Disc therapy
First Claim
1. Apparatus for treating an intervertebral disc of a subject, the apparatus comprising:
- at least one intra-pulposus exposed electrode surface, which is configured to be implanted in a nucleus pulposus of the intervertebral disc;
a plurality of extra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces, which are configured to be implanted outside the nucleus pulposus, in electrical communication with the intervertebral disc; and
control circuitry, which is (a) electrically coupled to the at least one intra-pulposus exposed electrode surface and the plurality of extra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces, (b) configured to separately control at least two of the plurality of extra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces, and (c) configured to;
repeatedly assume a pressure-increasing mode of operation in alternation with an oxygen-generating mode of operation,in the pressure-increasing mode of operation, (a) configure the at least one intra-pulposus exposed electrode surface to be a cathode, and one or more of the plurality of extra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces to be one or more respective anodes, and (b) electroosmotically drive fluid into the nucleus pulposus to increase pressure in the intervertebral disc, by applying a first mean voltage of less than 1.23 V between the at least one intra-pulposus exposed electrode surface and the one or more of the plurality of extra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces, andin the oxygen-generating mode of operation, (a) configure the at least one intra-pulposus exposed electrode surface to be an anode, and the plurality of extra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces to be a respective plurality of cathodes, and (b) generate oxygen within the nucleus pulposus by electrolysis, by applying a second mean voltage of at least 1.23 V between the at least one intra-pulposus exposed electrode surface and the plurality of extra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus is provided that includes at least one intra-pulposus exposed electrode surface, configured to be implanted in a nucleus pulposus of an intervertebral disc, and a plurality of extra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces, configured to be implanted outside the nucleus pulposus, in electrical communication with the intervertebral disc. Control circuitry is configured to separately control at least two of the plurality of extra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces, and to repeatedly alternatively assume: (a) a pressure-increasing mode of operation, in which fluid is electroosmotically driven into the nucleus pulposus to increase pressure in the intervertebral disc, by applying a first mean voltage of less than 1.23 V between the exposed electrode surfaces, and (b) an oxygen-generating mode of operation, in which oxygen is generated within the nucleus pulposus by electrolysis, by applying a second mean voltage of at least 1.23 V between the exposed electrode surfaces. Other embodiments are also described.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. Apparatus for treating an intervertebral disc of a subject, the apparatus comprising:
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at least one intra-pulposus exposed electrode surface, which is configured to be implanted in a nucleus pulposus of the intervertebral disc; a plurality of extra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces, which are configured to be implanted outside the nucleus pulposus, in electrical communication with the intervertebral disc; and control circuitry, which is (a) electrically coupled to the at least one intra-pulposus exposed electrode surface and the plurality of extra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces, (b) configured to separately control at least two of the plurality of extra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces, and (c) configured to; repeatedly assume a pressure-increasing mode of operation in alternation with an oxygen-generating mode of operation, in the pressure-increasing mode of operation, (a) configure the at least one intra-pulposus exposed electrode surface to be a cathode, and one or more of the plurality of extra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces to be one or more respective anodes, and (b) electroosmotically drive fluid into the nucleus pulposus to increase pressure in the intervertebral disc, by applying a first mean voltage of less than 1.23 V between the at least one intra-pulposus exposed electrode surface and the one or more of the plurality of extra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces, and in the oxygen-generating mode of operation, (a) configure the at least one intra-pulposus exposed electrode surface to be an anode, and the plurality of extra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces to be a respective plurality of cathodes, and (b) generate oxygen within the nucleus pulposus by electrolysis, by applying a second mean voltage of at least 1.23 V between the at least one intra-pulposus exposed electrode surface and the plurality of extra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. Apparatus for treating an intervertebral disc of a subject, the apparatus comprising:
