The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 27, 2006
Filed:
Feb. 22, 2001
Hugh R. Sharkey, Menlo Park, CA (US);
Sepehr Fariabi, Fremont, CA (US);
John Ashley, San Fancisco, CA (US);
Joel Saal, Portola Valley, CA (US);
Jeffrey Saal, Portola Valley, CA (US);
Hugh R. Sharkey, Menlo Park, CA (US);
Sepehr Fariabi, Fremont, CA (US);
John Ashley, San Fancisco, CA (US);
Joel Saal, Portola Valley, CA (US);
Jeffrey Saal, Portola Valley, CA (US);
Oratec Interventions, Inc., Menlo Park, CA (US);
Abstract
Apparatus and methods are disclosed for accessing the interior of an intervertebral disc to perform a function within the disc. One such apparatus comprises a catheter having a lumen; and a guide wire having a distal portion and a proximal portion, and configured to be positioned within and moved relative to the lumen of the catheter; wherein the guide wire is capable of navigating itself within an intradiscal section of the intervertebral disc to a selected section of the disc and the catheter is capable of being advanced relative to the guide wire such that the catheter follows a path of the guide wire within the intradiscal section of the disc to the selected section. These apparatus and methods may be used for the treatment of intervertebral disc disorders such as sealing fissures of the annulus fibrosus, which may or may not be accompanied with contained or escaped extrusions. These apparatus and methods may also be used, for example, for the removal or addition of material to the intervertebral disc.