SYSTEM FOR ENHANCING VISIBILITY IN THE EPIDURAL SPACE
First Claim
1. A method of epidural surgery that improves visibility in the epidural space of a patient for more effectively conducting therapeutic surgery therein, the method comprising the steps of:
- distending a portion of the epidural space of a patient by filling the portion of the epidural space with a fluid supplied from a catheter; and
positioning a portion of an optical scope in the distended portion of the epidural space by inserting the portion of the optical scope through the same catheter that supplies the distending fluid to thereby provide a visual image of the epidural space.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method of epidural surgery is provided that improves visibility in the epidural space of a patient for more effectively conducting therapeutic surgery therein. The method includes the steps of distending a portion of the epidural space of a patient by filling the portion of the epidural space with a fluid supplied from a catheter and positioning a portion of an optical scope in the distended portion of the epidural space by inserting the optical scope through the same catheter that supplies the distending fluid to thereby provide a visual image of the epidural space.
8 Citations
30 Claims
-
1. A method of epidural surgery that improves visibility in the epidural space of a patient for more effectively conducting therapeutic surgery therein, the method comprising the steps of:
-
distending a portion of the epidural space of a patient by filling the portion of the epidural space with a fluid supplied from a catheter; and
positioning a portion of an optical scope in the distended portion of the epidural space by inserting the portion of the optical scope through the same catheter that supplies the distending fluid to thereby provide a visual image of the epidural space. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. A method of epidural surgery that improves visibility in the epidural space of a patient for more effectively conducting therapeutic surgery therein, the method comprising the steps of:
-
fluoroscopically observing the positioning of a portion of the catheter within the epidural space and adjacent a suspected problem area;
distending a portion of the epidural space by filling the portion of the epidural space with a fluid supplied from a catheter;
positioning a portion of an optical scope in the distended portion of the epidural space by inserting the portion of the optical scope through the same catheter that supplies the distending fluid to thereby provide a visual image of the epidural space and the suspected problem area; and
performing a therapeutic treatment on the problem area within the distended portion of the epidural space. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
-
-
22. A method of epidural surgery that improves visibility in the epidural space of a patient for more effectively conducting therapeutic surgery therein, the method comprising the steps of:
-
positioning a portion of a multi-lumen, steerable catheter into an opening to an epidural space of a patient;
distending a portion of the epidural space by filling the portion of the epidural space with a fluid supplied from a lumen of the steerable catheter;
positioning a portion of an optical scope in the distended portion of the epidural space by inserting the optical scope through another lumen of the same steerable catheter that supplies the distending fluid to thereby provide a visual image of the epidural space and a problem area therein; and
performing a therapeutic treatment to the problem area within the epidural space. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
-
Specification