| Patent application number | Description | Published |
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| 20080208260 | SPINE TREATMENT DEVICES AND METHODS - A modular implant system and method is provided for the dynamic stabilization of a spine segment and that can be implanted in a posterior approach. The implant system can include first and second support bodies configured for fixation to outward or lateral surfaces of first and second vertebrae, respectively. The implant system can also comprise a resilient portion. The method can comprise fixating first and second support bodies to first and second vertebrae respectively. | 08-28-2008 |
| 20080249530 | BONE TREATMENT SYSTEMS AND METHODS - Systems and methods for delivering bone cement into a bone can include a handle body defining a flow path, a thermal emitter in the handle body to apply energy to bone cement passing through the flow path, a source of bone cement and an injection cannula. The cannula can be in communication with the flow path such that inserting the cannula into a bone can allow a flow of bone cement therethrough to an opening at a distal end of the cannula. Other systems and methods for delivering bone cement into a bone can include an injector body with a handle portion, and a cannula, a bone cement container, a low pressure drive mechanism configured to effect a flow of bone cement from said container to the injector body and a high pressure drive mechanism configured to effect a flow of bone cement through the injector body into the bone. | 10-09-2008 |
| 20080255570 | BONE TREATMENT SYSTEMS AND METHODS - Systems and methods for delivering bone cement into a bone can include a handle body defining a flow path, a thermal emitter in the handle body to apply energy to bone cement passing through the flow path, a source of bone cement and an injection cannula. The cannula can be in communication with the flow path such that inserting the cannula into a bone can allow a flow of bone cement therethrough to an opening at a distal end of the cannula. Other systems and methods for delivering bone cement into a bone can include an injector body with a handle portion, and a cannula, a bone cement container, a low pressure drive mechanism configured to effect a flow of bone cement from said container to the injector body and a high pressure drive mechanism configured to effect a flow of bone cement through the injector body into the bone. | 10-16-2008 |
| 20080255571 | BONE TREATMENT SYSTEMS AND METHODS - Systems and methods for delivering bone cement into a bone can include a handle body defining a flow path, a thermal emitter in the handle body to apply energy to bone cement passing through the flow path, a source of bone cement and an injection cannula. The cannula can be in communication with the flow path such that inserting the cannula into a bone can allow a flow of bone cement therethrough to an opening at a distal end of the cannula. Other systems and methods for delivering bone cement into a bone can include an injector body with a handle portion, and a cannula, a bone cement container, a low pressure drive mechanism configured to effect a flow of bone cement from said container to the injector body and a high pressure drive mechanism configured to effect a flow of bone cement through the injector body into the bone. | 10-16-2008 |
| 20080269761 | BONE TREATMENT SYSTEMS AND METHODS - The present invention relates in certain embodiments to systems and methods for treating bone, such as vertebral compression fractures. In one embodiment, a method includes controllably applying energy from an energy source to a bone cement volume outside of a patient's body to selectively accelerate the polymerization rate of the bone fill material volume prior to introduction of the bone fill material into a bone. The method further includes sequentially introducing a plurality of cement carrying structures with said accelerated polymerization rate bone cement volume into the bone. A system for use in said method includes at least one elongated cement-carrying structure sized to carry a bone cement volume therein and an energy source operatively coupleable to the cement-carrying structure. The energy source applies energy to the bone cement volume to selectively accelerate a polymerization rate thereof. An elongated injector is insertable into the bone and has a passageway that removably receives the elongated cement-carrying structure to allow delivery of the accelerated polymerization rate bone cement into the bone. | 10-30-2008 |
| 20090012525 | DEVICES AND SYSTEMS FOR DELIVERING BONE FILL MATERIAL - The present invention relates in certain embodiments to medical devices, systems and methods for use in osteoplasty procedures, such as vertebral compression fractures. One device for delivering a bone fill material to a bone, such as a vertebra, includes an elongated introducer having a working end at a distal end of the introducer, the working end positionable within the bone and having at least one outlet opening configured to allow a bone fill material flow therethrough. An insulative coating is disposed on an external surface of the introducer, the coating being lubricious and configured to inhibit scratching of said external surface. One system for delivering a bone fill material to a bone includes such a device, a thermal energy emitter operably coupled to the introducer to apply energy to the bone fill material flowing through a channel of the introducer, and a controller in communication with the thermal energy emitter to control the operation of the thermal energy emitter. | 01-08-2009 |
