US6436143B1 — Method and apparatus for treating intervertebral …

Claim 1

Independent Claim 87 words

A method for treating an intervertebral disk of the spine, comprising: selecting an intervertebral disk of the spine; providing an injection device having an expandable member about an injection needle for a thermoplastic material; injecting said expandable member and said needle into the annulus fibrosus of said selected disk; expanding said expandable member into the annulus fibrosus of said selected disk; and then injecting a thermoplastic material from said needle into said annulus fibrosus of said selected disk to occupy the space defined by said expandable member.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 87 words

A method for treating an intervertebral disk of the spine, comprising: selecting an intervertebral disk of the spine; providing an injection device having an expandable member about an injection needle for a thermoplastic material; injecting said expandable member and said needle into the annulus fibrosus of said selected disk; expanding said expandable member into the annulus fibrosus of said selected disk; and then injecting a thermoplastic material from said needle into said annulus fibrosus of said selected disk to occupy the space defined by said expandable member.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 48 words

The method defined in claim 1 , further comprising: injecting said thermoplastic material from said needle under a pressure greater than the pressure for expanding said expandable member to effect collapsing of said expandable member with said thermoplastic material occupying the space formerly occupied by said expandable member.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 30 words

The method defined in claim 1 , further comprising: removing nucleus pulposus from said annulus fibrosus prior to insertion of said expandable member and said needle into said annulus fibrosus.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 84 words

An injection device fortreating an intervertebral disk of the spine of a patient, comprising: a hollow needle for the injection of a thermoplastic material into the annulus fibrosus of a disk from the projecting end of the needle; an expandable member about said hollow needle for expanding into the annulus fibrosus of the disk prior to injection of the thermoplastic material in the annulus fibrosus; and a heater for heating said thermoplastic material to effect flowing thereof prior to injection into the annulus fibrosus.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 84 words

An injection device fortreating an intervertebral disk of the spine of a patient, comprising: a hollow needle for the injection of a thermoplastic material into the annulus fibrosus of a disk from the projecting end of the needle; an expandable member about said hollow needle for expanding into the annulus fibrosus of the disk prior to injection of the thermoplastic material in the annulus fibrosus; and a heater for heating said thermoplastic material to effect flowing thereof prior to injection into the annulus fibrosus.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 95 words

An injection system for treating an intervertebral disk of a spines comprising: an injection device including a hollow needle for injecting a thermoplastic material within the annulus fibrosus of a disk, and an expandable member about said hollow needle to form an annulus between said needle and said expandable member; a fluid pressure device to provide pressurized fluid in said annulus for expanding said expandable member into said annulus fibrosus; a heating device for heating the thermoplastic material; and a force applying device for forcing said thermoplastic material from said needle in a flowing state.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 95 words

An injection system for treating an intervertebral disk of a spines comprising: an injection device including a hollow needle for injecting a thermoplastic material within the annulus fibrosus of a disk, and an expandable member about said hollow needle to form an annulus between said needle and said expandable member; a fluid pressure device to provide pressurized fluid in said annulus for expanding said expandable member into said annulus fibrosus; a heating device for heating the thermoplastic material; and a force applying device for forcing said thermoplastic material from said needle in a flowing state.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 34 words

The injection system as defined in claim 5 , further comprising: a concentric sleeve about said needle for forming said annulus between said sleeve and said needle, said expandable member mounted about said sleeve.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 33 words

The injection system as defined in claim 6 wherein said sleeve has a plurality of openings therein for communicating fluid to said expandable member for expanding said expandable member within said annulus fibrosus.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 26 words

The injection system as defined in claim 5 wherein said fluid pressure device includes a pressurized liquid, and a hydraulically actuated piston for pressurizing said liquid.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 94 words

An injection gun for injecting a thermoplastic material between a joint of a patient, comprising: a chamber for receiving said thermoplastic material in a non-flowing state; a heater adjacent said chamber for heating said thermoplastic material to a flowing state; a hollow injection needle operatively connected to said heater to receive the flowing thermoplastic material from said heater for injection between the joint of the patient; and a hydraulic force applying assembly to apply hydraulic force against said thermoplastic material to force the thermoplastic material when heated to a flowing state from said needle.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 94 words

An injection gun for injecting a thermoplastic material between a joint of a patient, comprising: a chamber for receiving said thermoplastic material in a non-flowing state; a heater adjacent said chamber for heating said thermoplastic material to a flowing state; a hollow injection needle operatively connected to said heater to receive the flowing thermoplastic material from said heater for injection between the joint of the patient; and a hydraulic force applying assembly to apply hydraulic force against said thermoplastic material to force the thermoplastic material when heated to a flowing state from said needle.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 51 words

The injection gun as defined in claim 9 , further comprising: a plug of said thermoplastic material within said chamber, said hydraulic force applying assembly including a hydraulically actuated piston adjacent said plug for forcing said thermoplastic material from said needle after said thermoplastic material is heated to a flowing state.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 44 words

The injection gun as defined in claim 10 , further comprising: a fluid pressure source for said hydraulically actuated piston; and a foot operated pedal associated with said fluid pressure source to provide a selected fluid pressure to said piston and heated thermoplastic material.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 46 words

The injection gun as defined in claim 9 , further comprising: an expandable member about said hollow needle to form an annulus between said needle and said expandable member; and a fluid pressure device to provide pressurized fluid in said annulus for expanding said expandable member.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 64 words

The injection gun as defined in claim 9 , further comprising: a substantially rigid concentric sleeve about said hollow needle for forming an annulus between said sleeve and said needle; an expandable member mounted about said sleeve; and a fluid pressurization device to provide pressurization fluid in said annulus for expanding said expandable member, said expandable member being in fluid communication with said annulus.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 16 words

The injection gun as defined in claim 9 , wherein said thermoplastic material comprises gutta percha.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 32 words

The injection gun as defined in claim 9 , wherein said thermoplastic material comprises a gutta percha compound in which gutta percha is between 15% and 40% by weight of the compound.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 29 words

The injection gun as defined in claim 9 , wherein said heater heats said thermoplastic material compound for flowing at a temperature between about 150 C and 200 C.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 66 words

The injection gun as defined in claim 9 , further comprising: a generally cylindrical housing forming the chamber to receive a plug of thermoplastic material and having opposed open ends, said cylindrical housing being removable from said injection needle; and a threaded end plug for each of said open ends when said housing is removed from said injection needle for sealing of said thermoplastic material therein.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 28 words

The injection device as defined in claim 17 , wherein said heater is removably mounted adjacent one of said open ends upon removal of an associated end plug.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2005-08-19	2006-02-18	2006-08-20	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2009-08-19	2010-02-18	2010-08-20	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2013-08-19	2014-02-18	2014-08-20	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Method and apparatus for treating intervertebral disks

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