Intradiscal Micro-Needle Insertion for Disc Height Restoration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current treatments for intervertebral disc degeneration are limited in effectively alleviating pain and improving disability, leading to a reliance on opioid pain management, which is problematic due to addiction and drug-related issues.

Innovation Solution

The method involves inserting and removing needles into the intervertebral disc to deliver compositions that increase disc height, using needles of specific gauges and lengths, with optional delivery of cells or nutrients to enhance disc health, thereby treating and potentially preventing disc degeneration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If current treatment options are used for disc degeneration, then patients can access existing therapies, but pain relief is limited and disability improvement is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepain relief effectivenessVSAvoidtreatment accessibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the physical parameters of the disc environment by creating micro-channels through needle insertion, altering the mechanical and biochemical properties of the disc tissue to enable height restoration and pain relief

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-affected harmful factors

If opioid pain management is used for disc degeneration, then pain can be managed, but addiction and drug-related issues increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepain managementVSAvoidaddiction risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention converts the harmful effect of disc degeneration into a beneficial treatment opportunity by using the same mechanical breakdown process to create micro-channels that enable tissue regeneration and height restoration, eliminating the need for opioid pain management

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Reliability

If multiple needle insertions are performed into the disc, then treatment effectiveness increases, but procedure complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetreatment effectivenessVSAvoidprocedure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The treatment is segmented into multiple needle insertion events that can be performed separately over time, allowing the complex treatment to be divided into manageable steps that maintain effectiveness while reducing immediate procedural complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS20240032965A1Methods and systems for treatment of intervertebral disc by intradiscal micro-needle insertion

Publication Date: 2024.02.01 DISCGENICS INC

AI summary

Disclosed herein are methods and systems for treating an intervertebral disc in a subject in need thereof. In some embodiments, the subject's intervertebral disc has a reduced disc height due to degeneration, damage, and/or disease. In other embodiments, the subject is at risk of losing height in at least one intervertebral disc. In most embodiments, the disclosed methods comprise inserting a needle into the treated disc a first time and a second time. In many embodiments the first and second time may be separated by a period of days or weeks.