| 20090149878 | BONE TREATMENT SYSTEMS AND METHODS - The present invention relates in certain embodiments to systems for treating vertebral compression fractures. In one embodiment, a trocar with a flexible tip is provided to create a curved path in cancellous bone. An injector can be introduced into the vertebra in communication with the curved path for delivery of bone fill material into the curved path. Optionally, thermal energy can be applied to the bone fill material prior to injection into the curved path in cancellous bone to alter a property (e.g., viscosity) of the bone fill material. | 06-11-2009 |
| 20090198242 | BONE TREATMENT SYSTEMS AND METHODS - Systems and methods for treating vertebral compression fractures are discussed. In an embodiment, a method includes mixing bone cement precursors thereby causing a first chemical curing reaction characterized by a first time-viscosity profile, controllably applying energy to the bone cement from an external source to modify the first time-viscosity profile to a second time-viscosity profile, and injecting the cement into bone at a substantially constant viscosity greater than about 1000 Pa·s to greater than about 5000 Pa·s over an extended working time. In another embodiment, a bone cement injector system is provided that includes a first handle component that is detachably coupled to a second sleeve component having a distal end for positioning in bone and a flow channel extending through the first and second components. The system includes first and second thermal energy emitters for delivering energy to bone cement flows in a flow channel portion in the first and second components, respectively. | 08-06-2009 |
| 20090247664 | BONE TREATMENT SYSTEMS AND METHODS - The present disclosure relates to bone cement formulations that have an extended working time for use in vertebroplasty procedures and other osteoplasty procedures together with cement injectors that include energy delivery systems for on-demand control of cement viscosity and flow parameters. The bone cement formulations may include a liquid component having at least one monomer and a non-liquid component including polymer particles and benzoyl peroxide (BPO). The non-liquid component may be further configured to allow controlled exposure of the BPO to the liquid monomer so as to enable control of the viscosity of the bone cement composition. | 10-01-2009 |
| 20090270849 | Electrosurgical Device and Method - The present invention relates to the field of electrosurgery, and more particularly to a system that produces an ionized gas flows that are configured to function as an electrode arrangement. A working end of an elongated member can use spaced apart conductive gas flows to coagulate or ablate tissue interstitially, intraluminally or topically. | 10-29-2009 |
| 20090275995 | BONE TREATMENT SYSTEMS AND METHODS - The present invention relates in certain embodiments to medical devices for treating osteoplasty procedures such as vertebral compression fractures. More particularly, embodiments of the invention relate to instruments and methods for controllably restoring vertebral body height by controlling the geometry of fill material introduced into cancellous bone. A method of treating bone includes injecting a volume of fill material into a bone and selectively modifying a viscosity of the bone filler to control the direction of flow of the fill material within the bone. A system for treating bone using this method includes an introducer for delivering fill material into the bone and an energy source selectively coupleable to the fill material to alter the viscosity of the fill material via an energy emitter in the introducer. | 11-05-2009 |
| 20090281535 | ELECTROSURIGICAL INSTRUMENT AND METHOD - An electrosurgical instrument and method for treating varicose veins. In one embodiment, an elongate catheter has a distal working end that carries an electrosurgical energy delivery surface comprising at least one electrode with a positive temperature coefficient of resistance (PTCR) surface and/or an electrode with a pressure sensitive variable resistance to provide a smart surface for controlling Rf current flow at the interface of electrosurgical surface and the tissue. The electrode surface then can limit or modulate Rf energy delivery through the surface in response to the temperature of the surface or the engagement pressure of the surface against the engaged tissue. In operation, the smart electrosurgical surface prevents arcing at the electrode-tissue interface, and thus controls ohmic heating to prevent tissue desiccation, charring and emboli formation. | 11-12-2009 |
| 20090292290 | BONE TREATMENT SYSTEMS AND METHODS - Systems, bone cements and methods for treating vertebral compression fractures can utilize a bone cement comprising of a mixable liquid monomer component and a non-liquid component including polymer particles, wherein the non-liquid component is configured for controlled exposure to the liquid monomer over a setting interval of the bone cement. In a method of use, liquid and non-liquid components are mixed, and the bone cement is injected into bone wherein a lengthened setting interval is provided in which the mixture is configured for a flowability that prevents unwanted extravasation. | 11-26-2009 |
