Devices, apparatus, and methods for improved disc augmentation

1 . A system for controlling a nucleus pulposus augmentation procedure for an intervertebral disc, the system comprising:

a powered actuation device;

a control device for controlling an operating parameter of the actuation device;

a space creating instrument including

a spacing portion for forming a space within the nucleus pulposus of the intervertebral disc and

a delivery instrument for delivering a material to the spacing portion,

wherein the space creating instrument is activated by the powered actuation device to expand the spacing portion with the material to form the space within the nucleus pulposus of the intervertebral disc.

2 . The system of claim 1 further comprising:

feedback sensors coupled to the space creating instrument and adapted to transmit a first data type to the control device.

3 . The system of claim 1 wherein the first data type is pressure data.

4 . The system of claim 1 wherein the first data type is material volume data.

5 . The system of claim 1 wherein the space creating instrument further comprises

a catheter extending between the spacing portion and the delivery instrument and

a catheter sensor coupled to the catheter and adapted to transmit a second data type to the control device.

6 . The system of claim 1 further comprising a spacing portion sensor coupled to the spacing portion and adapted to transmit a third data type to the control device.

7 . The system of claim 1 further comprising an anatomic sensor adapted for implantation within the intervertebral disc and adapted to transmit a fourth data type to the control device.

8 . The system of claim 1 further comprising an input menu adapted to receive at least one input parameter for operating the control device.

9 . The system of claim 8 wherein the at least one input parameter includes a patient diagnosis.

10 . The system of claim 8 wherein the at least one input parameter includes an injection media parameter.

11 . The system of claim 8 wherein the at least one input parameter includes a biomaterial parameter.

12 . The system of claim 8 wherein the at least one input parameter includes an automatic control parameter.

13 . The system of claim 1 further comprising at least one expansion profile adapted to control the expansion of the spacing portion.

14 . The system of claim 13 wherein the at least one expansion profile provides a linear expansion profile.

15 . The system of claim 13 wherein the at least one expansion profile provides a curved expansion profile.

16 . The system of claim 13 wherein the at least one expansion profile provides a step profile.

17 . The system of claim 13 wherein the at least one expansion profile provides a sine wave profile.

18 . The system of claim 13 wherein the at least one expansion profile provides a square wave profile.

19 . The system of claim 1 wherein the powered actuation device is a motor.

20 . The system of claim 1 wherein the operating parameter is a speed parameter.

21 . The system of claim 1 wherein the spacing portion is a balloon.

22 . The system of claim 1 wherein the delivery instrument is an injector.

23 . A method for augmenting a nucleus pulposus of an intervertebral disc, the method comprising:

introducing a spacing device through an opening in an annulus fibrosis of the intervertebral disc;

connecting the spacing device to a material delivery instrument;

connecting the material delivery instrument to an actuator;

activating the actuator to dispense a material from the material delivery device into the spacing device; and

controlling the actuator with a control device in accordance with a preprogrammed profile.

24 . The method of claim 23 wherein the material delivery instrument comprises at least one instrument sensor and the method further comprises sending a data type from the at least one instrument sensor to the control device.

25 . The method of claim 23 wherein the material is curable in situ.

26 . The method of claim 23 further comprising:

removing the material from the spacing device.

27 . The method of claim 26 further comprising:

filling a space formed by the spacing device with a biocompatible material.

28 . The method of claim 23 wherein the step of controlling the actuator comprises controlling the speed of the actuator.

29 . The method of claim 23 further comprising measuring a pressure in the material delivery instrument and sending a pressure measurement to the control device.

30 . The method of claim 23 further comprising measuring a volume change in the material delivery instrument and sending a volume measurement to the control device.

31 . The method of claim 23 further comprising measuring a pressure in a catheter connecting the spacing device to the material delivery instrument and sending a pressure measurement to the control device.

32 . The method of claim 23 further comprising measuring a pressure in the spacing device and sending a pressure measurement to the control device.

33 . The method of claim 23 further comprising measuring a pressure in the intervertebral disc and sending a pressure measurement to the control device.

34 . A method for augmenting a nucleus pulposus of an intervertebral disc, the method comprising:

forming a first opening in an annulus of the intervertebral disc;

forming a second opening in the annulus of the intervertebral disc;

providing a space creation instrument including an expandable spacing device;

introducing the spacing device through the first opening and into the nucleus pulposus;

introducing a material delivery instrument through the second opening and into the nucleus pulposus;

expanding the spacing device to create a space within the nucleus pulposus;

actuating the material delivery instrument to inject a biocompatible material into the space within the nucleus pulposus; and

controlling the injection of the biocompatible material with a first preprogrammed profile.

35 . The method of claim 34 wherein the spacing device comprises an inflatable balloon.

36 . The method of claim 34 further comprising controlling the expansion of the spacing device with a second preprogrammed profile.

37 . The method of claim 34 further comprising controlling the injection of the biocompatible material with a user input received from an input menu.

38 . The method of claim 34 further comprising controlling the injection of the biocompatible material with data received from a sensor located in the material delivery instrument.

39 . The method of claim 34 further comprising controlling the injection of the biocompatible material with data received from a sensor located in the spacing device.

40 . The method of claim 34 further comprising controlling the injection of the biocompatible material with data received from a sensor located in the intervertebral disc.