| TRANS1 INC. Patent applications |
| Patent application number | Title | Published |
|---|
| 20120123543 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR PERFORMING THERAPEUTIC PROCEDURES IN THE SPINE - Methods for correcting a deformity in the spine by forming a trans-sacral axial instrumentation/fusion axial bore through vertebral bodies in general alignment with a visualized, anterior axial instrumentation/fusion line in a minimally invasive, low trauma, manner and providing a therapy to the spine employing the axial bore. Curved or relatively straight anterior axial bores are formed from the anterior starting positions. The therapies performed through the axial bores include discoscopy, full and partial discectomy, vertebroplasty, balloon-assisted vertebroplasty, drug delivery, electrical stimulation and various forms of spinal disc cavity augmentation, spinal disc replacement, fusion of spinal motion segments and implantation of radioactive seeds. Axial spinal implants and bone growth materials can be placed into single or multiple parallel or diverging axial bores to fuse two or more vertebrae, or distract or shock absorb two or more vertebrae. | 05-17-2012 |
| 20110270312 | SPINAL IMPLANT - A spinal implant with associated surgical tools, tool sets and methods for percutaneously accessing and preparing treatment sites within the spine for subsequent treatment procedures. The treatment site may be an inter-vertebral motion segments in the lumbar and sacral regions of the spine. The tool set may comprise introducer tools and bone dilators for accessing and tapping into a targeted site, such as, for example, the anterior surface of the S1 vertebral body. The tool set may also comprise cutters and extractors for preparing the treatment site for subsequent treatment procedures. The tool set may additionally comprise a bone graft inserter, an exchange system, and/or a temporary distraction tool for further preparing the treatment site for subsequent treatment procedures. | 11-03-2011 |
| 20110184420 | ABRADING TOOL FOR PREPARING INTERVERTEBRAL DISC SPACES - Tools and methods for preparing an intervertebral disc space with an emphasis on abrading the vertebral endplates to promote controlled bleeding of the vertebral endplate without compromising the structural integrity of the vertebral endplate. The abrading process may be used to remove cartilage from the vertebral endplate if this remains to be done. Various mechanisms are discussed to either statically or dynamically alter blade angle of the cutter blade. Cutter blades may come in a variety of configurations including cutter blades with abrading heads for preparing endplates. Abrading heads may be used on upcutters or down cutters. Also disclosed is a cutter assembly adapted to resist unwanted changes in blade angle. | 07-28-2011 |
| 20110112373 | SOFT TISSUE ACCESS APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR SPINAL SURGERY - Disclosed are surgical tools, tool sets and methods for percutaneously accessing and preparing treatment sites within the spine for subsequent treatment procedures. The treatment site may be avertebral motion segments in the lumbar and sacral regions of the spine. The tool set may a retraction device for retracting bowel from a sacrum. The device can induce a collapsible enclosure that defines a chamber. The collapsible enclosure can have a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration. In some arrangements, the chamber is filled with an inflation media. The expanded configuration defines a working channel positioned between the sacrum and the bowel and extending over or through at least a portion of the device. | 05-12-2011 |
| 20110060369 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MANIPULATING MATERIAL IN THE SPINE - Disclosed are surgical tools, tool sets and methods for percutaneously accessing and preparing treatment sites within the spine for subsequent treatment procedures. The treatment site may be an inter-vertebral motion segments in the lumbar and sacral regions of the spine. The tool set may comprise introducer tools and bone dilators for accessing and tapping into a targeted site, such as, for example, the anterior surface of the S | 03-10-2011 |
| 20110035005 | METHODS FOR PUSH DISTRACTION AND FOR PROVISION OF THERAPY TO ADJACENT MOTION SEGMENTS - Disclosed are methods and apparatus for the provision of spinal therapy to two or more adjacent motion segments accessed through a trans-sacral approach. The spinal therapies include fusion and dynamic stabilization with and without a distraction of the most cephalad motion segment of the two or more adjacent motion segments provided therapy. The disclosure includes methods and apparatus to impart a push distraction to increase the distance between two adjacent vertebrae. Related concepts for the extraction of previously inserted devices and the delivery and removal of plugs for plugging the interior cavities of implantable devices are disclosed. | 02-10-2011 |
| 20110029019 | ASSEMBLIES FOR PROVISION OF THERAPY TO MOTION SEGMENTS - Disclosed are methods and apparatus for the provision of spinal therapy to two or more adjacent motion segments accessed through a trans-sacral approach. The spinal therapies include fusion and dynamic stabilization with and without a distraction of the most cephalad motion segment of the two or more adjacent motion segments provided therapy. The disclosure includes methods and apparatus to impart a push distraction to increase the distance between two adjacent vertebrae. Related concepts for the extraction of previously inserted devices and the delivery and removal of plugs for plugging the interior cavities of implantable devices are disclosed. | 02-03-2011 |
