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:
Mar. 01, 2011
Filed:
Oct. 31, 2007
Hugh J. Sharkey, Redwood City, CA (US);
Joel Saal, Portola Valley, CA (US);
Jeffrey Saal, Portola Valley, CA (US);
John Ashley, San Francisco, CA (US);
Hugh J. Sharkey, Redwood City, CA (US);
Joel Saal, Portola Valley, CA (US);
Jeffrey Saal, Portola Valley, CA (US);
John Ashley, San Francisco, CA (US);
Neurotherm, Inc., Wilmington, MA (US);
Abstract
A method of treating an annular fissure in an intervertebral disc includes providing a catheter having a distal end, a proximal end and a longitudinal axis, the distal end having an intradiscal section with at least one functional element, applying a force longitudinally to the proximal end 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 for the intradiscal section to puncture the annulus fibrosus, positioning the functional element at the selected location of the disc by advancing or retracting the catheter and optionally twisting the proximal end of the catheter, and using the functional element to treat the annular fissure.