U-shaped disc shunt and delivery device

Abstract

The intervertebral disc contains no blood vessels. Nutrients and waste are diffused mainly through adjacent vertebral bodies. As we age, calcified layers form between the disc and vertebral bodies, blocking diffusion. The disc begins to starve and flatten. The weight shifts abnormally from disc to the facet joints causing strain and back pain. Under anaerobic conditions, lactic acid is produced causing acidic irritation and unspecific pain. A U-shaped disc shunt is delivered into and sealed within the degenerated disc simply by needle puncturing and withdrawal, to draw nutrients from bodily circulation into the avascular disc. A continual supply of nutrients increases biosynthesis of the water-retaining sulfated glycosaminoglycans, hence swelling pressure within the disc. The weight is re-shifted from the facet joints to the regenerated disc, alleviating back pain. With oxygen transported through the shunt, anaerobic production of lactic acid is minimized. In addition, the residual lactic acid is expelled through the U-shaped shunt during disc compression into bodily circulation to alleviate unspecific pain.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCES TO OTHER APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11 / 630,706, filed on Dec. 20, 2006, which is a National Stage Application of PCT / US2005 / 022749 filed Jun. 22, 2005, which claimed priority of U.S. Provisional Applications No. 60 / 582,228 filed on Jun. 22, 2004; 60 / 587,837 filed on Jul. 14, 2004; 60 / 660,120 filed on Mar. 8, 2005. [0002] This application is also a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 555,895, filed on Nov. 4, 2005, which is a National Stage Application of PCT / US2004 / 14368, filed on May 7, 2004, which claimed priority of U.S. Provisional Applications No. 60 / 468,770, filed on May 7, 2003; 60 / 480,057, filed on Jun. 20, 2003; 60 / 503,553, filed on Sep. 16, 2003; 60 / 529,065, filed on Dec. 12, 2003. [0003] This application claims priority of U.S. Provisional Applications No. 60 / 765,147, filed on Feb. 4, 2006; 60 / 784,631 filed on Mar. 22, 2006; 60 / 788,936 filed on Apr. 4, 2006.FIE...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0021] Another U-shaped shunt can be linked to the outside strand to increase (1) friction for shunt deployment, (2) press-fit capacity, and (3) rate of nutrient and waste exchange to regenerate the intervertebral disc. Additives, buffer, nutrients, growth factor and cells can also be incorporated into the U-shaped shunts to expedite disc regeneration and alleviate back pain. REFERENCE NUMBER

Problems solved by technology

Low back pain is a leading cause of disability and lost productivity.

When the endplate is obliterated by bone, diffusion of nutrients through the calcified endplate is greatly limited.

In addition to hindering the diffusion of nutrients, calcified endplates further limit the permeation of oxygen into the disc.

As a result, the sulfated glycosaminoglycan concentration decreases, leading to lower water content and swelling pressure within the nucleus pulposus.

Hence, the nerve at the neuroforamen is vulnerable to impingement by the bulging disc or bone spurs.

Currently, no intervention other than discectomy can halt the production of lactic acid.

In addition, pH within the disc becomes acidic from the anaerobic production of lactic acid, which irritates adjacent nerves and tissues.

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