Method of treating spinal internal disk derangement

• US 9,351,769 B2
• Filed: 02/06/2015
• Issued: 05/31/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sprezzatura Innovations LLC
• Original Assignee: SpineOvations Inc
• Inventors: Alleyne, Neville, Young, Stuart
• Primary Examiner(s): SEVILLA, CHRISTIAN ANTHONY
• Application Number:
  US14/616,099
• Publication Number:
  US 20150238234A1
• Time in Patent Office: 480 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 treating a spinal disk comprising injecting a biocompatible agent into an interior portion of the spinal disk, wherein the biocompatible agent comprises a plurality of microparticles, the plurality of microparticles having a diameter in the range of 5 to 500 microns, wherein the plurality of microparticles are inserted into the spinal disk as loose microparticles and remain therein as loose microparticles.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein injecting a biocompatible agent into an interior portion of the spinal disk comprises injecting the biocompatible agent into a center of the spinal disk.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein injecting a biocompatible agent into an interior portion of the spinal disk comprises injecting the biocompatible agent into a nucleus pulposus of the spinal disk.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising at least one of sealing a defect in the spinal disk, increasing a pressure of the spinal disk, increasing a height of the spinal disk, improving stability of the spinal disk, and improving structural integrity of the spinal disk.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of microparticles are suspended in a solution comprising collagen.

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

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of microparticles comprise a histocompatible solid.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of microparticles comprise an inert histocompatible polymer.

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

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising viewing the spinal disk through a scope.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein injecting the biocompatible agent comprises delivering about 0.5 to 1.5 cubic centimeters of the biocompatible agent into a center of the spinal disk.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein injecting the biocompatible agent comprises inserting a syringe into a center of the spinal disk.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein injecting the biocompatible agent occurs during at least one of a discography, laminotomy, laminectomy, hemilaminotomy, and hemilaminectomy, and open procedure.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising displacing a nucleus pulposus of the spinal disk from a site of implantation of the biocompatible agent, the displacement of the nucleus pulposus in a direction toward an annulus fibrosis defect of the spinal disk.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising introducing the biocompatible agent into a nucleus pulposus of the spinal disk in a direct or proximate vicinity of an annulus fibrosis defect of the spinal disk.

16. A method of sealing an annulus fibrosis defect in a spinal disk comprising injecting a biocompatible agent into a nucleus pulposus of the spinal disk in a direct or proximate vicinity of the annulus fibrosis defect, wherein the biocompatible agent comprises a plurality of microparticles, the plurality of microparticles having a diameter in the range of 5 to 500 microns, the plurality of microparticles inserted into the spinal disk as loose microparticles and remaining therein as loose microparticles, wherein the biocompatible agent causes a seal to be formed in and around the annular fibrosis defect.