| 20100016467 | BONE TREATMENT SYSTEMS AND METHODS - The present disclosure relates to bone cement formulations that have an extended working time for use in vertebroplasty procedures and other osteoplasty procedures together with cement injectors that include energy delivery systems for on-demand control of cement viscosity and flow parameters. The bone cement formulations may include a liquid component having at least one monomer and a non-liquid component including polymer particles and benzoyl peroxide (BPO). The non-liquid component may be further configured to allow controlled exposure of the BPO to the liquid monomer so as to enable control of the viscosity of the bone cement composition. | 01-21-2010 |
| 20100030220 | BONE TREATMENT SYSTEMS AND METHODS - Systems and methods for treating vertebral compression fractures are provided. In one embodiment, a bone cement injector system can include a first handle component that is detachably coupled to a second sleeve component having a distal end configured for positioning in bone, and a flow channel extending through the first and second components. The system can include a thermal energy emitter. The flow channel can have a flow channel surface with a material that that limits cement flow turbulence. At least a portion of the flow channel can have a non-round cross section. | 02-04-2010 |
| 20100057079 | POLYMER COMPOSITES FOR BIOMEDICAL APPLICATIONS AND METHODS OF MAKING - A biomedical polymer composite that exhibits ultra-low thermal conductivity properties. In a preferred embodiment, the biomedical polymer composite comprises a base polymer component with a dispersed thermally non-conductive filler component consisting of glass or ceramic nanospheres or microspheres that have a thermal conductivity of less than 5 W/m-K, and preferably less than 2 W/m-K. In one embodiment, the polymer composite has an electrically conductive filler and can be used in a filament for treating arteriovascular malformations. In another embodiment, the polymeric composite can be used as an energy-coupling means to apply energy to tissue. | 03-04-2010 |
| 20100091606 | SYSTEM FOR USE IN BONE CEMENT PREPARATION AND DELIVERY - A system for use in bone cement preparation can include a chamber for intermixing a liquid monomer and solid polymer components, a container, a vacuum channel, and a filter. The mixing chamber can be configured to hold a non-liquid, polymer powder component of a bone cement. The container can be configured to hold a liquid component of the bone cement. The system can have a first interface disposed between the mixing chamber and the container and a second interface disposed between the mixing chamber and the vacuum channel. The second interface can to receive and position the filter between the mixing chamber and the vacuum channel. The vacuum channel can direct a partial vacuum to draw the liquid component from the container into the non-liquid component in the mixing chamber to intermix the components and to thereby provide a settable bone cement | 04-15-2010 |
| 20100100091 | TISSUE ABLATION SYSTEMS - Tissue is treated using a radiofrequency power supply connected to an applicator having a chamber filled with an electrically non-conductive gas surrounded by a thin dielectric wall. A radiofrequency voltage is applied at a level sufficient to ionize the gas into a plasma and to capacitively couple the ionized plasma with the tissue to deliver radiofrequency current to ablate or otherwise treat the tissue. | 04-22-2010 |
| 20100100094 | TISSUE ABLATION METHODS - Tissue is treated using a radiofrequency power supply connected to an applicator having a chamber filled with an electrically non-conductive gas surrounded by a thin dielectric wall. A radiofrequency voltage is applied at a level sufficient to ionize the gas into a plasma and to capacitively couple the ionized plasma with the tissue to deliver radiofrequency current to ablate or otherwise treat the tissue. | 04-22-2010 |
| 20100106152 | ENDOMETRIAL ABLATION METHOD - Systems and methods for endometrial ablation. The systems include a handle and elongated introducer sleeve extending to an expandable working end having a fluid-tight interior chamber. A thin dielectric wall surrounds at least a portion of the interior chamber and has an external surface for contacting endometrial tissue. The thin dielectric wall surrounds a collapsible-expandable frame and receives an electrically non-conductive gas. First and second polarity electrodes are exposed to the interior and exterior of the chamber, respectively. A radiofrequency power source operatively connects to the electrode arrangement to apply a radiofrequency voltage across the first and second electrodes, wherein the voltage is sufficient to initiate ionization of the neutral gas into a conductive plasma within the interior chamber, and to capacitively couple the current in the plasma across the thin dielectric wall to ablate endometrial tissue engaged by the external surface of the dielectric structure. | 04-29-2010 |
| 20100114089 | ENDOMETRIAL ABLATION DEVICES AND SYSTEMS - Systems and methods for endometrial ablation. The systems include a handle and elongated introducer sleeve extending to an expandable working end having a fluid-tight interior chamber. A thin dielectric wall surrounds at least a portion of the interior chamber and has an external surface for contacting endometrial tissue. The thin dielectric wall surrounds a collapsible-expandable frame and receives an electrically non-conductive gas. First and second polarity electrodes are exposed to the interior and exterior of the chamber, respectively. A radiofrequency power source operatively connects to the electrode arrangement to apply a radiofrequency voltage across the first and second electrodes, wherein the voltage is sufficient to initiate ionization of the neutral gas into a conductive plasma within the interior chamber, and to capacitively couple the current in the plasma across the thin dielectric wall to ablate endometrial tissue engaged by the external surface of the dielectric structure. | 05-06-2010 |
| 20100137986 | IMPLANTS AND METHODS FOR TREATING BONE - An orthopedic implant comprising a deformable, expandable implant body configured for treating abnormalities in bones, such as compression fractures of vertebra, necrosis of femurs and the like. An exemplary implant body comprises a small cross-section threaded element that is introduced into a bone region and thereafter is expanded into a larger cross-section, monolithic assembly to provide a bone support. In one embodiment, the implant body is at least partly fabricated of a magnesium alloy that is biodegradable to allow for later tissue ingrowth. | 06-03-2010 |
| 20100174286 | BONE TREATMENT SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR INTRODUCING AN ABRADING STRUCTURE TO ABRADE BONE - The invention provides instruments and methods for prophylactic treatment of an osteoporotic vertebral body or for treating a vertebral compression fracture (VCF). In one exemplary method, a probe system uses a high speed rotational elastomeric cutter having an optional expandable abrasive surface for abrading or cutting at least one path or region within vertebral cancellous bone. Irrigation and aspiration sources are included in the probe system for removing abraded bone debris. In one embodiment, the high speed rotational abrader uses a tissue-selective abrading surface that abrades or cuts bone but does not cut soft tissue. In another embodiment, an expandable abrading surface allows the treatment of bone with low pressures to create paths or spaces without explosive expansion forces known in prior art balloon procedures that are designed to crush and compact cancellous bone in a vertebra. After the creation of a path or space, an in-situ hardenable bone cement volume is introduced into each path or space to support the vertebra. | 07-08-2010 |
| 20100174320 | BONE ANCHOR APPARATUS AND METHOD - A bone anchor can include an elongated body and a plurality of separate elements. The bone anchor can be configured to be insertable into bone. The bone anchor can be coupleable to a spine treatment apparatus. The bone anchor can be revisable so that after a treatment interval attached to a spine treatment apparatus, the spine treatment apparatus can be detached and the bone anchor revised by removing the plurality of separate elements from the bone thus allowing a new anchor to be implanted in the bone. | 07-08-2010 |
| 20100211076 | SYSTEMS FOR TREATING A VERTEBRAL BODY - Methods and devices that displace bone or other hard tissue to create a cavity in the tissue. Where such methods and devices rely on a driving mechanism for providing moving of the device to form a profile that improves displacement of the tissue. These methods and devices also allow for creating a path or cavity in bone for insertion of bone cement or other filler to treat a fracture or other condition in the bone. The features relating to the methods and devices described herein can be applied in any region of bone or hard tissue where the tissue or bone is displaced to define a bore or cavity instead of being extracted from the body such as during a drilling or ablation procedure. | 08-19-2010 |
| 20100249767 | POLYMER COMPOSITES FOR BIOMEDICAL APPLICATIONS AND METHODS OF MAKING - A biomedical polymer composite that exhibits ultra-low thermal conductivity properties. In a preferred embodiment, the biomedical polymer composite comprises a base polymer component with a dispersed thermally non-conductive filler component consisting of glass or ceramic nanospheres or microspheres that have a thermal conductivity of less than 5 W/m-K, and preferably less than 2 W/m-K. In one embodiment, the polymer composite has an electrically conductive filler and can be used in a filament for treating arteriovascular malformations. In another embodiment, the polymeric composite can be used as an energy-coupling means to apply energy to tissue. | 09-30-2010 |
| 20100249774 | POLYMER COMPOSITES FOR BIOMEDICAL APPLICATIONS AND METHODS OF MAKING - A biomedical polymer composite that exhibits ultra-low thermal conductivity properties. In a preferred embodiment, the biomedical polymer composite comprises a base polymer component with a dispersed thermally non-conductive filler component consisting of glass or ceramic nanospheres or microspheres that have a thermal conductivity of less than 5 W/m-K, and preferably less than 2 W/m-K. In one embodiment, the polymer composite has an electrically conductive filler and can be used in a filament for treating arteriovascular malformations. In another embodiment, the polymeric composite can be used as an energy-coupling means to apply energy to tissue. | 09-30-2010 |