| 20100305617 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR PERFORMING THERAPEUTIC PROCEDURES IN THE SPINE - Methods and apparatus for forming one or more trans-sacral axial instrumentation/fusion (TASIF) axial bore through vertebral bodies in general alignment with a visualized, anterior or posterior axial instrumentation/fusion line (AAIFL or PAIFL) in a minimally invasive, low trauma, manner and providing a therapy to the spine employing the axial bore. Anterior or posterior starting positions aligned with the AAIFL or PAIFL are accessed through respective anterior and posterior tracts. Curved or relatively straight anterior and curved posterior TASIF axial bores are formed from the anterior and posterior starting positions. The therapies performed through the TASIF axial bores include discoscopy, full and partial discectomy, vertebroplasty, balloon-assisted vertebroplasty, drug delivery, electrical stimulation and various forms of spinal disc cavity augmentation, spinal disc replacement, fusion of spinal motion segments and implantation of radioactive seeds. Axial spinal implants and bone growth materials can be placed into single or multiple parallel or diverging TASIF axial bores to fuse two or more vertebrae, or distract or shock absorb two or more vertebrae. | 12-02-2010 |
| 20100145462 | PREFORMED MEMBRANES FOR USE IN INTERVERTEBRAL DISC SPACES - Spinal motion preservation assemblies adapted for use in a spinal motion segment are disclosed including the process for delivering and assembling the spinal motion preservation assemblies in the spinal motion segment via an axial channel created with a trans-sacral approach. The disclosed mobility preservation assemblies provide for dynamic stabilization of the spinal motion segment. Preformed membranes are disclosed for use within an intervertebral disc space. The preformed membrane may include an approximation of the final shape of a filled membrane to limit or eliminate the need for the membrane to stretch during filling. Other variations and implementations of the teachings are disclosed, including the sheathed delivery of membranes in order to protect the membranes before and during deployment. | 06-10-2010 |
| 20100137991 | PROSTHETIC NUCLEUS WITH A PREFORMED MEMBRANE - Multi-membrane prosthetic nucleus and implants using same are disclosed having an outermost membrane that is semi-compliant and limits the innermost membrane and any intermediate membranes that are highly compliant from bulging out of any opening in the annulus fibrosus. The outermost membrane may help protect the innermost membrane from trauma including any trauma before the innermost membrane is expanded through the injection of prosthetic nucleus material and trauma during the expansion of the innermost membrane in response to the injection of prosthetic nucleus material. Also disclosed is a coated membrane which combines the mechanical properties of the foundation layer with the low permeability to the passage of the flowable prosthetic material of the coating. This coated membrane is semi-compliant and prevents the prosthetic nucleus from bulging out of any openings in the annulus fibrosus. Use is made of injected prosthetic nucleus material that changes to a non-flowable state. | 06-03-2010 |
| 20100004690 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SPINAL DISTRACTION AND FUSION - The invention provides an implantable spinal distraction/fusion rod with varied thread pitch and diameters along different portions of its length that it is capable of distracting two or more vertebral bodies relative to each other and/or facilitating the procedure of fusing the vertebral bodies together from within the spine. The present invention also provides for methods of using the rod to distract and/or fuse two or more vertebral bodies from within the spine. | 01-07-2010 |
| 20090292287 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR TOOLS IN AXIALLY ORIENTED BORES THROUGH SPINAL VERTEBRAE - One or more tools for use in shaped axially oriented bores extending from an accessed posterior or anterior target point are formed in the cephalad direction through vertebral bodies and intervening discs, if present, in general alignment with a visualized, trans-sacral axial instrumentation/fusion (TASIF) line in a minimally invasive, low trauma, manner. An anterior axial instrumentation/fusion line (AAIFL) or a posterior axial instrumentation/fusion line (PAIFL) that extends from the anterior or posterior target point, respectively, in the cephalad direction following the spinal curvature through one or more vertebral body is visualized by radiographic or fluoroscopic equipment. In one embodiment, curved anterior or posterior TASIF axial bores are formed in axial or parallel or diverging alignment with the visualized AAIFL or PAIFL, respectively, employing bore forming tools that can be manipulated from proximal portions thereof that are located outside the patient's body to adjust the curvature of the anterior or posterior TASIF axial bores as they are formed in the cephalad direction. Further bore enlarging tools are employed to enlarge one or more selected section of the anterior or posterior TASIF axial bore(s), e.g., the cephalad bore end or a disc space, so as to provide a recess therein that can be employed for various purposes, e.g., to provide anchoring surfaces for spinal implants inserted into the anterior or posterior TASIF axial bore(s). | 11-26-2009 |
