Vertebral body nerve and vein cauterizing system and method

• US 9,028,538 B2
• Filed: 09/10/2012
• Issued: 05/12/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Globus Medical, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Globus Medical, Inc.
• Inventors: Paul, David C., Suh, Sean, Weiman, Mark, Seifert, Jody L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Crandall, Lynsey
• Assistant Examiner(s): PAHAKIS, MANOLIS Y
• Application Number:
  US13/608,229
• Publication Number:
  US 20130006256A1
• Time in Patent Office: 974 Days
• Field of Search: 606/92
• US Class Current: 607/113
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1671 for the spine
• 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 17/8855 inflatable, e.g. kyphoplasty balloons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/02 by cooling, e.g. cryogenic techniques devices for cooling specific reflex points of the body within cell-life limits A61H39/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/04 by heating by applying electromagnetic radiation A61B18/18; hyperthermia using electric or magnetic fields, radiation or ultrasound A61N
• 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 2018/0022 Balloons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00565 Bone
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00595 Cauterization
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/44 for the spine, e.g. vertebrae, spinal discs

Abstract

Disclosed are vertebroplasty methods that include cauterizing an inner cavity of a vertebra of a mammal, such as a human, and injecting bone cement into the vertebra. Systems and kits for performing such methods are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A method of treating a spine comprising:

inserting a flexible balloon into an inner cavity of a vertebral body of a mammal;

inflating the flexible balloon;

sealing vessels and destroying exposed nerve endings in the inner cavity of the vertebral body by heating the flexible balloon while inflated, the flexible balloon including an electrical mesh sandwiched between multiple layers of material;

removing the flexible balloon; and

subsequent to the sealing and the removing steps, inserting bone cement into the inner cavity of the vertebral body of the mammal.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein sealing vessels comprises cauterizing the vertebral body of the mammal.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the bone cement comprises PMMA.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the bone cement is inserted to cover at least 50% of a cavity formed in the vertebral body.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein subsequent hardening of the bone cement reduces bone deformation and painful micro-motion.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the bone cement consists of a powder selected from the group consisting of a pre-polymerized PMMA, PMMA, and MMA co-polymer beads mixed with a liquid selected from the group consisting of MMA monomer, stabilizer, and inhibitor.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the electrical mesh is remotely stimulated to heat up the flexible balloon.

5. A method of treating a spine comprising:

inserting a flexible balloon including an electrical mesh sandwiched between multiple layers of material into a vertebral body of a mammal;

inflating the flexible balloon;

heating the flexible balloon such that an interior cavity of the vertebral body is heated to a temperature of between 56 and 100 degrees Celsius in order to destroy exposed nerve endings;

removing the flexible balloon; and

subsequent to the heating and the removing steps, inserting bone cement into the vertebral body cavity of the vertebral body of the mammal.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the bone cement comprises PMMA.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the bone cement comprises at least one ingredient selected from the group consisting of bone glue and bone filler.

8. The method of claim 5, further comprising restoring body height of the vertebral body.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein inserting bone cement into the vertebral body of the mammal is performed percutaneously.

10. A method of treating a spine comprising:

creating a cavity in a vertebral body of a mammal;

inserting a flexible balloon into the cavity;

sealing vessels and destroying exposed nerve endings in the cavity of the vertebral body Of the mammal by deploying and heating the flexible balloon, wherein the flexible balloon includes an electrical mesh sandwiched between multiple layers of material into the vertebral body;

removing the flexible balloon; and

subsequent to the sealing and the removing steps, inserting bone cement into the cavity of the vertebral body of the mammal.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein creating the cavity is performed by a balloon.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein sealing the vessels comprises applying a cauterization treatment.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the cauterization treatment comprises applying heat between 56 and 100 degrees.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the material comprises bone growing agents.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the material comprises bone glue.