US6122549A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Apparatus for treating intervertebral discs with resistive energy
Assignee: Neurotherm LLC
•
Filing: 1997-06-24
•
Granted: 2000-09-19
•
Expires: 2017-06-24
Abstract
Abstract An externally guidable intervertebral disc apparatus manipulates disc tissue at a selected location of an intervertebral disc. The apparatus comprises a catheter having a distal end, a proximal end and a longitudinal axis. The catheter has an intradiscal section at its distal end. The intradiscal section is extendible into the disc, has sufficient rigidity to be advanceable through the nucleus pulposus and around the annulus fibrosus of the disc under a force applied longitudinally to the proximal end, has sufficient flexibility in a direction of the disc plane to be compliant with the inner wall, and has insufficient penetration ability to be advanceable out through the annulus fibrosus under the applied force. A thermal energy delivery device is located in the intradiscal section for preferentially heating the selected location of the disc. The apparatus is used to locally and controllably heat but not char or burn tissue in a disc. Such heat shrinks the collagen component.
Inventors
- 👤 Hugh J. Sharkey
- 👤 John Ashley
- 👤 Joel Saal
- 👤 Jeff Saal
- 👤 Le T Le
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-22 23:55
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: 39
Claim 1
Independent Claim
162 words
An externally guidable intervertebral disc apparatus for manipulation of tissue at a selected location of an intervertebral disc, the 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 navigates 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 resistive energy delivery device incorporated into the apparatus adjacent the intradiscal section for preferentially heating the selected location of the disc.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
162 words
An externally guidable intervertebral disc apparatus for manipulation of tissue at a selected location of an intervertebral disc, the 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 navigates 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 resistive energy delivery device incorporated into the apparatus adjacent the intradiscal section for preferentially heating the selected location of the disc.
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 different thicknesses in the two orthogonal directions.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the differential bending ability is maintained in a fixed orientation relative to the apparatus by a control element at the proximal end of the apparatus.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the intradiscal section has a length at least one-half the diameter of the nucleus pulposus.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the intradiscal section has a distal portion with a blunt tip.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the intradiscal distal tip has lower rigidity than a majority of the intradiscal section.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the intradiscal section has a directionally biased distal tip portion.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein an electrical power supply is operably attached to the resistive energy delivery device through the apparatus.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus includes a plurality of resistive energy delivery devices.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein intradiscal section has at least one sensor capable of monitoring temperature, power, voltage, or a combination thereof, and thereby controlling heating.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 11, wherein information from the sensor controls power delivered to the resistive energy delivery device.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the apparatus is radiographically opaque.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the intradiscal section of the apparatus is configured to have at least two radii of curvature when advanced around the annulus.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus includes an irrigation lumen extending from a proximal end of the apparatus to the intradiscal section.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein intradiscal section of the apparatus has one or more flat sides.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the resistive energy delivery device is located along one side of the intradiscal section.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus further comprises an introducer capable of entering the disc and through which the intradiscal section of the apparatus is capable of sliding.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus further comprises an active steering mechanism.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the intradiscal section comprises a helical support structure.
Claim 22
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 2-400 units in a desired bending plane.
Claim 23
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 24
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 25
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the proximal end of the apparatus has a column strength between about 0.2-7 kg.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the proximal end of the apparatus has a column strength between about 0.7-4 kg.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the intradiscal section has a column strength between about 0.05-4 kg.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the proximal end of the apparatus has a column strength between about 0.1-25 kg.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the proximal end of the apparatus has a column strength between about 0.2-7 kg.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the proximal end of the apparatus has a column strength between about 0.7-4 kg.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the intradiscal section has a column strength between about 0.05-2 kg.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the proximal end of the apparatus has a column strength between about 0.1-25 kg.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the proximal end of the apparatus has a column strength between about 0.2-7 kg.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the proximal end of the apparatus has a column strength between about 0.7-4 kg.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the resistive energy delivery device is capable of delivering a controlled amount of energy such that no vaporization occurs when energy is delivered by the resistive energy delivery device.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the resistive energy delivery device is capable of delivering a controlled amount of energy at such that no material other than water is removed when energy is delivered by the resistive energy delivery device.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the resistive energy delivery device is capable of delivering a controlled amount of energy such that no destructive lesion is formed on a disc when energy is delivered by the resistive energy delivery device.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
79 words
An intervertebral disc apparatus, comprising: a catheter including a self-navigating intradiscal section with a resistive energy delivery device, wherein the intradiscal section has sufficient column strength to be advanceable through a nucleus pulposus of an intervertebral disc and to be navigable along an inner wall of an annulus fibrosus, a low enough flexural strength in an axial plane of the intervertebral disc, and a sufficient flexural strength in oblique and cephalo-caudal planes to be constrained within the axial plane.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
79 words
An intervertebral disc apparatus, comprising: a catheter including a self-navigating intradiscal section with a resistive energy delivery device, wherein the intradiscal section has sufficient column strength to be advanceable through a nucleus pulposus of an intervertebral disc and to be navigable along an inner wall of an annulus fibrosus, a low enough flexural strength in an axial plane of the intervertebral disc, and a sufficient flexural strength in oblique and cephalo-caudal planes to be constrained within the axial plane.
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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) | 2003-09-19 | 2004-03-20 | 2004-09-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-09-19 | 2008-03-20 | 2008-09-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-09-19 | 2012-03-20 | 2012-09-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |