US7069087B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus and method for accessing and performing a function within an intervertebral disc
Assignee: Neurotherm LLC
•
Filing: 2001-02-22
•
Granted: 2006-06-27
•
Expires: 2021-02-22
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus and methods are disclosed for accessing the interior of an intervertebral disc to perform a function within the disc. One such apparatus comprises a catheter having a lumen; and a guide wire having a distal portion and a proximal portion, and configured to be positioned within and moved relative to the lumen of the catheter; wherein the guide wire is capable of navigating itself within an intradiscal section of the intervertebral disc to a selected section of the disc and the catheter is capable of being advanced relative to the guide wire such that the catheter follows a path of the guide wire within the intradiscal section of the disc to the selected section. These apparatus and methods may be used for the treatment of intervertebral disc disorders such as sealing fissures of the annulus fibrosus, which may or may not be accompanied with contained or escaped extrusions. These apparatus and methods may also be used, for example, for the removal or addition of material to the intervertebral disc.
Inventors
- 👤 Hugh R. Sharkey
- 👤 Sepehr Fariabi
- 👤 John Ashley
- 👤 Joel Saal
- 👤 Jeffrey Saal
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 11:38
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/16; A61B17/1662; A61B17/1671; A61B17/34; A61B17/3417; A61B17/3421; A61B17/00234; A61B2017/00238; A61B2017/00261; A61B2017/00292; A61B2017/003; A61B17/22; A61B2017/22038; A61B2017/22042; A61B2017/22044; A61B2017/22049; A61B2017/348; A61B2017/3482; A61B2017/3484; A61B2017/3488; A61M; A61M25/00; A61M25/0067; A61M25/0082; A61M25/0084; A61M25/01; A61M25/09
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 54
Claim 1
Independent Claim
162 words
An apparatus for accessing a selected section of an intervertebral disc comprising: a catheter having a lumen; and a guide wire having a distal portion and a proximal portion, and configured to be positioned within and moved relative to the lumen of the catheter, wherein the guide wire is capable of navigating itself within an intradiscal section of an intervertebral disc to a selected section of the disc and the catheter is capable of being advanced relative to the guide wire such that the catheter follows a path of the guide wire within the intradiscal section of the disc adjacent an inner wall of an annulus of the disc to the selected section, wherein the guide wire has (a) sufficient rigidity to be advanceable through a nucleus pulposus and the annulus fibrosus under a force applied longitudinally to the proximal portion of the guide wire, and (b) insufficient penetration ability to be advanceable out through the annulus fibrosus under the applied force.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
162 words
An apparatus for accessing a selected section of an intervertebral disc comprising: a catheter having a lumen; and a guide wire having a distal portion and a proximal portion, and configured to be positioned within and moved relative to the lumen of the catheter, wherein the guide wire is capable of navigating itself within an intradiscal section of an intervertebral disc to a selected section of the disc and the catheter is capable of being advanced relative to the guide wire such that the catheter follows a path of the guide wire within the intradiscal section of the disc adjacent an inner wall of an annulus of the disc to the selected section, wherein the guide wire has (a) sufficient rigidity to be advanceable through a nucleus pulposus and the annulus fibrosus under a force applied longitudinally to the proximal portion of the guide wire, and (b) insufficient penetration ability to be advanceable out through the annulus fibrosus under the applied force.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the guide wire has sufficient flexibility in a direction of a disc place to be compliant with an inner wall of the annulus of the disc.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the distal portion of the guide wire includes a spring coil.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the spring coil contains a forming ribbon.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the distal portion of the guide wire is tapered to a smaller diameter toward the distal end.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the distal portion of the guide wire has a distal tip at the extremity of the distal portion of the guide wire.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the distal tip is configured to be non-piercing through an annulus fibrosus.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the distal tip is a blunt tip.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein distal tip is a rolling ball tip.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the distal portion of the guide wire includes a locking mechanism for securing the guide wire within the selected section of the disc, the locking mechanism including a piercing tip.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the locking mechanism includes a retractable hook.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the locking mechanism includes a plurality of directional hooks.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
64 words
The apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein the plurality of directional hooks are configured to secure the guide wire within the selected section of the disc by rotating the hooks in a first direction, and to release the guide wire from the selected section of the disc by rotating the hooks in a second direction that is substantially opposite to the first direction.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the guide wire is capable of cross-locking itself once the guide wire is advanced to the selected section of the disc.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein the locking mechanism comprises a hook.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein the distal portion of the guide wire forms the locking mechanism.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the distal portion of the guide wire has a distal tip that includes the piercing tip.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein the piercing tip is configured to secure the guide wire by piercing the selected section of the disc.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus according to claim 12 , wherien the piercing tip is configured to secure the guide wire against movement in all directions.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the proximal portion of the guide wire has an outer diameter between about 0.005-0.025 inches.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the distal portion of the guide wire has an outer diameter between about 0.002-0.012 inches.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the proximal portion of the guide wire is between about 10-15 inch long.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the distal portion of the guide wire is between about 0.2-1.2 inch long.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the distal portion of the guide wire has a length at least one-half of a diameter of the nucleus pulposus.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus further comprises a dialator sheath configured to be slid over the guide wire for introducing the catheter onto the guide wire.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the guide wire is actively steerable.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of guide wire is radiographically visible.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the distal portion of the guide wire has one or more flat sides.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the guide wire has a bending stiffness as measured in Taber stiffness units between about 2-400 units in a desired bending plane.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the guide wire has a bending stiffness as measured in Taber stiffness units between about 3-150 units in a desired bending plane.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the distal portion of the guide wire has a column strength between about 0.2-7 kg.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the distal portion of the guide wire has a column strength between about 0.7-4 kg.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the catheter further includes a functional element for performing a function adjacent the selected section.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 33 , wherein the function is selected from the group consisting of delivering energy, adding material and removing material.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 33 , wherein the functional element comprise a thermal energy delivery device.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 35 , wherein a thermal energy source is operably attached to the thermal energy delivery device through the catheter.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 35 , wherein the thermal energy delivery device is selected from the group consisting of microwave probe, optical fiber, radio frequency electrode and ultrasound emitter.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 35 , wherein the thermal energy delivery device is a resistive heater.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 35 , wherein the catheter 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 41
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 33 , wherein the functional element comprises an irrigation lumen extending from a proximal end of the catheter to the intradiscal section.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus of claim 33 , 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 43
Dependent Claim
46 words
The apparatus of claim 33 , 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 44
Dependent Claim
47 words
The apparatus of claim 33 , 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.
Claim 45
Independent Claim
140 words
An apparatus for accessing a selected section of an intervertebral disc comprising: a catheter having a lumen; and a guide wire having a distal portion and a proximal portion, and configured to be positioned within and moved relative to the lumen of the catheter, wherein the guide wire is capable of navigating itself within an intradiscal section of an intervertebral disc to a selected section of the disc and the catheter is capable of being advanced relative to the guide wire such that the catheter follows a path of the guide wire within the intradiscal section of the disc adjacent an inner wall of an annulus of the disc to the selected section, wherein the guide wire has sufficient flexibility in a direction of a disc plane to be compliant with the inner wall of the annulus of the disc.
Claim 46
Independent Claim
140 words
An apparatus for accessing a selected section of an intervertebral disc comprising: a catheter having a lumen; and a guide wire having a distal portion and a proximal portion, and configured to be positioned within and moved relative to the lumen of the catheter, wherein the guide wire is capable of navigating itself within an intradiscal section of an intervertebral disc to a selected section of the disc and the catheter is capable of being advanced relative to the guide wire such that the catheter follows a path of the guide wire within the intradiscal section of the disc adjacent an inner wall of an annulus of the disc to the selected section, wherein the guide wire has sufficient flexibility in a direction of a disc plane to be compliant with the inner wall of the annulus of the disc.
