Iontophoretic and electroosmotic disc treatment

• US 8,577,469 B2
• Filed: 07/10/2007
• Issued: 11/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Discure Technologies Limited
• Original Assignee: Rainbow Medical Ltd.
• Inventors: Gross, Yossi
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Niketa
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAM, MINH DUC GIA
• Application Number:
  US12/373,306
• Publication Number:
  US 20090312816A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,310 Days
• Field of Search: 607/43, 607/44
• US Class Current: 607/43
• 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

Abstract

Apparatus (10) is provided for treating an intervertebral disc (20) of a subject. The apparatus (10) includes a first electrode (30), configured to be inserted into a nucleus pulposus (40) of the disc (20), and a second electrode (32), configured to be placed outside of the nucleus pulposus (40), in a vicinity of the nucleus pulposus (40). A control unit (34) is configured to drive a current between the first and second electrodes (30, 32), and to configure the current to electroosmotically drive fluid between inside and outside the nucleus pulposus (40). Other embodiments are also described.

Claims

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

driving a current between a first site within a nucleus pulposus of the disc and a second site outside of the nucleus pulposus; and

configuring the current to electroosmotically drive fluid between inside and outside the nucleus pulposus.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the second site is in the vicinity of an external surface of an annulus fibrosus of the disc.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the second site is at least partially within an annulus fibrosus of the disc.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein driving the current comprises detecting a level of activity of the subject, and driving the current responsively to the detected level of activity.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein driving the current comprises detecting an orientation of the subject, and driving the current responsively to the detected orientation.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein driving the current comprises driving the current based on a circadian cycle of the subject.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein configuring the current comprises configuring the current to stimulate the formation of at least one type of new collagen fibers selected from the group consisting of:

new collagen fibers in the nucleus pulposus, and new collagen in an annulus fibrosus of the disc.

8. The method according to claim 1, and comprising replacing the nucleus pulposus with an artificial substitute material before driving the current.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein configuring the current comprises configuring the current to generate oxygen by causing hydrolysis in at least one tissue selected from:

the nucleus pulposus, and an annulus fibrosus of the disc.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein configuring the current comprises configuring the current to electroosmotically drive the fluid into the nucleus pulposus.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein configuring the current comprises configuring the first site to have a negative charge, and the second site to have a positive charge.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein configuring the current comprises configuring the current to electroosmotically drive the fluid from the nucleus pulposus.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein configuring the current comprises configuring the first site to have a positive charge, and the second site to have a negative charge.

14. The method according to claim 1, wherein driving the current comprises sensing a pressure within the disc, and driving the current responsively to the sensed pressure.

15. A method for treating an intervertebral disc, comprising:

identifying that the disc requires treatment; and

treating the disc by;

inserting a first electrode into a nucleus pulposus of the disc,

placing a second electrode, which is electrically coupled to the first electrode, outside of the nucleus pulposus, in a vicinity of the nucleus pulposus, and,

electroosmotically driving a fluid between the nucleus pulposus and the outside of the nucleus pulposus.

16. The method according to claim 15, and comprising replacing the nucleus pulposus with an artificial substitute material before or during inserting of the first electrode.