Devices and methods for annular repair of intervertebral discs

• US 7,905,923 B2
• Filed: 05/25/2007
• Issued: 03/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: KRT Investors, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Anulex Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Atkinson, Robert E., Keith, Peter T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Barrett; Thomas C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Araj; Michael J
• Application Number:
  US11/753,682
• Publication Number:
  US 20070239280A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,390 Days
• Field of Search: 623 1711- 1716, 606/246, 606/279, 606/86.R, 606/99
• US Class Current: 623/17.16
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0401 Suture anchors, buttons or pledgets, i.e. means for attaching sutures to bone, cartilage or soft tissue; Instruments for applying or removing suture anchors A61B17/0642 takes precedence; fixation devices for tendons or ligaments A61F2/0811
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1671 for the spine
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3468 for implanting or removing devices, e.g. prostheses, implants, seeds, wires devices for implanting seeds A61M37/0069
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3472 for bones, e.g. intraosseus injections
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/842 Flexible wires, bands or straps A61B17/72, A61B17/82, A61B17/86 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/86 Pins or screws or threaded wires; nuts therefor A61B17/72 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8897 Guide wires or guide pins
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/08 by means of electrically-heated probes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/14 Probes or electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00084 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00261 Discectomy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00557 inflatable A61B2017/22051 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0409 Instruments for applying suture anchors for applying suture clamps, clips or locks A61B2017/0488
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/037 with a frangible part, e.g. by reduced diameter
• 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 2/4611 of spinal prostheses
• 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 2002/30579 with mechanically expandable devices, e.g. fixation devices
• 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 2002/4627 : 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 2210/0023 : operated at different temperatures whilst inside or touching the human body, heated or cooled by external energy source or cold supply
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00017 : Iron- or Fe-based alloys, e.g. stainless steel
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00023 : Titanium or titanium-based alloys, e.g. Ti-Ni alloys
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00976 : Coating or prosthesis-covering structure made of proteins or of polypeptides, e.g. of bone morphogenic proteins BMP or of transforming growth factors TGF

Abstract

Devices and methods for treating a damaged intervertebral disc to reduce or eliminate associated back pain. The present invention provides disc reinforcement therapy (DRT) which involves implanting one or more reinforcement members in and preferably around the annulus of the disc. The reinforcement members may be used to stabilize the annulus and/or compresses a portion of the annulus so as to reduce a bulge and/or close a fissure. The implantable devices and associated delivery tools may incorporate heating capabilities to thermally treat the annular tissue. Alternatively or in combination, other devices may be specifically employed for such thermal treatment.

Claims

1. An apparatus for treating intervertebral disc disease, comprising:

an implant configured to be at least partially implanted within annular tissue of a diseased intervertebral disc, the implant including;

a reinforcement member sized and shaped to be delivered through a needle and to extend generally circumferentially within the annular tissue when implanted therein; and

an anchor portion coupled to the reinforcement member and adapted to fix the reinforcement member into the annular tissue,

the implant having an implantation position and a fixation position, the anchor portion being resistive to expulsion from the annular tissue when in the fixation position.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the anchor portion comprises at least one anchor mechanism adapted to resist expulsion.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the anchor portion is formed integral to the implant.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the anchor portion comprises one or more anchor mechanisms that project into annular tissue when the implant is in the fixation position.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the anchor portion includes threads extending about the reinforcement member.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the threads have a variable pitch along a length of the reinforcement member.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the anchor portion includes an expandable anchor.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the reinforcement member is an expandable reinforcement member.

9. A method for treating intervertebral disc disease in a patient, the method comprising:

(1) inserting a delivery device comprising at least one tube having a lumen into an intervertebral disc of a patient;

(2) delivering a biocompatible implant through said lumen of said delivery device, said implant comprising a reinforcement member and an anchor portion coupled to the reinforcement member, the implant adapted to be implanted and fixed into annular tissue, said implant having an implantation position and a fixation position, and said anchor portion being resistive to expulsion from the annular tissue when the implant is in the fixation position;

(3) positioning the implant generally circumferentially within the annular tissue; and

(4) engaging said annular tissue with the anchor portion of said implant, thereby fixing said implant into the annular tissue.

10. The method for treating intervertebral disc disease of claim 9, wherein the fixation position of said anchor portion of said implant is an at least partially expanded position.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the anchor portion includes threads extending about the reinforcement member.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the threads have a variable pitch along a length of the reinforcement member.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein the anchor portion includes an expandable anchor.

14. The method of claim 9 wherein the reinforcement member is an expandable reinforcement member.