Claim 47
Independent Claim
137 words
An apparatus for accessing a selected section of an intervertebral disc comprising: a catheter having a lumen; and a guide wire having a distal portion and a proximal portion, and configured to be positioned within and moved relative to the lumen of the catheter, wherein the guide wire is capable of navigating itself within an intradiscal section of an intervertebral disc to a selected section of the disc and the catheter is capable of being advanced relative to the guide wire such that the catheter follows a path of the guide wire within the intradiscal section of the disc adjacent an inner wall of an annulus of the disc to the selected section, wherein the distal portion of the guide wire has a rolling ball tip at the extremity of the distal portion of the guide wire.
Claim 48
Independent Claim
137 words
An apparatus for accessing a selected section of an intervertebral disc comprising: a catheter having a lumen; and a guide wire having a distal portion and a proximal portion, and configured to be positioned within and moved relative to the lumen of the catheter, wherein the guide wire is capable of navigating itself within an intradiscal section of an intervertebral disc to a selected section of the disc and the catheter is capable of being advanced relative to the guide wire such that the catheter follows a path of the guide wire within the intradiscal section of the disc adjacent an inner wall of an annulus of the disc to the selected section, wherein the distal portion of the guide wire has a rolling ball tip at the extremity of the distal portion of the guide wire.
Claim 49
Independent Claim
144 words
An apparatus for accessing a selected section of an intervertebral disc comprising: a catheter having a lumen; and a guide wire having a distal portion and a proximal portion, and configured to be positioned within and moved relative to the lumen of the catheter, wherein the guide wire is capable of navigating itself within an intradiscal section of an intervertebral disc to a selected section of the disc and the catheter is capable of being advanced relative to the guide wire such that the catheter follows a path of the guide wire within the intradiscal section of the disc adjacent an inner wall of an annulus of the disc to the selected section, wherein the guide wire has a middle portion disposed between the proximal and distal portions, and the middle portion is more flexible than both the proximal portion and the distal portion.
Claim 50
Independent Claim
144 words
An apparatus for accessing a selected section of an intervertebral disc comprising: a catheter having a lumen; and a guide wire having a distal portion and a proximal portion, and configured to be positioned within and moved relative to the lumen of the catheter, wherein the guide wire is capable of navigating itself within an intradiscal section of an intervertebral disc to a selected section of the disc and the catheter is capable of being advanced relative to the guide wire such that the catheter follows a path of the guide wire within the intradiscal section of the disc adjacent an inner wall of an annulus of the disc to the selected section, wherein the guide wire has a middle portion disposed between the proximal and distal portions, and the middle portion is more flexible than both the proximal portion and the distal portion.
Claim 51
Independent Claim
144 words
An apparatus for accessing a selected section of an intervertebral disc comprising: a catheter having a lumen; and a guide wire having a distal portion and a proximal portion, and configured to be positioned within and moved relative to the lumen of the catheter, wherein the guide wire is capable of navigating itself within an intradiscal section of an intervertebral disc to a selected section of the disc and the catheter is capable of being advanced relative to the guide wire such that the catheter follows a path of the guide wire within the intradiscal section of the disc adjacent an inner wall of an annulus of the disc to the selected section, wherein the guide wire has a middle portion disposed between the proximal and distal portions, and the middle portion is less flexible than both the proximal portion and the distal portion.
Claim 52
Independent Claim
144 words
An apparatus for accessing a selected section of an intervertebral disc comprising: a catheter having a lumen; and a guide wire having a distal portion and a proximal portion, and configured to be positioned within and moved relative to the lumen of the catheter, wherein the guide wire is capable of navigating itself within an intradiscal section of an intervertebral disc to a selected section of the disc and the catheter is capable of being advanced relative to the guide wire such that the catheter follows a path of the guide wire within the intradiscal section of the disc adjacent an inner wall of an annulus of the disc to the selected section, wherein the guide wire has a middle portion disposed between the proximal and distal portions, and the middle portion is less flexible than both the proximal portion and the distal portion.