| 20090270902 | BONE DILATOR SYSTEM AND METHODS - Disclosed are surgical tools, tool sets and methods for percutaneously accessing and preparing treatment sites within the spine for subsequent treatment procedures. The treatment site may be an inter-vertebral motion segments in the lumbar and sacral regions of the spine. The tool set may comprise introducer tools and bone dilators for accessing and tapping into a targeted site, such as, for example, the anterior surface of the S1 vertebral body. The tool set may also comprise cutters and extractors for preparing the treatment site for subsequent treatment procedures. The tool set may additionally comprise a bone graft inserter, an exchange system, and/or a temporary distraction tool for further preparing the treatment site for subsequent treatment procedures. | 10-29-2009 |
| 20090240293 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR PERFORMING PROCEDURES IN THE SPINE - Disclosed are methods of accessing and treating the spine, while minimizing trauma to surrounding tissue. A device is introduced through tissue, to an access point on the spine. The device is thereafter advanced axially within the spine, from the access point across a treatment zone. In one application, the access point is on the anterior surface of the spine, and, in another application, the access point is on the posterior surface of the spine. The lumen created through the spine across the treatment zone may be either substantially linear, or curved. | 09-24-2009 |
| 20090143809 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MANIPULATING MATERIAL IN THE SPINE - Disclosed are surgical tools, tool sets and methods for percutaneously accessing and preparing treatment sites within the spine for subsequent treatment procedures. The treatment site may be an inter-vertebral motion segments in the lumbar and sacral regions of the spine. The tool set may comprise introducer tools and bone dilators for accessing and tapping into a targeted site, such as, for example, the anterior surface of the S1 vertebral body. The tool set may also comprise cutters and extractors for preparing the treatment site for subsequent treatment procedures. The tool set may additionally comprise a bone graft inserter, an exchange system, and/or a temporary distraction tool for further preparing the treatment site for subsequent treatment procedures. | 06-04-2009 |
| 20090124859 | METHODS OF USE OF AN EXCHANGE SYSTEM FOR SOFT TISSUE ACCESS PATHWAY - Disclosed are surgical tools, tool sets and methods for percutaneously accessing and preparing treatment sites within the spine for subsequent treatment procedures. The treatment site may be an inter-vertebral motion segments in the lumbar and sacral regions of the spine. The tool set may comprise introducer tools and bone dilators for accessing and tapping into a targeted site, such as, for example, the anterior surface of the S1 vertebral body. The tool set may also comprise cutters and extractors for preparing the treatment site for subsequent treatment procedures. The tool set may additionally comprise a bone graft inserter, an exchange system, and/or a temporary distraction tool for further preparing the treatment site for subsequent treatment procedures. | 05-14-2009 |
| 20080262555 | Percutaneous delivery of facet screws using depth control indicator - Instrumentation systems that facilitate the reproducible deployment and placement of fixation device such as a screw, via an aligned, percutaneous access and approach, designed to relieve lower back pain and possibly improve disc health and prevent progression or transition of disease. Information about methods and equipment for accessing and preparing bone for subsequent delivery of a bone screw such as a facet screw across a facet joint. Some of the many teachings contained herein address a system of visual indicators may be used in connection with a bore cutter that operates around an anchored guide wire to avoid dislodging the anchored guide wire. | 10-23-2008 |
| 20080262502 | MULTI-MEMBRANE PROSTHETIC NUCLEUS - Multi-membrane prosthetic nucleus and implants using same are disclosed having an outermost membrane that is semi-compliant and limits the innermost membrane and any intermediate membranes that are highly compliant from bulging out of any opening in the annulus fibrosus. The outermost membrane may help protect the innermost membrane from trauma including any trauma before the innermost membrane is expanded through the injection of prosthetic nucleus material and trauma during the expansion of the innermost membrane in response to the injection of prosthetic nucleus material. Also disclosed is a coated membrane which combines the mechanical properties of the foundation layer with the low permeability to the passage of the flowable prosthetic material of the coating. This coated membrane is semi-compliant and prevents the prosthetic nucleus from bulging out of any openings in the annulus fibrosus. Use is made of injected prosthetic nucleus material that changes to a non-flowable state. | 10-23-2008 |
