Filing Information

Inventor(s)	Bogomir Gorensek · Gregory H. Lambrecht · Sean Kavanaugh · Robert Kevin Moore ·
Assignee(s)	Intrinsic Therapeutics, Inc. ·  View assignee updates
Correspondent	KNOBBE MARTENS OLSON & BEAR LLP ·
Application Number	US12790103
Filing date	05/28/2010
Publication date	11/25/2010
Predicted expiration date	06/21/2024
U.S. Classifications	606/99  ·
International Classifications	A61B1758  ·
Kind Code	A1

Patent Family

Abstract

The present invention relates generally to devices and methods for delivering medical devices, such as implants, to desired tissue sites, such as the intervertebral disc. In one aspect, an intervertebral disc repair and diagnostic device that is minimally invasive and that provides precise access to the desired site is provided. In some aspects, the device and method are adapted to deliver, position and expand implants that are initially oriented and compressed for minimally invasive, yet precise and effective implantation.

Independent Claims | See all claims (20)

1. 1. A method of delivering and positioning an implant and a therapeutic agent within an intervertebral disc comprising: providing a delivery device, wherein said delivery device comprises a cannula, one or more lumens, a depth stop and an advancer slideably retained within the cannula, wherein the advancer is configured to advance an implant coupled to the distal end of the advancer out of said cannula; compressing said implant along a first axis; inserting said cannula into an intervertebral disc; positioning said depth stop to abut against an external surface of the intervertebral disc and delivering said implant relative to said position; positioning said cannula such that the implant is positioned beyond the innermost surface of the anulus; rotating the cannula, thereby rotating the implant; retracting the cannula, thereby initially expanding the implant to a first partially expanded configuration; delivering one or more agents through the one or more lumens into the intervertebral disc, wherein said agent is at least one of a pharmaceutical agent or a nucleus augmentation material; uncoupling the implant from the distal end of the advancer; and removing the delivery device from the intervertebral disc.