US20020138091A1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Micro-invasive nucleotomy device and method
Assignee: Stryker Puerto Rico Holdings BV
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Filing: 2002-03-08
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2022-03-08
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus and method for removing intervertebral disc material, particularly nucleus pulposus, from a patient is provided. The apparatus generally includes a handpiece and a tissue removal mechanism operatively coupled thereto. The tissue removal mechanism includes a cannula adapted to be inserted into an intervertebral disc and having an open distal tip and an outer diameter of less than about 5 mm, or less than about 2 mm. The mechanism further includes a rotatable element having a distal portion with projections or threading, for example, having a substantially helical configuration. The distal portion of the rotatable element may extend beyond the open distal tip of the cannula. The apparatus is designed to urge or draw nucleus material into the cannula upon rotation of the rotatable element and preferably without the need for supplemental sources of suction or aspiration. The invention further provides a method for monitoring intervertebral disc pressure before, during and/or after a treatment procedure.
Inventors
- 👤 D. Pflueger
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-22 23:58
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B10/00; A61B10/02; A61B10/0233; A61B10/0266; A61B17/00; A61B17/32; A61B17/320016; A61B17/32002; A61B17/3205; A61B17/3207; A61B17/320758; A61B17/00234; A61B2017/00238; A61B2017/00261; A61B2017/00681; A61B2017/00685; A61B2017/00734
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 61
Claim 1
Independent Claim
97 words
1 . An apparatus for removing material from an intervertebral disc of a human or an animal, the apparatus comprising: a handpiece; a cannula including a proximal end portion structured to be coupled to the handpiece and an open distal tip structured to be placed in a nucleus of an intervertebral disc of a body; and a rotational element structured to be operatively coupled to a source of rotational energy, the rotational element disposed at least partially in the cannula and being structured to at least assist in drawing material from an intervertebral disc into the cannula.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
97 words
1 . An apparatus for removing material from an intervertebral disc of a human or an animal, the apparatus comprising: a handpiece; a cannula including a proximal end portion structured to be coupled to the handpiece and an open distal tip structured to be placed in a nucleus of an intervertebral disc of a body; and a rotational element structured to be operatively coupled to a source of rotational energy, the rotational element disposed at least partially in the cannula and being structured to at least assist in drawing material from an intervertebral disc into the cannula.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
2 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the rotational element and the cannula cooperatively engage to form a source of suction effective in drawing material from an intervertebral disc into the cannula in response to rotation of the rotational element.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
3 . The apparatus of claim 2 which includes no other source of suction or aspiration.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
4 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the rotational element includes a shaft and one or more outwardly extending projections.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
5 . The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the one or more outwardly extending projections have a substantially helical configuration.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
6 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the rotational element includes a distal portion that extends beyond the open distal tip of the cannula.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
7 . The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the distal portion of the rotational element includes one or more outwardly extending projections having a substantially helical configuration.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
8 . The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the rotational element includes a shaft portion that extends beyond the open distal tip of the cannula.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
9 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the rotational element includes a distal portion that extends a distance in a range of about 0.02 inches to about 1 inch beyond the open distal tip of the cannula.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
10 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cannula has an outer diameter no greater than about 5 mm.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
11 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cannula has an outer diameter no greater than about 2 mm.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
12 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the open distal tip of the cannula is beveled.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
13 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the open distal tip of the cannula is substantially perpendicular with respect to a longitudinal axis of the cannula.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
14 . The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a collection chamber, in communication with the cannula, structured to contain material passed through the cannula.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
15 . The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the collection chamber is structured to facilitate quantification of the material removed from an intervertebral disc.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
16 words
16 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cannula is structured to be manually deformable.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
25 words
17 . The apparatus of claim 1 which further comprises a motor operatively coupled to the rotational element to provide rotation to the rotational element.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
132 words
18 . An apparatus for removing tissue from an intervertebral disc of a human or an animal, the apparatus comprising: a handpiece; a cannula, having an outer diameter of about 5 mm or less, and including a proximal end portion structured to be coupled to the handpiece and an open distal tip structured to be placed in a nucleus of an intervertebral disc of a human or animal; and a rotational element structured to cooperate with the cannula in drawing intervertebral disc nucleus tissue into the open distal tip in response to rotation of the rotational element, the rotational element including a shaft and having distal portion extending beyond the open distal tip of the cannula, and a proximal end portion structured to be operatively coupled to a source of rotational energy.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
132 words
18 . An apparatus for removing tissue from an intervertebral disc of a human or an animal, the apparatus comprising: a handpiece; a cannula, having an outer diameter of about 5 mm or less, and including a proximal end portion structured to be coupled to the handpiece and an open distal tip structured to be placed in a nucleus of an intervertebral disc of a human or animal; and a rotational element structured to cooperate with the cannula in drawing intervertebral disc nucleus tissue into the open distal tip in response to rotation of the rotational element, the rotational element including a shaft and having distal portion extending beyond the open distal tip of the cannula, and a proximal end portion structured to be operatively coupled to a source of rotational energy.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
41 words
19 . The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the rotational element and the cannula are sized and positioned to cooperate to form suction effective in drawing intervertebral disc nucleus tissue into the cannula in response to rotation of the rotational element.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
16 words
20 . The apparatus of claim 18 which includes no other source of suction or aspiration.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
18 words
21 . The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the rotational element includes one or more outwardly extending projections.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
20 words
22 . The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the one or more outwardly extending projections have a substantially helical configuration.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
19 words
23 . The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the shaft extends beyond the open distal tip of the cannula.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
20 words
24 . The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the cannula has an outer diameter no greater than about 2 mm.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
30 words
25 . The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the open distal tip of the cannula is beveled or is substantially perpendicular with respect to a longitudinal axis of the cannula.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
28 words
26 . The apparatus of claim 18 further comprising a collection chamber, in communication with the cannula, structured to contain intervertebral disc nucleus tissue passed through the cannula.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
13 words
27 . The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the cannula is manually deformable.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
25 words
28 . The apparatus of claim 18 which further comprises a motor operatively coupled to the rotational element to provide rotation to the rotational element.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
87 words
29 . A method of removing material from an intervertebral disc of a human or an animal, the method comprising the steps of: placing into a nucleus of an intervertebral disc of a human or an animal a cannula having an open, distal tip and a rotational element disposed at least partially in the cannula; and rotating the rotational element relative to the cannula, thereby at least assisting in drawing a material from the nucleus of the intervertebral disc into the open distal tip of the cannula.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
87 words
29 . A method of removing material from an intervertebral disc of a human or an animal, the method comprising the steps of: placing into a nucleus of an intervertebral disc of a human or an animal a cannula having an open, distal tip and a rotational element disposed at least partially in the cannula; and rotating the rotational element relative to the cannula, thereby at least assisting in drawing a material from the nucleus of the intervertebral disc into the open distal tip of the cannula.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
19 words
30 . The method of claim 29 which further comprises passing the material from the nucleus through the cannula.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
44 words
31 . The method of claim 29 wherein the placing step includes percutaneously introducing the cannula into the nucleus of the intervertebral disc, and positioning the open distal tip of the cannula in close proximity to the material from the nucleus to be removed.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
39 words
32 . The method of claim 29 wherein the cannula and rotational element are sized and positioned so that the rotating step is effective to draw the material from the nucleus into the open distal tip of the cannula.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
20 words
33 . The method of claim 29 wherein the cannula has an outer diameter no larger than about 2 mm.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
29 words
34 . The method of claim 29 wherein the material from the nucleus is removed without applying additional suction or aspiration to the open distal tip of the cannula.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
35 words
35 . The method of claim 29 wherein the step of rotating is effective in drawing the material from the nucleus into the open distal tip of the cannula as a substantially single continuous piece.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
28 words
36 . The method of claim 29 further comprising at least one of collecting the removed material from the nucleus and observing the removed material from the nucleus.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
57 words
37 . A method of decompressing an intervertebral disc of a human or an animal, the method comprising the steps of: positioning a cannula having an open distal tip within a nucleus of an intervertebral disc; inserting, into the cannula, a rotational element; and rotating the rotational element, thereby drawing tissue from the nucleus into the cannula.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
57 words
37 . A method of decompressing an intervertebral disc of a human or an animal, the method comprising the steps of: positioning a cannula having an open distal tip within a nucleus of an intervertebral disc; inserting, into the cannula, a rotational element; and rotating the rotational element, thereby drawing tissue from the nucleus into the cannula.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
29 words
38 . The method of claim 37 wherein the step of rotating includes removing tissue from the nucleus to obtain a desired level of decompression of the intervertebral disc.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
28 words
39 . The method of claim 37 wherein the step of rotating includes removing tissue from the nucleus by suction through the open distal tip of the cannula.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
28 words
40 . The method of claim 37 wherein the step of rotating includes removing tissue from the nucleus through the cannula as a single continuous piece of tissue.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
44 words
41 . A method of treating an intervertebral disc of a human or an animal, the method comprising the steps of: measuring a pressure within an intervertebral disc; and treating the disc based at least in part on the measured pressure within the disc.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
44 words
41 . A method of treating an intervertebral disc of a human or an animal, the method comprising the steps of: measuring a pressure within an intervertebral disc; and treating the disc based at least in part on the measured pressure within the disc.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
21 words
42 . The method of claim 41 wherein the step of measuring is performed before and/or during the step of treating.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
29 words
43 . The method of claim 41 wherein the step of measuring comprises monitoring the pressure within the disc on a substantially continuous basis over a period of time.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
19 words
44 . The method of claim 43 wherein the step of monitoring is performed during the step of treating.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
16 words
45 . The method of claim 41 wherein the step of treating comprises modifying the disc.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
21 words
46 . The method of claim 41 wherein the step of treating comprises removing material from a nucleus of the disc.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
29 words
47 . A method for monitoring a condition of an intervertebral disc, the method comprising: measuring a pressure in an intervertebral disc after the disc has been surgically treated.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
29 words
47 . A method for monitoring a condition of an intervertebral disc, the method comprising: measuring a pressure in an intervertebral disc after the disc has been surgically treated.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
16 words
48 . The method of claim 47 further comprising the step of treating the intervertebral disc.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
19 words
49 . The method of claim 48 wherein the step of treating comprises removing material from the disc nucleus.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
24 words
50 . The method of claim 48 further comprising the step of monitoring a pressure in the intervertebral disc during the step of treating.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
28 words
51 . The method of claim 50 wherein the step of treating is effective to cause the pressure in the intervertebral disc to be a desired pressure level.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
41 words
52 . A method for treating an intervertebral disc of a human or an animal, the method comprising: percutaneously removing material from an intervertebral disc through a cannula; and introducing a disc replacement material into the intervertebral disc through said cannula.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
41 words
52 . A method for treating an intervertebral disc of a human or an animal, the method comprising: percutaneously removing material from an intervertebral disc through a cannula; and introducing a disc replacement material into the intervertebral disc through said cannula.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
22 words
53 . The method of claim 52 wherein the step of percutaneously removing comprises removing material from a nucleus of the disc.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
29 words
54 . The method of claim 52 wherein the disc replacement material comprises a material selected from the group consisting of hydrogels, foam materials, inflatable elements and mixtures thereof.
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