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:
Jul. 07, 2009
Filed:
Jun. 29, 2005
Keith Collins, Milford, CT (US);
Thomas G. Wilson, Guilford, CT (US);
Jared Walkenhorst, Fairfield, CT (US);
Dennis Lee, Milford, CT (US);
Andrew Carter, Trumbull, CT (US);
John Pafford, Eads, TN (US);
Mark D. Loguidice, Southport, CT (US);
Lance Middleton, Soddy Daisy, TN (US);
Lawrence Boyd, Durham, NC (US);
Keith Collins, Milford, CT (US);
Thomas G. Wilson, Guilford, CT (US);
Jared Walkenhorst, Fairfield, CT (US);
Dennis Lee, Milford, CT (US);
Andrew Carter, Trumbull, CT (US);
John Pafford, Eads, TN (US);
Mark D. LoGuidice, Southport, CT (US);
Lance Middleton, Soddy Daisy, TN (US);
Lawrence Boyd, Durham, NC (US);
Spine Wave, Inc., Shelton, CT (US);
Abstract
A method for treating a diseased or damaged spinal disc having an inner nucleus pulposus and an outer annulus is provided comprises the steps of: providing access to the nucleus pulposus through the annulus; removing at least a portion of the nucleus pulposus to create an intradiscal space; determining the integrity of the annulus; and then sealably introducing under pressure a curable biomaterial through the annulus access directly into the intradiscal space. The step of determining the integrity of the annulus may be accomplished by introducing into the disc a fluid solution under a first pressure. The curable biomaterial may subsequently be introduced through the annulus directly into said intradiscal space at a second pressure that is increased or decreased from the first pressure as a function of the viscosity of the biomaterial relative to the fluid solution. In certain embodiments, a distraction force is applied to the disc space.