Semi-biological intervertebral disc replacement system

• US 8,012,211 B2
• Filed: 10/08/2008
• Issued: 09/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Spineology Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Spineology Incorporated
• Inventors: Kuslich, Stephen D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Stewart; Alvin J
• Application Number:
  US12/247,760
• Publication Number:
  US 20090125110A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,063 Days
• Field of Search: 623 1711- 1716, 623 2372- 2376, 623/16.11, 623/14.12, 606 92- 94, 606/60, 606247-249, 606/99
• US Class Current: 623/17.12
• 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 2002/2817 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 2002/2835 Bone graft implants for filling a bony defect or an endoprosthesis cavity, e.g. by synthetic material or biological material
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30075 swellable, e.g. when wetted
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/444 for replacing the nucleus pulposus
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4495 having a fabric structure, e.g. made from wires or fibres
• 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 2210/0061 swellable

Abstract

The present invention is a system for a partially biological disc replacement that stimulates natural fibrous, cartilaginous or other tissue growth in the DDD cavity, resulting in a partial biological disc replacement. Multiplicities of fibronous pieces of fibro-cartilaginous tissue promoting material are inserted into the DDD cavity inducing tissue growth.

Claims

1. A system for semi-biologic nuclear replacement for a degenerated disc of a spine of a mammalian body comprising:

an injection tube having a small diameter corresponding to a small entrance hole defined in the degenerated disc that is at least partially excavated to create a cavity;

a volume of strands of tissue promoting material combined with hydrogel strands sufficient to fill at least a portion of the cavity; and

an insertion device operably coupled to the injection tube that dispenses the volume of strands of tissue promoting material combined with strands of hydrogel into the cavity in a piecemeal manner as a plurality of aliquots of the tissue promoting material and hydrogel strands.

2. The nuclear replacement of claim 1 wherein the tissue promoting material is selected from a group consisting of fibrous tissue promoting material, cartilaginous promoting material and any combination thereof.

3. The nuclear replacement of claim 1 wherein the tissue promoting material is a preparation of multilayered bands piled in a circular configuration.

4. The nuclear replacement of claim 1 wherein the tissue promoting material is a preparation of tangled knots.

5. The nuclear replacement of claim 1 wherein the tissue promoting material is a preparation of multiple fabric bands.

6. The nuclear replacement of claim 1 wherein the tissue promoting material is surrounded by a porous container.

7. The nuclear replacement of claim 1 wherein the tissue promoting material is selected from a group comprising:

autograft, allograft, or xenograft of fascia, autograft, manmade polymeric fiber, talc, tissue promoting pharmaceuticals, tissue promoting minerals, tissue morphogenic protein, notochord cells and any combination thereof.