US6878155B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of treating intervertebral disc tissue employing attachment mechanism
Assignee: Neurotherm LLC
•
Filing: 2001-06-18
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Granted: 2005-04-12
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Expires: 2021-06-18
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
2026-10-30 20:21
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: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
78 words
A method for treating an intervertebral disc comprising: delivering an introducer into or adjacent to an intervertebral disc; extending a guide wire from a distal end of the introducer such that the guide wire is positioned within the intervertebral disc; attaching a distal portion of the guide wire to an inner wall of the disc; and advancing a probe along the guide wire such that the probe follows a path of the guide wire within the intervertebral disc.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
78 words
A method for treating an intervertebral disc comprising: delivering an introducer into or adjacent to an intervertebral disc; extending a guide wire from a distal end of the introducer such that the guide wire is positioned within the intervertebral disc; attaching a distal portion of the guide wire to an inner wall of the disc; and advancing a probe along the guide wire such that the probe follows a path of the guide wire within the intervertebral disc.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein attaching the guide wire to the inner wall of the disc comprises inserting a distal portion of the guide wire into the inner wall.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 2 wherein inserting comprises hooking a distal portion of the guide wire into the inner wall.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method according to claim 2 wherein the distal portion of the guide wire comprises a retractable hook, the method further comprising hooking the retractable hook into the inner wall.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method according to claim 2 wherein the distal portion of the guide wire comprises multiple hooks, the method further comprising hooking the multiple hooks into the inner wall.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
57 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein extending the guide wire is accomplished by applying a longitudinal force to the guide wire which is sufficient to advance the guide wire through the nucleus pulposus and around the inner wall of an annulus fibrosus, but which force is insufficient for the guide wire to puncture the annulus fibrosus.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the probe includes a functional element for performing a function, the method further including performing a function after the probe is advanced.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the probe includes an electromagnetic energy delivery device, the method further including delivering electromagnetic energy from the electromagnetic energy delivery device after the probe is advanced.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 8 wherein the electromagnetic energy delivered is selected from a group consisting of coherent light, incoherent light, radiofrequency, microwave, and ultrasound waves.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method according to claim 8 wherein the electromagnetic energy delivery device comprises electrodes adapted to deliver RF energy.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method according to claim 10 wherein the RF electrodes have a monopolar configuration.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method according to claim 10 wherein the RF electrodes have a bipolar configuration.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method according to claim 8 wherein the electromagnetic energy device comprises a resistive heating mechanism.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein extending the guide wire is performed using a handle external to the person which comprises a guide wire control element for controlling the movement of the guide wire within the intervertebral disc.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
51 words
A method according to claim 10 wherein the RF electrodes comprise a plurality of alternating one or more active and return electrodes which are positioned on the probe such that there are multiple pairs of an active band and a return band of the active and return electrodes adjacent each other.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the probe includes a lumen, the method further including delivering or aspirating material in the disc via the lumen.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the guide wire has sufficient flexibility in a direction of a disc plane to be compliant with an inner wall of the annulus of the disc.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the distal portion of the guide wire is tapered to a smaller diameter toward the distal end.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the guide wire is actively steerable.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the guide wire is radiographically visible.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the distal portion of the guide wire has one or more flat sides.
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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) | 2008-04-11 | 2008-10-11 | 2009-04-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2012-04-11 | 2012-10-11 | 2013-04-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2016-04-11 | 2016-10-11 | 2017-04-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |