US 7,615,076 B2
Method and apparatus for the treatment of the intervertebral disc annulus
Joseph C. Cauthen, III, Gainesville, Fla. (US); Matthew M. Burns, Orono, Minn. (US); Lawrence W. Wales, Maplewood, Minn. (US); Brian L. Dukart, Brooklyn Park, Minn. (US); Bradley J. Wessman, Maple Grove, Minn. (US); Rodney L. Houfburg, Prior Lake, Minn. (US); and Ishmael Bentley, Eagan, Minn. (US)
Assigned to Anulex Technologies, Inc., Minnetonka, Minn. (US)
Filed on May 03, 2005, as Appl. No. 11/120,750.
Application 11/120750 is a continuation in part of application No. 10/352981, filed on Jan. 29, 2003.
Application 10/352981 is a continuation in part of application No. 10/327106, filed on Dec. 24, 2002, granted, now 7,004,970.
Application 10/327106 is a continuation in part of application No. 10/133339, filed on Apr. 29, 2002, granted, now 7,052,516.
Application 10/133339 is a continuation in part of application No. 09/947078, filed on Sep. 05, 2001, granted, now 6,592,625, filed on Jul. 15, 2003.
Application 09/947078 is a continuation of application No. 09/484706, filed on Jan. 18, 2000, abandoned.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/160710, filed on Oct. 20, 1999.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/309105, filed on Jul. 31, 2001.
Prior Publication US 2005/0283246 A1, Dec. 22, 2005
Int. Cl. A61F 2/44 (2006.01); A61B 17/58 (2006.01); A61B 17/04 (2006.01); A61B 17/08 (2006.01); A61B 17/88 (2006.01); A61B 19/00 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 623—17.11  [623/17.16; 606/232; 606/233; 606/215; 606/216; 606/60; 606/279; 606/99; 128/898] 21 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of treating an aperture in an annulus fibrosus of an intervertebral disc, comprising:
providing at least one delivery tool having a proximal portion and a distal portion, said distal portion configured to deliver at least one reparative device;
providing a reparative device, said reparative device comprising at least first and second anchor portions and a flexible connecting assembly connecting said anchor portions, said connecting assembly configured to be shortened and comprising a locking element, the first and second anchor portions being releasably coupled to the distal portion of the delivery tool;
introducing the distal portion of the delivery tool with the reparative device proximate annular tissue to be repaired;
delivering at least a portion of said at least one reparative device into, or through, a portion of the annulus, wherein, upon delivery, such that the first and second anchor portions reside within intervertebral disc tissue, including inserting the first anchor portion and at least a portion of the connecting assembly into or through an outer wall of the annulus fibrosus at a first insertion location proximate the aperture, inserting the second anchor portion and at least a portion of the connecting assembly into or through the outer wall of the annulus fibrosus at a second insertion location proximate the aperture, the second insertion location being separated from the first insertion location such that the aperture is located between the first and second insertion locations, and extending a portion of the connecting assembly across the aperture external to the outer wall of the annulus fibrosus;
actuating said delivery tool, said actuating step causing the release of said reparative device from the delivery tool;
shortening the connecting assembly disposed between the anchor portions so as to draw together, at least partially, annular tissue between the first and second anchor portions thereby at least partially drawing together annular tissue defining the aperture between the first and second insertion locations;
securing said connecting assembly in a shortened configuration with a locking element; and,
removing said delivery tool.