| Patent application number | Description | Published |
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| 20090240335 | Expandable Devices for Emplacement in Body Parts and Methods Associated Therewith - Disclosed are devices and methods for emplacement of an expandable device in a body part of interest in human and animal subjects. In one embodiment, the expandable device comprises a cage that may be emplaced in the intervertebral disc for use in spine fusion techniques. The device is fashioned so that it may be delivered to the intervertebral disc by percutaneous means, such as via a cannula. Additionally disclosed are systems and kits employing the devices of the invention as well as methods of manufacturing the devices of the invention. | 09-24-2009 |
| 20090275951 | Percutaneous discectomy and endplate preparation tool - Surgical instruments and surgical methods associated therewith are described. The surgical instruments described herein can be used for scraping or for other purposes such as measuring distances between two points in hard to reach locales. | 11-05-2009 |
| 20100004654 | ACCESS AND TISSUE MODIFICATION SYSTEMS AND METHODS - Described herein are methods and systems for precisely placing and/or manipulating devices within the body by first positioning a guidewire or pullwire through the body from a first location, around a curved pathway, and out of the body through a second location, so that the distal and proximal ends of the guidewire extend from the body, then pulling a device into position using the guidewire. The device to be positioned within the body is coupled to the proximal end of the guidewire, and the device is pulled into the body by pulling on the distal end of the guidewire that extends from the body. The device may be bimanually manipulated by pulling the guidewire distally, and an attachment to the device that extends proximally, allowing control of both the proximal and the distal ends. In this manner devices (and particularly implants such as innerspinous distracters, stimulating leads, and disc slings) may be positioned and/or manipulated within the body. Devices to modify tissue may also be positioned or manipulated so that a target tissue within the body is modified. | 01-07-2010 |
| 20100030216 | DISCECTOMY TOOL HAVING COUNTER-ROTATING NUCLEUS DISRUPTORS - Spinal tools and methods are described herein. In some embodiments, an apparatus includes an elongate member and a tissue disrupter. The elongate member has a distal end portion and defines a lumen. The tissue disruptor is coupled to the distal end portion of the elongate member. The tissue disruptor is configured to rotate relative to the elongate member to disrupt a body tissue. | 02-04-2010 |
| 20100331883 | ACCESS AND TISSUE MODIFICATION SYSTEMS AND METHODS - Described herein are methods and systems for precisely placing and/or manipulating devices within the body by first positioning a guidewire or pullwire through the body from a first location, around a curved pathway, and out of the body through a second location, so that the distal and proximal ends of the guidewire extend from the body, then pulling a device into position using the guidewire. The device to be positioned within the body is coupled to the proximal end of the guidewire, and the device is pulled into the body by pulling on the distal end of the guidewire that extends from the body. The device may be bimanually manipulated by pulling the guidewire distally, and an attachment to the device that extends proximally, allowing control of both the proximal and the distal ends. In this manner devices (and particularly implants such as innerspinous distracters, stimulating leads, and disc slings) may be positioned and/or manipulated within the body. Devices to modify tissue may also be positioned or manipulated so that a target tissue within the body is modified. | 12-30-2010 |
| 20100331900 | SURGICAL TOOLS FOR TREATMENT OF SPINAL STENOSIS - Described herein are pullwire handle devices for securing to a tissue-penetrating pullwire. In some embodiments, the device includes a handle body, a pullwire lock configured to removably lock the pullwire handle device onto a pullwire within the handle body, and a tip containment element configured to retain the distal tip of the pullwire. In some embodiments, the handle body further comprises a storage chamber configured to store a distal portion of the pullwire. Also described herein are methods for capturing a pullwire using a pullwire handle device. In some embodiments, the method includes the steps of inserting the distal end of a pullwire into the pullwire handle device, advancing the pullwire further into the pullwire handle device while the distal portion of the pullwire is contained within the pullwire handle device, and locking the distal portion of the pullwire within the pullwire handle device. | 12-30-2010 |
| 20110060314 | DEVICES AND METHODS FOR TREATING TISSUE - Described herein are devices, systems and methods for treating target tissue in a patient's spine. In general, the methods include the steps of advancing a wire into the patient from a first location, through a neural foramen, and out of the patient from a second location; connecting a tissue modification device to the wire; positioning the tissue modification device through the neural foramen using the wire; modifying target tissue in the spine by moving the tissue modification device against the target tissue; and delivering an agent to modified target tissue, wherein the agent is configured to inhibit blood flow from the modified target tissue. In some embodiments, the step of modifying target tissue comprises removing target tissue located ventral to the superior articular process while avoiding non-target tissue located lateral to the superior articular process. | 03-10-2011 |
| 20110160772 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PERFORMING SPINAL FUSION - Described herein are methods, devices and systems for performing an interspinous fusion, in particular for performing an interspinous fusion unilaterally. In general an interspinous fusion system may include a first fixation plate configured to couple to a first lateral side of a spinous process, a rod extending from the first fixation plate at a joint such that the rod is pivotable with respect to the first fixation plate, and a second fixation plate configured to couple to a second lateral side of a spinous process opposite from the first fixation plate. In general, a method of performing an interspinous fusion unilaterally may include the steps of placing a first fixation plate, having a rod extending from the fixation plate, between two adjacent spinous processes from a fist lateral side of the spinous processes, pivoting the rod with respect to the first fixation plate such that the plate abuts the second, opposite, lateral side of at least one of the spinous processes, and placing a second fixation plate such that it abuts the fist lateral side of at least one of the spinous processes. | 06-30-2011 |