Claim 53
Independent Claim
111 words
An apparatus for accessing a selected section of an intervertebral disc comprising: a guide wire having a distal portion and a proximal portion, the guide wire being capable of navigating itself within an intradiscal section of an intervertebral disc to a selected section of the disc along a path at least partially adjacent an inner wall of an annulus of the disc, wherein the guide wire has (a) sufficient rigidity to be advanceable through a nucleus pulposus and the annulus fibrosus under a force applied longitudinally to the proximal portion of the guide wire, and (b) insufficient penetration ability to be advanceable out through the annulus fibrosus under the applied force.
Claim 54
Independent Claim
111 words
An apparatus for accessing a selected section of an intervertebral disc comprising: a guide wire having a distal portion and a proximal portion, the guide wire being capable of navigating itself within an intradiscal section of an intervertebral disc to a selected section of the disc along a path at least partially adjacent an inner wall of an annulus of the disc, wherein the guide wire has (a) sufficient rigidity to be advanceable through a nucleus pulposus and the annulus fibrosus under a force applied longitudinally to the proximal portion of the guide wire, and (b) insufficient penetration ability to be advanceable out through the annulus fibrosus under the applied force.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2090923A
Cited
FR1122634A
Cited
US3178728A
Cited
US3579643A
Cited
US3938198A
Cited
US3886600A
Cited
US3867728A
Cited
GB1340451A
Cited
US3856015A
Cited
US3879767A
Cited
US3945375A
Cited
US3776230A
Cited
US3987499A
Cited
US3992725A
Cited
US4043342A
Cited
US4129470A
Cited
US4085466A
Cited
US4074718A
Cited
US4134406A
Cited
SU637118A1
Cited
US4326529A
Cited
US4224697A
Cited
US4224696A
Cited
US4597379A
Cited
US4362160A
Cited
US4375220A
Cited
US4344193A
Cited
US4476862A
Cited
WO1982002488A1
Cited
US4381007A
Cited
US4483338A
Cited
US4397314A
Cited
US5451223B1
Cited
US5085657A
Cited
US5451223A
Cited
US4590934A
Cited
US4517975A
Cited
US4517965A
Cited
US4593691A
Cited
US4601705A
Cited
US5114402A
Cited
WO1985002762A1
Cited
US4873976A
Cited
GB2164473A
Cited
US4651734A
Cited
US4811733A
Cited
DE3511107A1
Cited
EP0257116A1
Cited
US5304169A
Cited
US5484432A
Cited
US4895148A
Cited
US4924865A
Cited
US4976715A
Cited
US4944727A
Cited
JPH0542166Y2
Cited
DE3632197A1
Cited
EP0274705A1
Cited
US4846175A
Cited
US4815462A
Cited
US4838859A
Cited
US4950234A
Cited
US4950267A
Cited
US4907585A
Cited
US4955882A
Cited
US5201731A
Cited
US4907589A
Cited
US4998933A
Cited
US5178620A
Cited
US5191883A
Cited
US4966597A
Cited
US4976709A
Cited
US5192267A
Cited
FR2645008A1
Cited
US4984063A
Cited
US5009656A
Cited
US5284479A
Cited
US5007908A
Cited
US5213097A
Cited
US5201730A
Cited
US5084043A
Cited
US5201729A
Cited
US5242439A
Cited
US5098430A
Cited
US5103804A
Cited
US5186181A
Cited
US5100402A
Cited
EP0479482A1
Cited
EP0479482B1
Cited
WO1992005828A1
Cited
US5085659A
Cited
WO1992010142A1
Cited
US5320115A
Cited
EP0521595A2
Cited
US5152748A
Cited
WO1993001774A1
Cited
US5472426A
Cited
US5697281A
Cited
US5524338A
Cited
US5630839A
Cited
US5762629A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2009-06-26 | 2009-12-26 | 2010-06-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2013-06-26 | 2013-12-26 | 2014-06-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2017-06-26 | 2017-12-26 | 2018-06-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |