DISC THERAPY

• US 20170182317A1
• Filed: 12/29/2015
• Published: 06/29/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Discure Technologies Limited
• Original Assignee: Rainbow Medical Ltd.
• Inventors: Fostick, Gideon, Gross, Yossi
• Granted Patent: US 9,770,591 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0551 Spinal or peripheral nerve electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/205 for promoting a biological process
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/306 Arrangements where at least part of the apparatus is introduced into the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/325 for iontophoresis, i.e. transfer of media in ionic state by an electromotoric force into the body electrodes for external use A61N1/0428
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/326 for promoting growth of cells, e.g. bone cells
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/327 for enhancing the absorption properties of tissue, e.g. by electroporation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36062 Spinal stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36132 using patient feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37205 Microstimulators, e.g. implantable through a cannula
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37518 Anchoring of the implants, e.g. fixation

Abstract

A method of treating an intervertebral disc of a subject is provided, comprising implanting, within a nucleus pulposus of the disc, at least three intra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces at different respective locations; and implanting one or more extra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces outside the nucleus pulposus, in electrical communication with the disc. Control circuitry is activated to configure the intra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces to be cathodes, and the one or more extra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces to be one or more anodes, and to drive the intra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces and the one or more extra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces to electroosmotically drive fluid into the nucleus pulposus to increase pressure in the disc. Other embodiments are also described.

Claims

1. A method of treating an intervertebral disc of a subject, comprising:

implanting, within a nucleus pulposus of the disc, at least three intra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces at different respective locations;

implanting one or more extra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces outside the nucleus pulposus, in electrical communication with the disc; and

activating control circuitry to;

configure the intra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces to be cathodes, and the one or more extra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces to be one or more anodes, and

drive the intra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces and the one or more extra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces to electroosmotically drive fluid into the nucleus pulposus to increase pressure in the disc.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein implanting the intra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces comprises implanting the intra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces such that if the intra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces were to be projected onto a transverse plane of the disc, the intra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces would be at different respective projected locations in the transverse plane.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein implanting the intra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces comprises implanting the intra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces such that if the intra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces were to be projected onto the transverse plane of the disc, each of the intra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces would be at least 2 mm from a closest another one of the intra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces.

4. The method according to claim 2, wherein implanting the intra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces comprises implanting the intra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces such that if the intra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces were to be projected onto the transverse plane of the disc, at least two of the intra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces would be disposed at respective different distances from a geometric center of the disc in the transverse plane.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein implanting the intra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces comprises implanting the intra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces such that if the intra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces were to be projected onto the transverse plane of the disc, at least three of the intra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces would be disposed at respective different distances from the geometric center of the disc in the transverse plane.

6. The method according to claim 4, wherein implanting the intra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces comprises implanting the intra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces such that if the intra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces were to be projected onto the transverse plane of the disc, at least one of the distances would be at least 2 mm greater than another one of the distances.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein implanting the intra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces comprises implanting the intra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces such that if the intra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces were to be projected onto a transverse plane of the disc, at least one of the intra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces would be disposed at a distance of no more than 10 mm from a geometric center of the disc in the transverse plane.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein activating the control circuitry to drive the intra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces and the one or more extra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces to electroosmotically drive the fluid into the nucleus pulposus comprises activating the control circuitry to apply:

(a) a first voltage between at least a first one of the intra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces and at least one of the one or more extra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces, and

(b) a second voltage between at least a second one of the intra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces and at least one of the one or more extra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces, the second voltage different from the first voltage.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein activating the control circuitry to drive the intra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces and the one or more extra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces to electroosmotically drive the fluid into the nucleus pulposus comprises activating the control circuitry to apply a third voltage between at least a third one of the intra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces and at least one of the one or more extra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces, the third voltage different from at least one of the first and the second voltages.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the third voltage is different from both the first and the second voltages.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein implanting the at least three intra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces comprises implanting, within the nucleus pulposus, at least five intra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces at different respective locations.

14. The method according to claim 1, wherein activating the control circuitry comprises activating the control circuitry to configure the cathodes to be at different respective negative potentials.

15. The method according to claim 14,

wherein if the cathodes were to be projected onto a transverse plane of the disc, one or more of the cathodes would be one or more respective closest cathodes to a geometric center of the disc in the transverse plane of the disc, and

wherein activating the control circuitry comprises activating the control circuitry to set respective magnitudes of the negative potentials at the one or more closest cathodes to be at least 30 mV with respect to outside the nucleus pulposus.

18. The method according to claim 14,

wherein implanting the intra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces comprises implanting the intra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces such that if the intra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces were to be projected onto a transverse plane of the disc, the intra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces would be disposed at respective distances from a geometric center of the disc in the transverse plane, and

wherein activating the control circuitry comprises activating the control circuitry to set respective magnitudes of the negative potentials at the cathodes, with respect to outside the nucleus pulposus, to be inversely related to the respective distances between the geometric center and the cathodes.

22. The method according to claim 1, wherein implanting the intra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces comprises implanting the intra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces symmetrically about a sagittal plane of the disc.

