Red light implant for treating osteoporosis

• US 8,262,713 B2
• Filed: 09/26/2005
• Issued: 09/11/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Depuy Synthes Products Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Depuy Spine Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Attawia, Mohamed, DiMauro, Thomas, Sutton, Jeffrey
• Primary Examiner(s): Philogene, Pedro
• Application Number:
  US11/235,674
• Publication Number:
  US 20070073300A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,542 Days
• Field of Search: 606 92- 94, 606/300, 606309-321, 606/328, 606/281, 607/51, 607/88, 607/89, 607/92, 424/423, 623/23.72, 128/898
• US Class Current: 606/328
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7001 Screws or hooks combined with longitudinal elements which do not contact vertebrae A61B17/7058 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7032 Screws or hooks with U-shaped head or back through which longitudinal rods pass
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/86 Pins or screws or threaded wires; nuts therefor A61B17/72 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8805 for introducing fluid filler into bone or extracting it A61B17/7097, A61B17/8833 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/564 Methods for bone or joint treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/44 for the spine, e.g. vertebrae, spinal discs
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0612 using probes penetrating tissue; interstitial probes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0643 Applicators, probes irradiating specific body areas in close proximity
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0651 Diodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0659 infrared
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0663 Coloured light
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0601 Apparatus for use inside the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0613 Apparatus adapted for a specific treatment

Abstract

Red light implants for delivering red light to spinal implants to enhance osteointegration.

Claims

1. A method of treating a vertebra, comprising the steps of:

a)-implanting an implant comprising a red/NIR light source into a cancellous bone region of the vertebra, and

b)-activating the red/NIR light source to irradiate the cancellous bone region with an effective amount of red/NIR light.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the implant is a pedicle screw.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the implant is a motion disc.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the red/NIR light is delivered in an amount effective to enhance the integration of the implant into the cancellous bone region.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the red/NIR light is delivered through a helix.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the red/NIR light is delivered through an LED.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the red/NIR light has a wavelength of between about 600 nm and about 1000 nm.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the red/NIR light irradiates a portion of the cancellous bone region with between about 0.02 J/cm² and 200 J/cm² energy.

9. A method of treating a vertebra, comprising the steps of:

implanting an implant comprising a red/NIR light source into the vertebra,

injecting a paste into a cancellous region around the implant, and

activating the red/NIR light source to irradiate the cancellous region with an effective amount of red/NIR light.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the paste is resorbable.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the paste is selected from the group consisting of HA, CaP and mixtures thereof.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein the red/NIR light is delivered in an amount effective to enhance the integration of the implant into the cancellous bone region.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein the red/NIR light is delivered to the cancellous region through a helix.

14. The method of claim 9 wherein the red/NIR light is delivered to the cancellous region through an LED.

15. The method of claim 9 wherein the red/NIR light has a wavelength of between about 600 nm and about 1000 nm.

16. The method of claim 9 wherein the red/NIR light irradiates a portion of the cancellous bone region with between about 0.02 J/cm² and 200 J/cm² energy.