Spinal Access Probe Using Electrical Currents for Neural Localization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical treatments for spinal stenosis are invasive, often require removal of vertebral bone, leading to instability and increased morbidity, and lack minimally invasive methods to address neural and neurovascular impingement without damaging surrounding tissues.
Innovation Solution
Development of an elongate, partially flexible tissue modification device with tissue modification members that can be positioned to avoid non-target tissues, using anchoring or tensioning forces to modify target tissues while preventing damage to adjacent tissues, and employing methods for neural tissue localization using electrical currents to ensure precise placement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If current surgical treatments for spinal stenosis are used, then neural and neurovascular impingement can be relieved, but invasive procedures and removal of vertebral bone lead to spinal instability and increased morbidity
Solution Approach 1:
The surgical procedure is divided into distinct segments: first creating a access pathway through the ligamentum flavum, then separately removing the impinging tissue. This segmentation allows targeted treatment without requiring removal of stabilizing vertebral structures, thus maintaining spinal stability while relieving neural impingement.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention applies local quality by using a reaming instrument that selectively removes only the impinging tissue (such as hypertrophic ligamentum flavum) at the specific location of neural compression, rather than removing large portions of vertebral bone. This localized approach preserves overall spinal stability while addressing the specific pathological issue.
2Stability of the object's composition
If minimally invasive methods are used, then spinal stability is maintained, but ability to access and modify target tissues is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The invention introduces an intermediary access instrument (cannula or needle) that creates a pathway through the ligamentum flavum to reach the impinging tissue. This intermediary structure enables minimally invasive access to the target tissue while maintaining spinal stability, bridging the gap between minimal invasion and effective tissue access.
Solution Approach 2:
The reaming instrument is nested within the access cannula/needle structure, allowing the reaming tool to be delivered through a minimally invasive pathway. The nested configuration enables the larger reaming instrument to pass through the smaller access device, providing full tissue modification capability while maintaining minimal invasiveness.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables less invasive tissue modification procedures that reduce the risk of damage to nerve and vascular tissues, maintaining spinal stability and minimizing long-term morbidity by allowing precise targeting of impinging tissues without significant bone removal.
Implementation Method 1
delivering a first electrical current to a first electrode along the first surface of the probe; delivering a second electrical current to a second electrode along the second surface of the probe
Data Source
AI summary
A method for locating neural tissue in a patient body may involve: advancing a probe along a natural tissue interface between the neural tissue and another tissue in the body, the probe having a first surface oriented toward the neural tissue and a second surface oriented away from the neural tissue; delivering a first electrical current to a first electrode along the first surface of the probe; delivering a second electrical current to a second electrode along the second surface of the probe; and verifying that the first surface of the advanced probe remains oriented toward the neural tissue and the second surface remains oriented away from the neural tissue by monitoring neural response to the first and second electrical currents.