| 20100249793 | BONE TREATMENT SYSTEMS AND METHODS - Systems and methods for treating vertebral compression fractures are provided. A kit can include at least one body containing a bone cement precursor to be mixed with at least one other bone cement precursor to form a bone cement. The body or a package containing the body can include at least one sensor. In some embodiments the sensor can be a temperature sensor. In some methods, data from the sensor can be used to determine certain parameters related to a treatment interval involving the bone cement. | 09-30-2010 |
| 20100280520 | BONE TREATMENT SYSTEMS AND METHODS - The present invention relates in certain embodiments to medical devices for treating vertebral compression fractures. More particularly, embodiments of the invention relate to instruments and methods for controllably restoring vertebral body height by controlling the flow of bone cement into the interior of a vertebra and the application of forces causes by the cement flow. An exemplary system utilizes Rf energy in combination a conductive bone cement for selectively polymerizing the inflow plume to increase the viscosity of the cement. In one aspect of the invention, the system utilizes a controller to control bone cement flow parameters to either, allow or disallow cement interdigitation into cancellous bone. A method of the invention includes pulsing the flows of bone cement wherein high acceleration of the flow pulses can apply expansion forces across the surface of the cement plume to reduce a vertebral fracture. | 11-04-2010 |
| 20100305565 | VOLTAGE THRESHOLD ABLATION APPARATUS - The present invention relates to the field of electrosurgery, and more particularly to systems and methods for ablating, cauterizing and/or coagulating body tissue using radio frequency energy. More in particular, the systems utilize voltage threshold means for controlling the voltage applied to tissue in a cycle-to-cycle manner. | 12-02-2010 |
| 20110004208 | ELECTROSURGICAL INSTRUMENT WITH REPLACEABLE CARTRIDGE - Various embodiments provide an electrosurgical instrument with a disposable electrosurgical cartridge. In one embodiment, the cartridge has first and second energy-delivery surfaces that carry first and second opposing polarity conductors coupled to a voltage source, together with first and second temperature-responsive variable impedance bodies exposed partly in the respective-delivery surfaces. The cartridge further carries a slidable blade member. The temperature-responsive variable impedance bodies are coupled to the voltage source by series and parallel circuitry. In use, the variable impedance bodies are adapted to modulate current flow and ohmic heating in engaged tissue by providing controlled current paths in the tissue and through the variable impedance bodies as the temperature-responsive bodies sense the temperature of adjacent engaged tissue. The engagement surfaces are capable of highly localized modulation of Rf energy application to engaged tissue to provide high and low temperatures, voltage and current in the tissue to create high strength welds. | 01-06-2011 |
| 20110054482 | COMPOSITES AND METHODS FOR TREATING BONE - A system and method for treating bone abnormalities including vertebral compression fractures and the like. In one vertebroplasty method, a fill material is injected under high pressures into cancellous bone wherein the fill material includes a flowable bone cement component and an elastomeric polymer component that is carried therein. The elastomer component can further carry microscale or mesoscale reticulated elements. Under suitable injection pressures, the elastomeric component ultimately migrates within the flowable material to alter the apparent viscosity across the plume of fill material to accomplish multiple functions. For example, the differential in apparent viscosity across the fill material creates a broad load-distributing layer within cancellous bone for applying retraction forces to cortical bone endplates. The differential in apparent viscosity also transitions into a flow impermeable layer at the interface of cancellous bone and the flowable material to prevent extravasasion of the flowable bone cement component. | 03-03-2011 |
| 20110112523 | SYSTEMS, METHODS AND DEVICES FOR ENDOMETRIAL ABLATION UTILIZING RADIO FREQUENCY - Methods, systems and devices for endometrial ablation. In accordance with a method, a working end of an RF ablation device is positioned in a patient uterus to contact endometrial tissue, the working end comprising a dielectric. Radiofrequency energy is applied for a first interval of time at constant power, the power being sufficient to capacitively couple current across the dielectric to the contacted endometrial tissue. A voltage parameter measured within the first interval, and radiofrequency energy is applied at a constant voltage over a second, treatment interval to ablate endometrial tissue, the constant voltage being related to the recorded voltage. | 05-12-2011 |
| 20110130067 | MODULAR TOY AND WRITING INSTRUMENT - A modular combination toy and desktop writing accessory apparatus comprising a plurality of structural elements each having at least one nodal connector portion to which a complementary connector portion of another structural, element can be coupled. The structural elements can be assembled into a barrel-like form that is configured with a passageway for carrying a writing component of the invention. The writing component can be a pen, pencil, marker, crayon, eraser or the like. The modular combination toy and writing instrument has multiple functions in playtime as well as in everyday desk-bound activities. | 06-02-2011 |
