Spinal disc therapy system

• US 20040019381A1
• Filed: 05/13/2003
• Published: 01/29/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pflueger D. Russell
• Original Assignee: Pflueger D. Russell
• Inventors: Pflueger, D. Russell
• Granted Patent: US 7,223,227 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/17.11
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36071 Pain
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2/002 in combination with another treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2/008 for pain treatment or analgesia
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1001 using radiation sources introduced into or applied onto the body; brachytherapy

Abstract

Spinal disc therapy systems in accordance with the present invention generally include an implant element structured to have a therapeutic effect on a human or animal body when implanted into an intervertebral disc annulus or intervertebral disc nucleus. The implant element may include a biochemically active agent that provides pain relief, inflammation relief or other benefit to the human or animal body. The implant element may be mechanically active or mechanically activatable in being effective in providing a therapeutic effect to the human or animal body when implanted in the intervertebral disc. For example, the implant element may include a mechanically active or mechanically activatable component that radiates wave energy, for example, in the form of electrical or magnetic energy, into the body.

Claims

1. A spinal disc therapy system comprising:

an implant element structured to be placed in an intervertebral disc of a human or an animal, the implant element comprising a therapeutic component effective in treating a condition in the human or the animal in which the implant element is located;

the therapeutic component including at least one of a mechanically active, therapeutic component and a mechanically activatable, therapeutic component.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the therapeutic component is structured to provide at least one of a magnetic field, an electrical field, and a radioactive field.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the therapeutic component comprises a magnetic component.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the therapeutic component comprises at least one electrode element.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the therapeutic component comprises an electrode filament.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the electrode filament is sized to be disposed between adjacent lamellae of a disc annulus.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the therapeutic component comprises a radioactive material.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the therapeutic component is structured to be remotely activatable by a remote element outside an intervertebral disc in which the implant element is located.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the implant element further comprises an effective amount of a biochemically active component.

10. A spinal disc therapy system comprising:

an implant element structured to be placed in an intervertebral disc of a human or an animal, the implant element comprising a therapeutic component effective in treating a condition in the human or the animal in which the implant element in located; and

the implant element being structured to allow release of the therapeutic component into the intervertebral disc in a time controlled manner.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the implant element is structured to be substantially entirely absorbed into the intervertebral disc in which it is located.

12. The system of claim 10 wherein the implant element comprises a biochemically active component.

13. The system of claim 10 wherein the implant element comprises a biochemically active component incorporated with an excipient component.

14. The system of claim 10 wherein the implant element comprises an biochemically active component and an excipient component effective in at least one of a delayed release, a sustained release and a controlled release of the biochemically active component when the implant element is located in an intervertebral disc.

15. The system of claim 13 wherein the excipient component comprises an encapsulating agent.

16. The system of claim 13 wherein the excipient component comprises a cyclodextrin.

17. The system of claim 13 wherein the excipient component comprises a matrix material.

18. The system of claim 10 wherein the implant element comprises a gel.

19. A method for treating a human or an animal having an intervertebral disc, the method comprising:

placing, into an intervertebral disc of a human or an animal, an implant element including a biochemically active component and an excipient component; and

allowing the biochemically active component to be released into the intervertebral disc.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the allowing step provides the implant element to be substantially entirely absorbed into the human or animal into whom the implant element has been placed

21. The method of claim 19 wherein the step of allowing provides the implant element to be substantially entirely absorbed into the intervertebral disc in which the implant element has been placed.

22. The method of claim 19 wherein the step of placing comprises placing the implant element into a nucleus of the intervertebral disc.

23. The method of claim 19 wherein the step of placing comprises placing the implant element into an annulus of the intervertebral disc.

24. The method of claim 19 wherein the implant element comprises a gel.

25. The method of claim 19 wherein the biochemically active component is effective in reducing at least one of inflammation and pain emanating in or in proximity to the intervertebral disc in which the implant element has been placed.

26. The method of claim 19 wherein the excipient component comprises a matrix material.

27. The method of claim 19 wherein the excipient component comprises an encapsulating agent.

28. The method of claim 19 wherein the excipient component comprises a cyclodextrin.

29. A method for treating a condition in a human or and animal having an intervertebral disc, the method comprising:

placing an implant element into an intervertebral disc of a human or animal, the implant element including at least one of a mechanically active, therapeutic component and a mechanically activatable, therapeutic component.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein the step of placing comprises placing the implant element in a nucleus of the intervertebral disc.

31. The method of claim 29 wherein the step of placing comprises placing the implant element into an annulus of the intervertebral disc.

32. The method of claim 29 wherein the implant element is structured to provide at least one of a magnetic field, an electrical field, and a radioactive field.

33. The method of claim 29 wherein the implant element comprises an electrode filament.

34. The method of claim 29 further comprising the step of activating the therapeutic component after the step of placing in order to cause a therapeutic effect in, or in proximity to, the intervertebral disc in which the implant element has been placed.

35. The method of claim 34 wherein the step of activating comprises the step of remotely activating the therapeutic component.