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:
Jan. 12, 2010
Filed:
Oct. 31, 2007
Hugh R. Sharkey, Woodside, CA (US);
John Ashley, San Francisco, CA (US);
Joel Saal, Portola Valley, CA (US);
Jeffrey A. Saal, Portola Valley, CA (US);
Le T. Le, San Jose, CA (US);
Hugh R. Sharkey, Woodside, CA (US);
John Ashley, San Francisco, CA (US);
Joel Saal, Portola Valley, CA (US);
Jeffrey A. Saal, Portola Valley, CA (US);
Le T. Le, San Jose, CA (US);
Oratec Interventions, Inc., Menlo Park, CA (US);
Abstract
An interverterbral fissure can be treated by providing a catheter having a distal end, a proximal end, a longitudinal axis, and an intradiscal section at the catheter's distal end on which there is at least one functional element. The next step is applying a force longitudinally to the proximal of the catheter which is sufficient to advance the intradiscal section through the nucleus pulposus and around an inner wall of an annulus fibrosus, but which force is insufficient to puncture the annulus fibrosus. Next the functional element is positioned at a selected location of the disc by advancing or retracting the catheter and optionally twisting the proximal end of the catheter. Then the functional unit treats the annular fissure. Optionally, there is an additional step of adding a substance to seal the fissure.