Articulating spinal implant
View Patent ↗Disclosed are methods and devices for 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 embodiment, the device comprises an articulating spinal implant comprising a first elongate segment, a second elongate segment, and an articulating joint between the first and second segments.
1. A method of augmenting the spine, comprising the steps of:
providing an elongate catheter, having a proximal end, a distal end, and at least one lumen extending at least partially therethrough;
advancing the distal end of the catheter in a cephalad direction substantially axially with respect to the spine at least partially through at least a portion of a previously created bore in the anterior surface of at least one vertebral body, the bore in fluid communication with at least one disc;
expressing at least a first media from the catheter into the spine; and
removing the catheter from the spine.
2. A method of augmenting the spine as in claim 1 , wherein the advancing step comprises advancing the distal end through at least one vertebral body.
3. A method of augmenting the spine as in claim 1 , wherein the first media comprises a nucleus augmentation material.
4. A method of augmenting the spine as in claim 1 , wherein the expressing step comprises delivering electricity.
5. A method of augmenting the spine as in claim 1 , further comprising the step of introducing a spinal fusion cage axially into the spine.
6. A method of augmenting the spine as in claim 1 , wherein the advancing step comprises advancing the catheter through an artificial lumen created axially through the spine.
7. A method of augmenting the spine as in claim 6 , further comprising the step of forming the lumen prior to the advancing step.
8. A method of augmenting the spine as in claim 6 , further comprising the step of forming the lumen simultaneously with the advancing step.
9. A method of augmenting the spine as in claim 8 , wherein the providing step comprises providing a catheter having a cutting tip on the distal end.
10. A method of treating the spine, comprising the steps of:
advancing a distal end of a device through an access site on the anterior surface of the spine and into the spine;
further advancing the device in a cephalad direction substantially axially with respect to the spine and at least partially across a treatment zone;
expressing a material from the device within the treatment zone; and
releasing at least a portion of the device within the spine.
11. A method of treating the spine as in claim 10 , wherein the access site is on the sacrum.
12. A method of treating the spine as in claim 10 , wherein the access site is on the lumbar spine.
13. A method of treating the spine as in claim 10 , wherein the access site is on the thoracic spine.
14. A method of treating the spine as in claim 10 , wherein the further advancing step comprises advancing the device along a linear path through the spine.
15. A method of treating the spine as in claim 10 , wherein the expressing step comprises expressing the material into a nucleus of a disk.
16. A method of treating the spine as in claim 10 , wherein the material is a bone growth material.
17. A method of treating the spine as in claim 10 , wherein the material is a bone cement.