US7014633B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Methods of performing procedures in the spine
Assignee: Quandary Medical LLC
•
Filing: 2001-05-03
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Granted: 2006-03-21
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Expires: 2021-05-03
Abstract
Abstract Disclosed are methods of 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. In one application, the access point is on the anterior surface of the spine, and, in another application, the access point is on the posterior surface of the spine. The lumen created through the spine across the treatment zone may be either substantially linear, or curved.
Inventors
- 👤 Andrew H. Cragg
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-22 20:59
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/16; A61B17/1662; A61B17/1671; A61B17/17; A61B17/1739; A61B17/1757; A61B17/32; A61B17/320016; A61B17/32002; A61B17/56; A61B17/58; A61B17/68; A61B17/70; A61B17/7061; A61B17/7097; A61B17/7098; A61B17/88; A61B17/8802; A61B17/8805; A61B17/8811; A61B17/8819; A61B17/885; A61B17/8852; A61B17/8855; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/02; A61F2/30; A61F2/44; A61F2/441; A61F2/4455; A61F2/4465; A61F2/46; A61F2/4601; A61F2/4603; A61F2/4611; A61B1/00; A61B1/313; A61B1/3135; A61B17/1642; A61B17/22; A61B17/22031; A61B17/22032; A61B17/3205; A61B17/3207; A61B17/320725; A61B17/7055; A61B17/00234; A61B2017/00238; A61B2017/00261; A61B2017/00292; A61B2017/003; 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; A61F2/30721; A61F2/30723; A61F2/442; A61F2/28; A61F2002/2821; A61F2002/2835; A61F2002/30001; A61F2002/30003; A61F2002/3006; A61F2002/30075; A61F2002/30092; A61F2002/30108; A61F2002/30199; A61F2002/30291; A61F2002/30316; A61F2002/30535; A61F2002/30537; A61F2002/3055; A61F2002/30563; A61F2002/30565; A61F2002/30566; A61F2002/30593; A61F2002/30667; A61F2002/30677; A61F2/30767; A61F2/30771; A61F2002/30772; A61F2002/30774; A61F2002/30841; A61F2002/3085; A61F2002/30878; A61F2002/30879; A61F2002/30884; A61F2002/30891; A61F2002/30892; A61F2002/30925; A61F2/3094; A61F2002/3097; A61F2002/448; A61F2002/4495; A61F2002/4625; A61F2002/4627; A61F2210/00; A61F2210/0014; A61F2210/0061; A61F2230/00; A61F2230/0063; A61F2230/0091; A61F2310/00; A61F2310/00005; A61F2310/00353; A61N; A61N5/00; A61N5/10; A61N5/1001; A61N5/1027
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 40
Claim 1
Independent Claim
45 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 disk and into at least one vertebrae; and performing a procedure using the lumen.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
45 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 disk and into at least one vertebrae; and performing a procedure using the lumen.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method of treating the spine as in claim 1 , wherein the forming step comprises drilling.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
47 words
A method of treating the spine, comprising the steps of: identifying a site on the posterior surface of the sacrum; forming a nonlinear lumen from the site through the sacrum, through a disk and through at least one lumbar vertebrae; and performing a procedure using the lumen.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
47 words
A method of treating the spine, comprising the steps of: identifying a site on the posterior surface of the sacrum; forming a nonlinear lumen from the site through the sacrum, through a disk and through at least one lumbar vertebrae; and performing a procedure using the lumen.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method of treating the spine as in claim 3 , wherein the forming step comprises drilling.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
84 words
A method of treating the spine, comprising the steps of: identifying a site on the skin of a patient, within about 5 cm from the coccyx; providing a percutaneous access at the site and through tissue to the anterior surface of the sacrum by inserting a tract sheath from the site, through presacral space, and to the sacrum; creating a lumen through the site, through the sheath, through the sacrum and at least one lumbar vertebrae; and using the lumen to perform a procedure.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
84 words
A method of treating the spine, comprising the steps of: identifying a site on the skin of a patient, within about 5 cm from the coccyx; providing a percutaneous access at the site and through tissue to the anterior surface of the sacrum by inserting a tract sheath from the site, through presacral space, and to the sacrum; creating a lumen through the site, through the sheath, through the sacrum and at least one lumbar vertebrae; and using the lumen to perform a procedure.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method of treating the spine as in claim 5 , wherein the lumen is at least about 5 cm in length.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method of treating the spine as in claim 6 , wherein the lumen is at least about 10 cm in length.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method of treating the spine as in claim 5 , wherein the lumen is linear.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method of treating the spine as in claim 5 , wherein the lumen is curved.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method of treating the spine as in claim 5 , wherein the lumen extends at least as far as the thoracic spine.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
93 words
A method of treating the spine at a treatment site which is spaced apart from an access site, comprising the steps of: identifying an access site on the spine; inserting a tract sheath from a skin incision, through tissue, and to the access site; advancing a device through the incision, through the sheath, through the access site and into the spine; further advancing the device axially through the spine for a distance across a treatment zone; and treating the spine in the treatment zone; wherein the distance is at least about 5 cm.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
93 words
A method of treating the spine at a treatment site which is spaced apart from an access site, comprising the steps of: identifying an access site on the spine; inserting a tract sheath from a skin incision, through tissue, and to the access site; advancing a device through the incision, through the sheath, through the access site and into the spine; further advancing the device axially through the spine for a distance across a treatment zone; and treating the spine in the treatment zone; wherein the distance is at least about 5 cm.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method of treating the spine as in claim 11 , wherein the distance is at least about 10 cm.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method of treating the spine as in claim 11 , wherein the access site is on the sacrum.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method of treating the spine as in claim 11 , wherein the access site is on the thoracic spine.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method of treating the spine as in claim 11 , further comprising the step of introducing the device percutaneously through the skin prior to the advancing step.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method of treating the spine as in claim 11 , wherein the further advancing step comprises advancing the device along a linear path through the spine.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method of treating the spine as in claim 11 , wherein the further advancing step comprises advancing the device along a nonlinear path through the spine.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method of treating the spine as in claim 11 , wherein the treating step comprises implanting a fixation device.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
