Device and method for treatment or evacuation of intervertebral disc
First Claim
1. A method of treatment or evacuation of an interior of a mammalian intervertebral disc, comprising the steps of:
- a) forming an opening through a posterior wall of a mammalian intervertebral disc;
b) advancing an introducer comprising a guide through said opening in said posterior wall of the mammalian intervertebral disc, wherein said guide extends into the interior of the mammalian intervertebral disc;
c) with said introducer in position in said opening of said mammalian intervertebral disc, engaging an elongated tool formed of a shape memory material and comprising a preformed S-shape with said guide, and advancing said elongated tool along said guide, wherein said preformed S-shape of said elongated tool is deformed by said guide while said preformed S-shape engages said guide;
d) continuing to advance said elongated tool along said guide until a portion of said elongated tool comprising said preformed S-shape exits said guide into the interior of the mammalian intervertebral disc, whereupon the preformed S-shape of said elongated tool assumes said preformed S-shape as said elongated tool exits said guide in the interior of the mammalian intervertebral disc;
e) positioning said elongated tool as desired within the interior of the mammalian intervertebral disc, wherein a distal end of the elongated tool is selectively positioned at different points in the interior of the mammalian intervertebral disc as the method of treatment is performed by the elongated tool by combining selective advancement and retraction of the elongated tool within the interior of the mammalian intervertebral disc with independent selective advancement and retraction of the introducer; and
f) withdrawing said elongated tool from the interior of the mammalian intervertebral disc.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of positioning an arcuate catheter against an inner annular wall of the disc, and particularly on the posterior and postero-lateral portions of the inner annulus of the disc, by arthroscopy is presented. The arcuate catheter retains its predetermined arcuate shape when no pressure or force is applied to the catheter. This present device and method require no forward tip pressure on the inner annular wall of a mammalian intervertebral disc. An arcuate sheath having a cutter is used to remove tissue from the inner annulus of the disc. In another embodiment an arcuate sheath is used to progressively remove material from the interior of the mammalian intervertebral disc. In yet another embodiment, an arcuate sheath and catheter are used to remove the entire intervertebral disc and place supports to maintain a disc space.
53 Citations
39 Claims
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1. A method of treatment or evacuation of an interior of a mammalian intervertebral disc, comprising the steps of:
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a) forming an opening through a posterior wall of a mammalian intervertebral disc; b) advancing an introducer comprising a guide through said opening in said posterior wall of the mammalian intervertebral disc, wherein said guide extends into the interior of the mammalian intervertebral disc; c) with said introducer in position in said opening of said mammalian intervertebral disc, engaging an elongated tool formed of a shape memory material and comprising a preformed S-shape with said guide, and advancing said elongated tool along said guide, wherein said preformed S-shape of said elongated tool is deformed by said guide while said preformed S-shape engages said guide; d) continuing to advance said elongated tool along said guide until a portion of said elongated tool comprising said preformed S-shape exits said guide into the interior of the mammalian intervertebral disc, whereupon the preformed S-shape of said elongated tool assumes said preformed S-shape as said elongated tool exits said guide in the interior of the mammalian intervertebral disc; e) positioning said elongated tool as desired within the interior of the mammalian intervertebral disc, wherein a distal end of the elongated tool is selectively positioned at different points in the interior of the mammalian intervertebral disc as the method of treatment is performed by the elongated tool by combining selective advancement and retraction of the elongated tool within the interior of the mammalian intervertebral disc with independent selective advancement and retraction of the introducer; and f) withdrawing said elongated tool from the interior of the mammalian intervertebral disc. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A device for use in treatment or evacuation of an interior of a mammalian intervertebral disc, comprising:
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a) an introducer for introducing an elongated tool into the interior of the mammalian intervertebral disc, said introducer comprising a guide; and b) an elongated tool formed of shape memory material and comprising a preformed S-shape, wherein said elongated tool engages said guide, and said elongated tool is transported into the interior of the mammalian intervertebral disc by said guide of said introducer, and said S-shape of said elongated tool is deformable and is deformed by said introducer as said elongated tool is transported along said guide, and said elongated tool regains its preformed S-shape upon exiting said guide of said introducer, wherein the guide and the elongated tool are constructed and arranged so that a distal end of the elongated tool is selectively positioned at different points of the mammalian intervertebral disc by combining selective advancement and retraction of the elongated tool within the interior of the mammalian intervertebral disc with independent selective advancement and retraction of the introducer. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A method of treatment or evacuation of an interior of a mammalian intervertebral disc, comprising the steps of:
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a) forming an opening through a posterior wall of a mammalian intervertebral disc; b) advancing an introducer comprising a guide through said opening in said posterior wall of the mammalian intervertebral disc, wherein said guide extends into the interior of the mammalian intervertebral disc; c) with said introducer in position in said opening of said mammalian intervertebral disc, engaging an elongated tool formed of a shape memory material and comprising a preformed S-shape with said guide, and advancing said elongated tool along said guide, wherein said preformed S-shape of said elongated tool is deformed by said guide while said preformed S-shape engages said guide; d) continuing to advance said elongated tool along said guide until a portion of said elongated tool comprising said preformed S-shape exits said guide into the interior of the mammalian intervertebral disc, whereupon the preformed S-shape of said elongated tool assumes said preformed S-shape as said elongated tool exits said guide in the interior of the mammalian intervertebral disc; e) positioning said elongated tool as desired within the interior of the mammalian intervertebral disc by advancing and retracting said elongated tool relative to said introducer; f) performing a procedure using said elongated tool; and g) rotating the elongated tool relative to the introducer and performing a procedure using said elongated tool on a side of the mammalian intervertebral disc that is opposite a first side of the mammalian intervertebral disc upon which the procedure was performed prior to rotating said elongated tool. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37)
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38. A device for use in treatment or evacuation of an interior of a mammalian intervertebral disc, comprising:
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a) an introducer for introducing an elongated tool into the interior of the mammalian intervertebral disc, said introducer comprising a guide; and b) an elongated tool formed of shape memory material and comprising a preformed S-shape, wherein said elongated tool engages said guide, and said elongated tool is transported into the interior of the mammalian intervertebral disc by said guide of said introducer, and said S-shape of said elongated tool is deformable and is deformed by said introducer as said elongated tool is transported along said guide, and said elongated tool regains its preformed S-shape upon exiting said guide of said introducer wherein said elongated tool is constructed and arranged to be rotatable relative to said introducer. - View Dependent Claims (39)
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Specification