Method of treating spinal internal disk derangement

• US 8,398,638 B2
• Filed: 08/30/2005
• Issued: 03/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 33 Medical Incorporated
• Original Assignee: SpineOvations Inc
• Inventors: Alleyne, Neville, Young, Stuart
• Primary Examiner(s): Truong, Kevin T
• Assistant Examiner(s): SEVILLA, CHRISTIAN ANTHONY
• Application Number:
  US11/215,809
• Publication Number:
  US 20060074424A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,758 Days
• Field of Search: 606/76, 606/907, 623/17.12, 623/17.16, 435/403
• US Class Current: 606/76
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7061 for stabilising vertebrae or discs by improving the condition of their tissues, e.g. using implanted medication or fluid exchange intraosseous injection devices A61B17/3472
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7094 Solid vertebral fillers; devices for inserting such fillers
• 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 2/4455 for the fusion of spinal bodies, e.g. intervertebral fusion of adjacent spinal bodies, e.g. fusion cages intervertebral discs A61F2/442
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30062 (bio)absorbable, biodegradable, bioerodable, (bio)resorbable, resorptive
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3008 radio-opaque, e.g. radio-opaque markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30242 spherical
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30754 Implants for interposition between two natural articular surfaces
• 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 2002/444 for replacing the nucleus pulposus
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0071 spherical
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0098 radio-opaque, e.g. radio-opaque markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00365 Proteins; Polypeptides; Degradation products thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 19/02 for joint disorders, e.g. arthritis, arthrosis

Abstract

A method of treating a spinal disk according to the present invention can include inserting an alloplastic bulking agent into the spinal disk to treat the defect. The alloplastic bulking agent has a plurality of microparticles. The bulking agent results in at least one of sealing the defect, increasing a pressure of the disk, increasing a height of the disk, improving stability of the disk and improving structural integrity of the disk.

Claims

1. A method of sealing an annular tear or fissure in an annulus fibrosis during a discography procedure comprising:

performing a discography procedure on a spinal disk;

detecting the annular tear or fissure in the discography procedure;

after the detecting, delivering a biocompatible agent to an interior portion of the spinal disk inside the annulus fibrosis into or proximate the annular tear or fissure such that the biocompatible agent seals the annular tear or fissure;

after the delivering, incorporating the biocompatible agent into host tissue through formation of permanent tissue proximate the biocompatible agent;

wherein the biocompatible agent comprises a plurality of microparticles, the microparticles each having a diameter in the range of 5 to 500 microns.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising at least one of increasing a pressure of the disk, increasing a height of the disk, improving stability of the disk and improving structural integrity of the disk.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the agent comprises at least one of water, saline, a tenside, radiopaque dye, and a chromophobe.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said microparticles comprise one or more of poly methacrylate, polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), a cured polymer, a fully polymerized polymer, and glass.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein delivering the agent comprises viewing the spinal disk through a scope.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein delivering the agent comprises delivering 0.5 to 1.5 cubic centimeters of the agent.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein delivering the agent comprises delivering the agent to a nucleus pulposus of the disk.