus, wherein said curable biomaterial is injected at a pressure selected to not cause distraction of said disc space. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A method for treating a spinal disc having degenerative disc disease, said disc having an outer relatively intact annulus defining a disc space, and a defective nucleus pulposus within said disc space, comprising the steps of:
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providing a cannula having an outer surface and an inner opening extending through said cannula; inserting said cannula directly into said annulus without an annulotomy and into the nucleus pulposus so as to form a seal between said annulus and said outer surface of said cannula; inserting a needle through said opening in said cannula and into said nucleus pulposus, said needle being selected to have an outer dimension configured for close sliding fit within said cannula opening; and without removing nucleus pulposus, introducing under pressure through said needle and into said nucleus pulposus a curable biomaterial, said pressure being selected so as to cause said biomaterial to fill any fissures in said nucleus pulposus. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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44. A method for treating a spinal disc having an outer relatively intact annulus defining a disc space and a defective nucleus pulposus within said disc space, comprising the steps of:
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providing access to said nucleus pulposus through said annulus without removing any tissue from said nucleus pulposus; introducing directly into said nucleus pulposus through said access a first curable biomaterial at a first pressure selected to cause said first biomaterial to fill any fissures in said nucleus pulposus without causing distraction of said disc space; allowing said first biomaterial to substantially cure; and
thenintroducing directly into said nucleus pulposus through said access a second curable biomaterial at a second pressure greater than said first pressure. - View Dependent Claims (45)
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46. A method of introducing fluent biomaterial directly into the nucleus pulposus of a spinal disc through the annulus fibrosis of the disc, comprising the steps of:
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introducing a sharp cannulated instrument through body tissue and into and through the annulus fibrosis without removing any tissue from said annulus fibrosis and into the nucleus pulposus without removing nucleus pulposus, said sharp instrument being selected to be of size and configuration to form with the elastic properties of said annulus fibrosis a seal between said sharp cannulated instrument and said annulus fibrosis; injecting under pressure a fluent curable biomaterial in liquid form through said sharp cannulated instrument directly into said nucleus pulposus at a pressure selected to fill fissures in said nucleus pulposus, said material having properties when cured substantially emulating the natural nucleus pulposus; and maintaining said seal and said pressure until said material is substantially cured. - View Dependent Claims (47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65)
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66. A method of introducing fluent biomaterial directly into the nucleus pulposus of a spinal disc through the annulus fibrosis of the disc, comprising the steps of:
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creating an opening through the annulus fibrosis in communication with said nucleus pulposus without dilating said opening; introducing a sharp cannulated instrument into said disc through said opening and into the nucleus pulposus without removing nucleus pulposus, said sharp instrument being selected to be of size and configuration to form with the elastic properties of said annulus fibrosis a seal between said sharp cannulated instrument and said annulus fibrosis; injecting under pressure a fluent curable biomaterial in liquid form through said sharp cannulated instrument directly into said nucleus pulposus at a pressure selected to fill fissures in said nucleus pulposus, said material having properties when cured substantially emulating the natural nucleus pulposus; and maintaining said seal and said pressure until said material is substantially cured. - View Dependent Claims (67, 68)
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Specification