University of Virginia Patent Foundation

Mary E Jensen

David F Kallmes

Gerald R Hankins

Gregory A Helm

Laurie L Fajardo

A method and system for fusing a region in the spine involve the use of at least one guide tube to pass instruments and substances into the spinal region in a minimally invasive manner. In the preferred practice of the method, a guide tube is anchored to a vertebra and the guide tube is moved to thereby position the vertebra. A steerable drilling tool is passed through the guide tube and steered into position to abrade at least a portion of an intervertebral disc and thereby create a cavity in the disc. A flowable substance is passed into the cavity and permitted to solidify to establish fusion in the cavity. Optionally, an uninflated balloon is inserted into the cavity and the balloon is filled with the flowable substance to contain the flowable substance.

Method and system for fusing a spinal region

A method and system for fusing a region in the spine involve the use of at least one guide tube ( ) to pass instruments and substances into the spinal region in a minimally invasive manner. In the preferred practice of the method, a guide tube is anchored to a vertebra and the guide tube is moved to thereby position the vertebra. A steerable drilling tool ( ) is passed through the guide tube and steered into position to abrade at least a portion of an intervertebral disc, thereby creating a cavity in the disc. A flowing substance is passed into the cavity and permitted to solidify to establish fusion in the cavity. Optionally, an uninflated balloon ( ) is inserted into the cavity and the balloon is filled with the flowing substance to contain the flowing substance.

A radiographic marker is disclosed to indicate a biopsy site and entry path. The marker has an arrow shape configuration with a shaft and a pair of limbs extending from the shaft at an angle of less than about 90&deg;. The tip of the arrow indicates the biopsy site and the shaft indicates the said entry path. The marker preferable is a single piece of wire, having a diameter of less than 0.010 inches, folded to four sections, to form the limbs and shaft of the arrow. Fibers can be affixed to the shaft to cause the marker to fibrose within the tissue. An introducing device, having a body and a hub, is used to insert the marker. The introducing device body has an interior diameter dimensioned to hold the shaft of the marker. A marker pusher is dimensioned to fit within the introducing device and is used to deploy the marker into the tissue. A cannula, dimensioned to receive the body and hub of the introducing device, has a pair of receiving channels within the interior of the body to receive the limbs of the marker.

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Afton, VA, United States of America

Mary E Jensen