75 words
A method of treating the spine comprising creating a minimally invasive passageway by inserting a tract sheath from a skin incision, through tissue, and through the sacrum of the spine, wherein the passageway has a linear longitudinal axis and a length of at least about 5 times its width, and introducing at least one device through the passageway to treat the spine, wherein an extension of the axis extends through at least two intervertebral disks.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
75 words
A method of treating the spine comprising creating a minimally invasive passageway by inserting a tract sheath from a skin incision, through tissue, and through the sacrum of the spine, wherein the passageway has a linear longitudinal axis and a length of at least about 5 times its width, and introducing at least one device through the passageway to treat the spine, wherein an extension of the axis extends through at least two intervertebral disks.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method of treating the spine as in claim 19 , wherein the passageway has a length of at least about 10 times its width.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method of treating the spine as in claim 19 , wherein the passageway passes through the skin within about 5 cm of the coccyx.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method of treating the spine as in claim 19 , wherein the passageway enters the spine on the anterior side.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method of treating the spine as in claim 19 , wherein the passageway enters the spine on the posterior side.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method of treating the spine as in claim 19 , wherein the introducing step comprises introducing a fixation device.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
118 words
A method of performing a procedure on the spine at a procedure site which is spaced apart from an access site, comprising the steps of: identifying an access site on the spine; inserting a tract sheath from a skin incision, through tissue, and to the access site; advancing a device through the skin incision, through the sheath, through the access site and into the spine; further advancing the device axially through at least one vertebrae and at least one disk to the procedure site; and performing a procedure at the procedure site; wherein the access site is on a healthy portion of the spine, and the procedure site is on an unhealthy or compromised portion of the spine.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
118 words
A method of performing a procedure on the spine at a procedure site which is spaced apart from an access site, comprising the steps of: identifying an access site on the spine; inserting a tract sheath from a skin incision, through tissue, and to the access site; advancing a device through the skin incision, through the sheath, through the access site and into the spine; further advancing the device axially through at least one vertebrae and at least one disk to the procedure site; and performing a procedure at the procedure site; wherein the access site is on a healthy portion of the spine, and the procedure site is on an unhealthy or compromised portion of the spine.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method of performing a procedure as in claim 25 , wherein the access site is on a sacral vertebrae.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method of performing a procedure as in claim 25 , wherein the procedure site is in a disk.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
125 words
A method of performing a procedure from the inside of the spine, while minimizing the cross sectional area of an access pathway in the spine to a procedure site, comprising the steps of: inserting a tract sheath through a skin incision, through tissue, and to the access pathway, the access pathway beginning at the sacrum of the spine and extending axially into the lumbar spine; advancing a device through the sheath, through the access pathway to the procedure site, while the device has a first, reduced crossing profile; and enlarging the crossing profile of a portion of the device at the procedure site to perform the procedure; wherein the advancing step comprises advancing the device through at least one vertebrae and at least one disk.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
125 words
A method of performing a procedure from the inside of the spine, while minimizing the cross sectional area of an access pathway in the spine to a procedure site, comprising the steps of: inserting a tract sheath through a skin incision, through tissue, and to the access pathway, the access pathway beginning at the sacrum of the spine and extending axially into the lumbar spine; advancing a device through the sheath, through the access pathway to the procedure site, while the device has a first, reduced crossing profile; and enlarging the crossing profile of a portion of the device at the procedure site to perform the procedure; wherein the advancing step comprises advancing the device through at least one vertebrae and at least one disk.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method of performing a procedure from the inside of the spine as in claim 28 , wherein the enlarging step comprises advancing a portion of the device radially outwardly from a longitudinal axis of the device, to perform the procedure.
Claim 37
Independent Claim
46 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 disk and into at least one vertebrae; and introducing a fusion implant through the lumen.
Claim 38
Independent Claim
46 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 disk and into at least one vertebrae; and introducing a fusion implant through the lumen.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method of fusing the spine as in claim 30 , wherein the introducing step comprises introducing an elongate metal fusion device.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method of fusing the spine as in claim 30 , wherein the introducing step comprises introducing a cure in place media.
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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) | 2009-03-20 | 2009-09-19 | 2010-03-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2013-03-20 | 2013-09-19 | 2014-03-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2017-03-20 | 2017-09-19 | 2018-03-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |