Patent US6899716B2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6899716B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and apparatus for spinal augmentation
Assignee: Mis IP Holdings LLC
•
Filing: 2002-04-18
•
Granted: 2005-05-31
•
Expires: 2022-04-18
Abstract
Abstract Disclosed are methods and devices for accessing and treating the spine, while minimizing trauma to surrounding tissue. A device is introduced through tissue, to an access point on the spine. The device is thereafter advanced axially within the spine, from the access point across a treatment zone. Spinal fusion cages, other fusion implants and/or bone growth material is introduced into at least one vertebral body and/or at least one disc space.
Inventors
- 👤 Andrew H. Cragg
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 16:13
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/56; A61B17/58; A61B17/88; A61B17/8802; A61B17/8805; A61B17/8819; A61B17/16; A61B17/1662; A61B17/1671; A61B17/17; A61B17/1739; A61B17/1757; A61B17/32; A61B17/320016; A61B17/32002; A61B17/68; A61B17/70; A61B17/7097; A61B17/7098; A61B17/8816; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/02; A61F2/30; A61F2/44; A61F2/441; A61F2/4455; A61F2/4465; A61F2/46; A61F2/4601; A61F2/4603; A61F2/4611; A61B17/3205; A61B17/3207; A61B17/320725; A61B17/60; A61B17/66; A61B17/7055; A61B17/7061; A61B17/8811; A61B2017/00004; A61B17/00234; A61B2017/00238; A61B2017/00261; A61B2017/00535; A61B2017/00557; A61B2017/00681; A61B2017/00734; A61B2017/00831; A61B2017/00867; A61B17/28; A61B17/29; A61B2017/2901; A61B2017/2905; A61B2017/320004; A61B2017/320012; A61B2017/320733; A61B2017/564; A61F2/30721; A61F2/30723; A61F2/442; A61F2/28; A61F2002/2817; A61F2002/2835; A61F2002/30001; A61F2002/30003; A61F2002/3006; A61F2002/30092; A61F2002/30108; A61F2002/30199; A61F2002/30224; A61F2002/30233; A61F2002/30235; A61F2002/30316; A61F2002/30535; A61F2002/30537; A61F2002/3055; A61F2002/30563; A61F2002/30593; A61F2002/30667; A61F2002/30677; A61F2/30767; A61F2/30771; A61F2002/30772; A61F2002/30774; A61F2002/30784; A61F2002/3085; A61F2002/30859; A61F2002/30878; A61F2002/30879; A61F2002/448; A61F2002/4625; A61F2002/4627; A61F2210/00; A61F2210/0014; A61F2230/00; A61F2230/0063; A61F2230/0069; A61F2310/00; A61F2310/00005; A61F2310/00011; A61F2310/00023; A61F2310/00389; A61F2310/00592; A61F2310/00796; A61F2310/00976; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S606/00; Y10S606/907; Y10S606/908
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 45
Claim 1
Independent Claim
59 words
A method of augmenting the spine, comprising the steps of: providing an elongate augmentation catheter, having a proximal end, a distal end, and at least one lumen extending therethrough; advancing the distal end axially through at least one vertebral body and into at least one disc; and expressing at least a first media from the catheter into the spine.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
59 words
A method of augmenting the spine, comprising the steps of: providing an elongate augmentation catheter, having a proximal end, a distal end, and at least one lumen extending therethrough; advancing the distal end axially through at least one vertebral body and into at least one disc; and expressing at least a first media from the catheter into the spine.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method of augmenting the spine as in claim 1 , wherein the expressing step comprises expressing at least a first media and a second media from the catheter.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method of augmenting the spine as in claim 1 , wherein the advancing step comprises advancing the distal end through at least two vertebral bodies.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method of augmenting the spine as in claim 3 , wherein the advancing step comprises advancing the distal end through at least four vertebral bodies.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method of augmenting the spine as in claim 1 , wherein the first media comprises a nucleus augmentation material.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method of augmenting the spine as in claim 1 , wherein the media comprises a bone growth facilitator.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method of augmenting the spine as in claim 1 , further comprising the step of introducing a spinal fusion cage axially into the spine.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method of augmenting the spine as in claim 1 , wherein the advancing step comprises advancing the catheter through an artificial lumen created axially through the spine.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method of augmenting the spine as in claim 8 , further comprising the step of forming the lumen prior to the advancing step.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method of augmenting the spine as in claim 8 , further comprising the step of forming the lumen simultaneously with the advancing step.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method of augmenting the spine as in claim 10 , wherein the providing step comprises providing a catheter having a cutting tip on the distal end.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
65 words
A method of treating the spine, comprising the steps of: identifying an access site on the spine; advancing a device through the access site and into the spine; further advancing the device axially through the spine across a treatment zone; expressing a bone growth material from the device within the treatment zone; and deploying at least a portion of the device within the treatment zone.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
65 words
A method of treating the spine, comprising the steps of: identifying an access site on the spine; advancing a device through the access site and into the spine; further advancing the device axially through the spine across a treatment zone; expressing a bone growth material from the device within the treatment zone; and deploying at least a portion of the device within the treatment zone.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method of treating the spine as in claim 12 , wherein the access site is on the sacrum.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method of treating the spine as in claim 12 , wherein the access site is on the thoracic spine.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method of treating the spine as in claim 12 , further comprising the step of introducing the device percutaneously through the skin prior to the advancing step.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method of treating the spine as in claim 12 , wherein the further advancing step comprises advancing the device along a linear path through the spine.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method of treating the spine as in claim 12 , wherein the further advancing step comprises advancing the device along a nonlinear path through the spine.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method of treating the spine as in claim 12 , wherein the expressing step comprises expressing the material into at least two vertebral bodies.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
60 words
A method of treating the spine, comprising the steps of: identifying a site on the anterior surface of the sacrum; forming a lumen from the site through the sacrum, through a disc and axially into at least one vertebrae; directly observing the interior of the spine by introducing an endoscope into the lumen; and performing a procedure using the lumen.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
60 words
A method of treating the spine, comprising the steps of: identifying a site on the anterior surface of the sacrum; forming a lumen from the site through the sacrum, through a disc and axially into at least one vertebrae; directly observing the interior of the spine by introducing an endoscope into the lumen; and performing a procedure using the lumen.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method of treating the spine as in claim 19 , wherein the procedure is a diagnostic procedure.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method of treating the spine as in claim 19 , wherein the procedure is a therapeutic procedure.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method of treating the spine as in claim 21 , wherein the lumen extends at least as far as the L 4 vertebrae.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method of treating the spine as in claim 22 , wherein the lumen is linear.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method of treating the spine as in claim 19 , wherein the forming step comprises drilling.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method of treating the spine as in claim 21 , wherein the procedure comprises removing at least a part of a disc.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method of treating the spine as in claim 21 , wherein the procedure comprises removing an entire nucleus.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method of treating the spine as in claim 21 , wherein the procedure further comprises inserting a fusion device.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method of treating the spine as in claim 21 , wherein the procedure comprises introducing a bone growth material.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
46 words
A method of treating the spine, comprising the steps of: identifying a site on the surface of the sacrum; forming a lumen from the site through the sacrum, through a disc and into at least one vertebrae; and positioning a tubular fusion device within the lumen.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
46 words
A method of treating the spine, comprising the steps of: identifying a site on the surface of the sacrum; forming a lumen from the site through the sacrum, through a disc and into at least one vertebrae; and positioning a tubular fusion device within the lumen.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method of treating the spine as in claim 29 , wherein the fusion device has an external thread.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method of treating the spine as in claim 29 , wherein the fusion device comprises a side wall with a plurality of apertures therethrough.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method of treating the spine as in claim 31 , wherein the lumen extends at least as far as the L 4 vertebrae.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method of treating the spine as in claim 32 , wherein the lumen is linear.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method of treating the spine as in claim 29 , wherein the forming step comprises drilling.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method of treating the spine as in claim 31 , wherein the procedure additionally comprises the step of removing at least a part of a disc.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method of treating the spine as in claim 31 , wherein the procedure additionally comprises the step of removing an entire nucleus.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method of treating the spine as in claim 31 , wherein the procedure additionally comprises the step of introducing a bone growth material into the lumen.
Claim 42
Independent Claim
58 words
A method of fusing the spine, comprising the steps of: identifying a site on the anterior surface of the sacrum; forming a lumen from the site through the sacrum, through a disc and into at least one vertebrae; and introducing a fusion implant through the lumen, the implant comprising at least one radially outwardly extending bone engagement structure.
Claim 43
Independent Claim
58 words
A method of fusing the spine, comprising the steps of: identifying a site on the anterior surface of the sacrum; forming a lumen from the site through the sacrum, through a disc and into at least one vertebrae; and introducing a fusion implant through the lumen, the implant comprising at least one radially outwardly extending bone engagement structure.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method of fusing the spine as in claim 38 , wherein the bone engagement structure comprises a helical thread.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method of fusing the spine as in claim 38 , wherein the introducing step further comprises introducing a bone growth material.
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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) | 2008-05-30 | 2008-11-29 | 2009-05-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2012-05-30 | 2012-11-29 | 2013-05-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2016-05-30 | 2016-11-29 | 2017-05-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |