Minimally invasive methods for spinal facet therapy to alleviate pain and associated surgical tools, kits and instructional media
Inventors
Haufe, Scott M. W. • Gullickson, Adam L. • Carter, Robert D.
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-10980563-B2
Publication Date
2021-04-20
Expiration Date
Abstract
Methods and surgical tools for treating back pain use a spinal facet debridement tool with cautery and denuding action and minimally invasive protocol that can denude and cauterize soft tissue associated with a synovial capsule of the spinal facet joint whereby the synovial capsule between the spinal facet joint is removed by rotating the head of the combination debrider tool at a low rotation speed to scrape and cauterize the end plate receptor region so as to denude and denervate the joint preventing regeneration, and thereby treating back pain.
Core Innovation
The invention provides a minimally invasive method of treating a patient for back pain by targeting a spinal facet joint. The method inserts a guide pin into the patient to the target spinal facet joint, slides a dilation tube over the guide pin so the dilation tube distal end resides adjacent the target spinal facet joint over a synovial capsule, and advances a cannula so its distal end remains adjacent the target spinal facet joint while the dilation tube is removed rearward.
A debrider tool barrel having a denuding and cauterization head is inserted through the cannula in a straight path to the target spinal facet joint. The method denudes and cauterizes soft tissue at the target spinal facet joint, serially or concurrently, by rotating the denuding and cauterization head to remove an end plate receptor region comprising the synovial capsule of the target spinal facet joint to treat back pain.
During denuding and cauterizing, the cannula cooperates with the debrider tool barrel to position a distal end of the denuding and cauterization head out of the distal end of the cannula only a distance in a range of about 2 mm to about 7 mm. The patent also describes embodiments in which the rotatable denuding and cauterization head and related tool/cannula features support denuding and cauterization while limiting treated-area extension from the cannula and enabling feedback and operational modes.
Claims Coverage
The independent claim coverage is directed to a minimally invasive method with five inventive features: guided access to a target spinal facet joint, deployment of a cannula and tapered dilation tube, insertion of a debrider tool barrel with a denuding and cauterization head, rotation to remove an end plate receptor region comprising the synovial capsule, and a defined limitation on how far the head extends from the cannula.
Guided insertion to a target spinal facet joint with tapered dilation tube
Inserting a guide pin into the patient to a target spinal facet joint; sliding a dilation tube longitudinally over the guide pin into the patient so that the dilation tube distal end resides adjacent the target spinal facet joint over a synovial capsule, wherein the dilation tube has a distal end with a tapered shape.
Cannula deployment adjacent the target facet joint with rearward dilation tube removal
Slidably advancing a cannula longitudinally over the dilation tube so that a distal end of the cannula resides adjacent the target spinal facet joint; then sliding the dilation tube longitudinally rearward over the guide pin out of the patient while the distal end of the cannula remains adjacent the target spinal facet joint.
Straight-path insertion of a debrider tool barrel with denuding and cauterization head
Inserting a debrider tool barrel having a denuding and cauterization head through the cannula in a straight path to the target spinal facet joint.
Rotational denuding and cauterizing of end plate receptor region including synovial capsule
Denuding and cauterizing soft tissue at the target spinal facet joint, serially or concurrently, using the denuding and cauterization head, wherein the denuding is carried out by rotating the denuding and cauterization head of the debrider tool barrel to remove an end plate receptor region comprising the synovial capsule of the target spinal facet joint thereby treating back pain.
Cannula-controlled head extension limit during denuding and cauterizing
During the denuding and the cauterizing, the cannula is configured to cooperate with the debrider tool barrel to position a distal end of the denuding and cauterization head out of the distal end of the cannula only a distance in a range of about 2 mm to about 7 mm.
Overall, the claim coverage centers on guided access to a target spinal facet joint followed by insertion of a rotatable debrider tool barrel that removes an end plate receptor region comprising the synovial capsule, with the cannula limiting the head extension to about 2 mm to about 7 mm.
Stated Advantages
Permanent or long-term back pain relief, as contrasted with temporary RFL.
Outpatient procedure.
Cost effective.
Documented Applications
Minimally invasively treating a patient for back pain by targeting and treating a spinal facet joint synovial capsule/end plate receptor region using denuding and cauterization.
Therapy directed to lumbar spinal facet joints with defined laterally angled positioning in certain dependent claim refinements.
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