23. The method according to claim 1, wherein implanting the intra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces comprises implanting at least one intra-pulposus electrode, which comprises:

at least two of the intra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces; and

a support structure along which the at least two of the intra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces are disposed, such that the support structure is shaped as a partial ring or a complete ring after the implanting.

30. The method according to claim 23, wherein the at least one intra-pulposus electrode comprises a partially insulated wire, which serves as the support structure, and wherein non-insulated portions of the wire serve as respective ones of the intra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces.

31. The method according to claim 1, wherein implanting the intra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces comprises implanting at least one intra-pulposus electrode, which comprises:

at least two of the intra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces; and

a support structure along which the at least two of the intra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces are disposed, such that the support structure remains straight during and after the implanting.

33. The method according to claim 31,

wherein the at least two of the intra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces include first, second, and third intra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces disposed along the support structure, with the second longitudinally between the first and the third intra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces, and

wherein activating the control circuitry comprises activating the control circuitry to configure the first, the second, and the third intra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces to be at respective different potentials, the potential at the second intra-pulposus exposed electrode surface (a) greater than the potential at the first intra-pulposus exposed electrode surface, and (b) greater than the potential at the third intra-pulposus exposed electrode surface.

35. The method according to claim 1, wherein implanting the intra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces comprises implanting at least one intra-pulposus electrode, which comprises:

at least two of the intra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces; and

a support structure, which comprises a plurality of spines that respectively comprise one or more of the intra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces.

36. The method according to claim 35, wherein the support structure further comprises a backbone, from which the spines extend.

37. The method according to claim 35, wherein the support structure comprises a partially insulated wire, and wherein non-insulated portions of the wire serve as respective ones of the intra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces.

43. The method according to claim 1, wherein implanting the one or more extra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces comprises implanting the one or more extra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces such that a product of (a) a number of the one or more extra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces times (b) an average distance in centimeters of the one or more extra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces from the nucleus pulposus equals between 4 and 15.

7. (canceled)

13. (canceled)

16-17. -17. (canceled)

19-21. -21. (canceled)

24-29. -29. (canceled)

32. (canceled)

34. (canceled)

38-42. -42. (canceled)

44-56. -56. (canceled)

57. Apparatus for treating an intervertebral disc of a subject, the apparatus comprising:

at least three intra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces, which are configured to be implanted within a nucleus pulposus of the disc, at different respective locations;

one or more extra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces, which are configured to be implanted outside the nucleus pulposus, in electrical communication with the disc; and

control circuitry, which is configured to;

configure the intra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces to be cathodes, and the one or more extra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces to be one or more anodes, and

drive the intra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces and the one or more extra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces to electroosmotically drive fluid into the nucleus pulposus to increase pressure in the disc.

59. The apparatus according to claim 57, wherein the control circuitry is configured to configure the cathodes to be at different respective negative potentials.

63. The apparatus according to claim 57, wherein the control circuitry is configured to drive the intra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces and the one or more extra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces to electroosmotically drive the fluid into the nucleus pulposus by applying:

(a) a first voltage between at least a first one of the intra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces and at least one of the one or more extra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces, and

(b) a second voltage between at least a second one of the intra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces and at least one of the one or more extra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces, the second voltage different from the first voltage.

64. The apparatus according to claim 63, wherein the control circuitry is configured to drive the intra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces and the one or more extra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces to electroosmotically drive the fluid into the nucleus pulposus by applying a third voltage between at least a third one of the intra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces and at least one of the one or more extra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces, the third voltage different from at least one of the first and the second voltages.

65. The apparatus according to claim 64, wherein the third voltage is different from both the first and the second voltages.

66. The apparatus according to claim 57, wherein the apparatus comprises at least one intra-pulposus electrode, which comprises:

at least two of the intra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces; and

a support structure along which the at least two of the intra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces are disposed, wherein the support structure is configured to be shaped as a partial ring or a complete ring after implantation.

70. The apparatus according to claim 57, wherein the apparatus comprises at least one intra-pulposus electrode, which comprises:

at least two of the intra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces; and

a support structure along which the at least two of the intra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces are disposed, wherein the support structure is configured to remain straight during and after implantation.

72. The apparatus according to claim 70,

wherein the at least two of the intra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces comprise first, second, and third intra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces disposed along the support structure, with the second longitudinally between the first and the third intra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces, and

wherein the control circuitry is configured to configure the first, the second, and the third intra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces to be at respective different potentials, the potential at the second intra-pulposus exposed electrode surface (a) greater than the potential at the first intra-pulposus exposed electrode surface, and (b) greater than the potential at the third intra-pulposus exposed electrode surface.

73. The apparatus according to claim 57, wherein the apparatus comprises at least one intra-pulposus electrode, which comprises:

at least two of the intra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces; and

a support structure, which comprises a plurality of spines that respectively comprise one or more of the intra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces.

74. The apparatus according to claim 73, wherein the support structure further comprises a backbone, from which the spines extend.

58. (canceled)

60-62. -62. (canceled)

67-69. -69. (canceled)

71. (canceled)

75-111. -111. (canceled)