Methods and apparatus for treating disc herniation and preventing the extrusion of interbody bone graft

a technology of disc herniation and bone graft, applied in the field of methods, can solve problems such as further complications, and achieve the effect of avoiding delicate surrounding nerves and minimizing the size of the requisite incision

US20070038231A1Inactive Publication Date: 2007-02-15FERREE BRET A
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Patent Information

Authority / Receiving Office
US · United States
Patent Type
Applications(United States)
Current Assignee / Owner
Publication Date
2007-02-15
Estimated Expiration
Not applicable · inactive patent

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Abstract

Methods and apparatus for treating disc herniation provide a conformable device which assumes a first shape associated with insertion and a second shape or expanded shape to occlude the defect which typically follows partial discectomy. The device may take different forms according to the invention, including patches size to cover the defect or plugs adapted to fill the defect. In a preferred embodiment, however, the device is a gel or other liquid or semi-liquid which solidifies to occlude the defect from within the body of the disc itself. In another preferred embodiment, a mesh screen is collapsed into an elongated form for the purposes of insertion, thereby minimizing the size of the requisite incision while avoiding delicate surrounding nerves. Such a configuration also permits the use of instrumentation to install the device, including, for example, a hollow tube or sheath adapted to hold the collapsed screen, and a push rod to expel the collapsed device out of the sheath for use in occluding the disc defect. A device according to the invention may further include one or more anchors to assist in permanently affixing the device with respect to the defect.
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Description

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 630,445, filed Jul. 30, 2003, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09 / 638,241, filed Aug. 14, 2000, which is a continuation-in-part of International Patent Application No. PCT / US00 / 14708, filed May 30, 2000, which is a continuation-in-part of and claims the benefit under 35 USC §119 of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09 / 322,516, filed May 28, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,245,107. The '241 application also claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60 / 148,913, filed Aug. 13, 1999. The entire content of each application and patent is incorporated herein by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] This invention relates generally to the prosthetic appliances and, in particular, to devices for occluding intervertebral disc defects and instrumentation associated with introducing such devices. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Several hundred t...

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Embodiment Construction

[0076] Having discussed the problems associated with post-operative partial discectomy with respect to FIGS. 1A-1C, reference will now be made to FIG. 2, which illustrates a preferred embodiment of the invention, wherein a device in the form of a stent 202 is used to occlude a defect 204 in a human disc, as shown. In this preferred embodiment, the device is composed of a flexible material, which may be cloth, polymeric or metallic. For reasons discussed below, a titanium mesh screen is preferred with respect to this embodiment of the invention.

[0077] A flexible device is also preferred because the surgeon is presented with a very small working area. The incision through the skin is typically on the order of 1 to 1.5 inches in length, and the space at the disc level is approximately 1 centimeter on the side. As a consequence, the inventive device and the tools associated with insertion and fixation described below must be sufficiently narrow to fit within these confines.

[0078] As s...