US6007570A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Apparatus with functional element for performing function upon intervertebral discs
Assignee: Neurotherm LLC
•
Filing: 1997-06-24
•
Granted: 1999-12-28
•
Expires: 2017-06-24
Abstract
Abstract A percutaneous method of repairing a fissure in the annulus pulposus comprises placing an energy source adjacent to the fissure and providing sufficient energy to the fissure to raise the temperature to at least about 45-70 DEG C. and for a sufficient time to cause the collagen to weld. An intervertebral fissure also can be treated by placing a catheter with a lumen adjacent to the fissure and injecting sealant into the fissure via the catheter, thereby sealing the fissure. An intervertebral fissure additionally can be treated by providing a catheter having a distal end, a proximal end, a longitudinal axis, and an intradiscal section at the catheter's distal end on which there is at least one functional element. The next step is applying a force longitudinally to the proximal of the catheter which is sufficient to advance the intradiscal section through the nucleus pulposus and around an inner wall of an annulus fibrosus, but which force is insufficient to puncture the annulus fibrosus. Next the functional element is positioned at a selected location of the disc by advancing or retracting the catheter and optionally twisting the proximal end of the catheter. Then the functional unit treats the annular fissure. Optionally, there is an additional step of adding a substance to seal the fissure. An externally guidable intervertebral disc apparatus also is disclosed.
Inventors
- 👤 Hugh J. Sharkey
- 👤 Joel Saal
- 👤 Jeffrey Saal
- 👤 John Ashley
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 12:47
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/16; A61B17/1662; A61B17/1671; A61B17/56; A61B17/58; A61B17/68; A61B17/70; A61B17/7061; A61B17/88; A61B17/8802; A61B17/8833; A61B17/8836; A61B18/00; A61B18/04; A61B18/08; A61B18/082; A61B18/12; A61B18/14; A61B18/148; A61B18/1482; A61B18/1485; A61B18/1492; A61M; A61M25/00; A61M25/01; A61M25/0105; A61M25/0133; A61N; A61N1/00; A61N1/02; A61N1/04; A61N1/06; A61N1/40; A61B10/00; A61B10/02; A61B17/00491; A61B17/28; A61B17/29; A61B17/32; A61B17/320016; A61B17/3203; A61B17/34; A61B17/3417; A61B17/3421; A61B17/3494; A61B17/3496; A61B18/18; A61B18/20; A61B18/22; A61B18/24; A61B2017/00017; A61B2017/00022; A61B2017/00084; A61B2017/00106; A61B2017/0011; A61B2017/00115; A61B2017/00119; A61B17/00234; A61B2017/00238; A61B2017/00261; A61B2017/00274; A61B2017/00292; A61B2017/003; A61B2017/00336; A61B2017/0042; A61B2017/00455; A61B2017/00831; A61B2017/00867; A61B17/22; A61B2017/22038; A61B2017/22042; A61B2017/22044; A61B2017/22049; A61B2017/22082; A61B2017/22087; A61B2017/2901; A61B2017/2905; A61B2017/2926; A61B2017/2927; A61B2017/320004; A61B2017/320008; A61B2017/320044; A61B2017/3445; A61B2017/348; A61B2017/3482; A61B2017/3484; A61B2017/3488; A61B2018/00005; A61B2018/00011; A61B2018/00053; A61B2018/00214; A61B2018/00267; A61B2018/00315; A61B2018/00434; A61B2018/0044; A61B2018/00547; A61B2018/00571; A61B2018/00625; A61B2018/00636; A61B2018/00642; A61B2018/00654; A61B2018/00696; A61B2018/00702; A61B2018/00773; A61B2018/00791; A61B2018/00797; A61B2018/044; A61B2018/046; A61B18/1206; A61B2018/1266; A61B2018/1405; A61B2018/1407; A61B2018/1425; A61B2018/1435; A61B2018/1472; A61B2018/1807; A61B90/00; A61B90/04; A61B2090/0409; A61B2090/0436; A61B2090/0454; A61B90/06; A61B2090/061; A61B2090/064; A61B90/39; A61B2090/3937; A61B2217/00; A61B2217/002; A61B2217/005; A61B2218/00; A61B2218/001; A61B2218/002; A61B2218/007; A61B34/00; A61B34/20; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/02; A61F2/30; A61F2/44; A61F2/442; A61F2002/30001; A61F2002/30667; A61F2002/30677; A61F7/00; A61F7/02; A61F2007/0295; A61F2007/0298; A61M25/0067; A61M25/0082; A61M25/0084; A61M25/0144; A61M25/0147; A61M25/0155; A61M25/0158; A61M25/09
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 42
Claim 1
Independent Claim
156 words
An externally guidable intervertebral disc apparatus comprising: a proximal end for externally guiding a distal end of the apparatus within an intervertebral disc; a self-navigating intradiscal section adjacent a distal end of the apparatus which adapted to navigate itself adjacent an inner wall of an annulus of the disc when the apparatus is extended into an intervertebral disc, the intradiscal section having (a) sufficient rigidity to be advanceable through a nucleus pulposus and around the inner wall of an annulus fibrosus under a force applied longitudinally to the proximal end of the apparatus, (b) insufficient penetration ability to be advanceable out through the annulus fibrosus under the applied force, and (c) sufficient flexibility in a direction of a disc plane to be compliant with the inner wall; and a functional element incorporated into the apparatus adjacent the intradiscal section for performing a function selected from the group consisting of delivering energy, adding material and removing material.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
156 words
An externally guidable intervertebral disc apparatus comprising: a proximal end for externally guiding a distal end of the apparatus within an intervertebral disc; a self-navigating intradiscal section adjacent a distal end of the apparatus which adapted to navigate itself adjacent an inner wall of an annulus of the disc when the apparatus is extended into an intervertebral disc, the intradiscal section having (a) sufficient rigidity to be advanceable through a nucleus pulposus and around the inner wall of an annulus fibrosus under a force applied longitudinally to the proximal end of the apparatus, (b) insufficient penetration ability to be advanceable out through the annulus fibrosus under the applied force, and (c) sufficient flexibility in a direction of a disc plane to be compliant with the inner wall; and a functional element incorporated into the apparatus adjacent the intradiscal section for performing a function selected from the group consisting of delivering energy, adding material and removing material.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the intradiscal section further has differential bending ability in two orthogonal directions at right angles to the longitudinal axis.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the differential bending ability is controlled by a structural element with differential thicknesses in the two orthogonal directions.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the differential bending is maintained in a fixed orientation relative to the apparatus by a control element located at the proximal end of the apparatus.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus further comprises an introducer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the intradiscal section has a length at least one-half of a diameter of the nucleus pulposus.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the intradiscal section has a distal portion configured to be non-piercing through an annulus fibrosus.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the intradiscal section has a distal portion with a blunt tip.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the intradiscal section has a distal portion with a rolling ball tip.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the intradiscal section has a tip less rigid than a more proximal portion of the intradiscal section.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the intradiscal section has a directionally biased tip portion.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the functional element comprises a thermal energy delivery device.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 12, wherein a thermal energy source is operably attached to the thermal energy delivery device through the apparatus.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the thermal energy delivery device is a microwave probe.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the thermal energy delivery device is an optical fiber.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the thermal energy delivery device is an ultrasound emitter.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the thermal energy delivery device is a radio frequency electrode.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the apparatus further comprises at least one sensor capable of monitoring temperature, power, voltage or a combination thereof and the input from the sensor controls energy supplied to the thermal energy device.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the intradiscal section of the apparatus is actively steerable.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the apparatus is radiographically opaque.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the intradiscal section further comprises at least one sensor capable of monitoring temperature, power, voltage or a combination thereof.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the intradiscal section of the apparatus includes a wound helical support structure.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the intradiscal section of the apparatus is configured to have at least two radii of curvature.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the functional element comprises an irrigation lumen extending from a proximal end of the apparatus to the intradiscal section.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the intradiscal section of the apparatus has one or more flat sides.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the intradiscal section has a bending stiffness as measured in Tabor stiffness units between about 2-400 units in a desired bending plane.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the intradiscal section has a bending stiffness as measured in Taber stiffness units between about 3-150 units in a desired bending plane.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the intradiscal section has a bending stiffness as measured in Taber stiffness units between about 4-30 units in a desired bending plane.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the proximal end of the apparatus has a column strength between about 0.2-7 kg.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the proximal end of the apparatus has a column strength between about 0.7-4 kg.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the intradiscal section has a column strength between about 0.05-4 kg.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the proximal end of the apparatus has a column strength between about 0.1-25 kg.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the proximal end of the apparatus has a column strength between about 0.2-7 kg.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the proximal end of the apparatus has a column strength between about 0.7-4 kg.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the intradiscal section has a column strength between about 0.05-2 kg.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the proximal end of the apparatus has a column strength between about 0.1-25 kg.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the proximal and of the apparatus has a column strength between about 0.2-7 kg.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the proximal end of the apparatus has a column strength between about 0.7-4 kg.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the functional element is capable of delivering a controlled amount of energy at or near the fissure such that no vaporization occurs at or near the fissure when energy is delivered by the functional element.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
45 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the functional element is capable of delivering a controlled amount of energy at or near the fissure such that no material other than water is removed at or near the fissure when energy is delivered by the functional element.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
46 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the functional element is capable of delivering a controlled amount of energy at or near the fissure such that no destructive lesion is formed on a disc at or near the fissure when energy is delivered by the functional element.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-12-27 | 2003-06-28 | 2003-12-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-12-27 | 2007-06-28 | 2007-12-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-12-27 | 2011-06-28 | 2011-12-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |