초록 ▼

An externally guidable intervertebral disc apparatus manipulates disc tissue present at a selected location of an intervertebral disc, comprising a catheter having a distal end, a proximal end, and a longitudinal axis, the catheter having an intradiscal section at the distal end of the catheter, the

An externally guidable intervertebral disc apparatus manipulates disc tissue present at a selected location of an intervertebral disc, comprising a catheter having a distal end, a proximal end, and a longitudinal axis, the catheter having an intradiscal section at the distal end of the catheter, the intradiscal section being extendible into the disc, having sufficient rigidity to be advanceable through the nucleus pulposus of the disc under a force applied longitudinally to the proximal end, having sufficient flexibility in a direction of the disc plane to be compliant with the inner wall, having insufficient penetration ability to be advanceable through the inner wall of the annulus fibrosus under the applied force; and a functional element located in the intradiscal section for adding or removing energy or a material at the selected location of the disc. Methods of using the apparatus are also disclosed.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A method of manipulating a disc tissue of an intervertebral disc, the disc having a nucleus pulposus, and annulus fibrosus, and an inner wall of the annulus fibrosus, the method comprising:providing a catheter having a functional element adjacent a distal end of the cathe

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A method of manipulating a disc tissue of an intervertebral disc, the disc having a nucleus pulposus, and annulus fibrosus, and an inner wall of the annulus fibrosus, the method comprising:providing a catheter having a functional element adjacent a distal end of the catheter and a proximal end for externally guiding the distal end of the catheter within an intervertebral disc;positioning the functional element inner wall of the annulus fibrosus by applying a sufficient force to advance the functional element through the nucleus pulposus to the inner wall of the annulus, which force is insufficient to puncture the annulus fibrosus; andperforming a function on the disc tissue using the functional element.