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at least one intra-pulposus exposed electrode surface, which is configured to be implanted in a nucleus pulposus of the intervertebral disc; one or more extra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces, which (a) are configured to be implanted outside the nucleus pulposus, in electrical communication with the intervertebral disc, and (b) have an aggregate electrically-exposed surface area of at least 1 cm2; and control circuitry, which is (a) electrically coupled to the at least one intra-pulposus exposed electrode surface and one or more extra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces, and (b) configured to; repeatedly assume a pressure-increasing mode of operation in alternation with an oxygen-generating mode of operation, in the pressure-increasing mode of operation, (a) configure the at least one intra-pulposus exposed electrode surface to be a cathode, and the one or more extra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces to be one or more respective anodes, and (b) electroosmotically drive fluid into the nucleus pulposus to increase pressure in the intervertebral disc, by applying a first mean voltage of less than 1.23 V between the at least one intra-pulposus exposed electrode surface and the one or more extra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces, and in the oxygen-generating mode of operation, (a) configure the at least one intra-pulposus exposed electrode surface to be an anode, and the one or more extra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces to be a respective plurality of cathodes, and (b) generate oxygen within the nucleus pulposus by electrolysis, by applying a second mean voltage of at least 1.23 V between the at least one intra-pulposus exposed electrode surface and the one or more extra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method for treating an intervertebral disc of a subject, the method comprising:
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implanting at least one intra-pulposus exposed electrode surface in a nucleus pulposus of the intervertebral disc; implanting a plurality of extra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces outside the nucleus pulposus, in electrical communication with the intervertebral disc; and activating control circuitry, which is (a) electrically coupled to the at least one intra-pulposus exposed electrode surface and the plurality of extra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces, and (b) configured to separately control at least two of the plurality of extra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces, to; repeatedly assume a pressure-increasing mode of operation in alternation with an oxygen-generating mode of operation, in the pressure-increasing mode of operation, (a) configure the at least one intra-pulposus exposed electrode surface to be a cathode, and one or more of the plurality of extra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces to be one or more respective anodes, and (b) electroosmotically drive fluid into the nucleus pulposus to increase pressure in the intervertebral disc, by applying a first mean voltage of less than 1.23 V between the at least one intra-pulposus exposed electrode surface and the one or more of the plurality of extra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces, and in the oxygen-generating mode of operation, (a) configure the at least one intra-pulposus exposed electrode surface to be an anode, and the plurality of extra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces to be a respective plurality of cathodes, and (b) generate oxygen within the nucleus pulposus by electrolysis, by applying a second mean voltage of at least 1.23 V between the at least one intra-pulposus exposed electrode surface and the plurality of extra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces.
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26. A method for treating an intervertebral disc of a subject, the method comprising:
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implanting at least one intra-pulposus exposed electrode surface in a nucleus pulposus of the intervertebral disc; implanting one or more extra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces outside the nucleus pulposus, in electrical communication with the intervertebral disc, the one or more extra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces having an aggregate electrically-exposed surface area of at least 1 cm2; and activating control circuitry, which is electrically coupled to the at least one intra-pulposus exposed electrode surface and one or more extra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces, to; repeatedly assume a pressure-increasing mode of operation in alternation with an oxygen-generating mode of operation, in the pressure-increasing mode of operation, (a) configure the at least one intra-pulposus exposed electrode surface to be a cathode, and the one or more extra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces to be one or more respective anodes, and (b) electroosmotically drive fluid into the nucleus pulposus to increase pressure in the intervertebral disc, by applying a first mean voltage of less than 1.23 V between the at least one intra-pulposus exposed electrode surface and the one or more extra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces, and in the oxygen-generating mode of operation, (a) configure the at least one intra-pulposus exposed electrode surface to be an anode, and the one or more extra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces to be a respective plurality of cathodes, and (b) generate oxygen within the nucleus pulposus by electrolysis, by applying a second mean voltage of at least 1.23 V between the at least one intra-pulposus exposed electrode surface and the one or more extra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces.
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27. Apparatus comprising an electrode, which comprises a wire that (a) has a wire diameter of between 75 and 125 microns and (b) includes:
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a non-electrically-insulated current-application longitudinal segment, which, in the absence of any applied forces, is coiled and has (i) a mean pitch of between 1.1 and 2 times the wire diameter, and (ii) an entire longitudinal length of between 5 and 35 mm, and an electrically-insulated lead longitudinal segment, which has an entire longitudinal length of between 5 and 80 mm, in the absence of any applied forces.
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Specification