Helical probe

Abstract

The present invention relates to a therapeutic probe adapted to aid in the insertion and navigation of the probe into delicate tissue structures, and to provide protection of adjacent tissue structures.

1 . A therapeutic probe adapted for insertion between a target tissue and an adjacent tissue, the probe comprising: 
 a) a proximal end portion,    b) a distal end portion,    c) a longitudinal portion located between the proximal and distal end portions, and    d) therapeutic-agent delivering means provided in the longitudinal portion and adapted to deliver a therapeutic agent to the target tissue,    wherein the distal end portion is adapted to conform to a contour of the adjacent tissue.    
   
   
       2 . The probe of  claim 1 , wherein the distal end portion comprises an expandable device adapted to conform to the contour of the adjacent tissue.  
   
   
       3 . The probe of  claim 2 , wherein the expandable device comprises a balloon.  
   
   
       4 . The probe of  claim 2  wherein the expandable device is filled with a radio-opaque material.  
   
   
       5 . The probe of  claim 1 , wherein the distal end portion comprises a malleable portion adapted to conform to the contour of the adjacent tissue.  
   
   
       6 . The probe of  claim 1 , wherein the distal end portion has a portion having a concave contour.  
   
   
       7 . The probe of  claim 1  wherein the distal end portion further comprises a radio-opaque material.  
   
   
       8 . The probe of  claim 1  wherein the target tissue is intervertebral disc tissue, and the proximal end portion comprises a first expandable portion adapted to conform to a proximal end of the disc tissue.  
   
   
       9 . The probe of  claim 1  wherein the target tissue is intervertebral disc tissue, and the distal end portion comprises a second expandable portion adapted to conform to a distal end of the disc tissue.  
   
   
       10 . The probe of  claim 1  wherein the therapeutic agent delivering means comprises an energy-delivering device.  
   
   
       11 . A therapeutic probe adapted for insertion between a target tissue and an adjacent tissue, the probe comprising: 
 a) a proximal end portion,    b) a distal end portion,    c) a longitudinal portion located between the proximal and distal end portions, and    d) therapeutic agent-delivering means provided in the longitudinal portion and adapted to deliver a therapeutic agent to the target tissue,    wherein the distal end portion comprises a radio-opaque contrast agent.    
   
   
       12 . The probe of  claim 11 , wherein the distal end portion further comprises an expandable device adapted to conform to a contour of the adjacent tissue.  
   
   
       13 . The probe of  claim 12 , wherein the expandable device comprises a balloon.  
   
   
       14 . The probe of  claim 12  wherein the expandable device is filled with the radio-opaque agent.  
   
   
       15 . The probe of  claim 11 , wherein the distal end portion further comprises a malleable portion adapted to conform to a contour of the adjacent tissue.  
   
   
       16 . The probe of  claim 11 , wherein the distal end portion has a portion having a concave contour.  
   
   
       17 . The probe of  claim 11  wherein the target tissue is intervertebral disc tissue, and the proximal end portion comprises a first expandable portion adapted to conform to a proximal end of the disc tissue.  
   
   
       18 . The probe of  claim 11  wherein the target tissue is intervertebral disc tissue, and the distal end portion comprises a second expandable portion adapted to conform to a distal end of the disc tissue.  
   
   
       19 . The probe of  claim 11  wherein the therapeutic agent delivering means comprises an energy-delivering device.  
   
   
       20 . The probe of  claim 19  wherein the energy-delivering device is an ultrasound transducer.  
   
   
       21 . A therapeutic probe adapted for insertion between a target tissue and an adjacent tissue, the probe comprising: 
 a) a proximal end portion,    b) a distal end portion,    c) a longitudinal portion located between the proximal and distal end portions, the longitudinal portion having an axial cross-section defining an outer surface,    d) therapeutic agent-delivering means provided in the longitudinal portion and adapted to deliver a therapeutic agent through the front side surface to the target tissue,    wherein the outer surface of the longitudinal portion comprises a retropulsion resistance means.    
   
   
       22 . The probe of  claim 21  wherein the target tissue is intervertebral disc tissue, and the retropulsion resistance means comprises an expandable portion located on the distal end portion, the expandable portion being adapted to conform to a distal end of the disc tissue.  
   
   
       23 . The probe of  claim 22 , wherein the adjacent issue is a spinal cord, and the outer surface comprises a back side surface comprising an expandable device adapted to conform to a contour of the spinal cord.  
   
   
       24 . The probe of  claim 22 , wherein the expandable device comprises a balloon.  
   
   
       25 . The probe of  claim 21 , wherein the adjacent issue is a spinal cord, and the retropulsion resistance means comprises a malleable portion located on the distal end portion and adapted to conform to a contour of the spinal cord.  
   
   
       26 . The probe of  claim 21  wherein the target tissue is intervertebral disc tissue, and the proximal end portion comprises an expandable portion adapted to conform to a proximal end of the disc tissue.  
   
   
       27 . The probe of  claim 21  wherein the therapeutic agent delivering means comprises an energy-delivering device.  
   
   
       28 . The probe of  claim 27  wherein the energy-delivering device is an ultrasound transducer.  
   
   
       29 . The probe of  claim 21 , wherein the outer surface comprises a malleable portion adapted to conform to the contour of the adjacent tissue.  
   
   
       30 . The probe of  claim 29  wherein the malleable portion comprises a foam portion.  
   
   
       31 . A therapeutic probe adapted for insertion between a target tissue and an adjacent tissue, the probe comprising: 
 a) a proximal end portion,    b) a distal end portion,    c) a longitudinal portion located between the proximal and distal end portions, the longitudinal portion having an axial cross-section defining top and bottom surfaces, a front side surface and a back side surface,    d) therapeutic agent-delivering means provided in the longitudinal portion and adapted to deliver a therapeutic agent through the front side surface to the target tissue,    wherein the front side surface of the longitudinal portion has a front side dimension defining a height, the top side surface of the longitudinal portion has a top side dimension defining a width, and the front side dimension is greater than the top side dimension so that the height/width ratio is greater than 1.    
   
   
       32 . The probe of  claim 31 , wherein the adjacent tissue is a spinal cord, and wherein the back side surface comprises an expandable device adapted to conform to a contour of the spinal cord.  
   
   
       33 . The probe of  claim 32 , wherein the expandable device comprises a balloon.  
   
   
       34 . The probe of  claim 31 , wherein the adjacent tissue is a spinal cord, and wherein the back side surface comprises an malleable portion adapted to conform to a contour of the spinal cord.  
   
   
       35 . The probe of  claim 31 , wherein the back side surface comprises a helical shape.  
   
   
       36 . The probe of  claim 31 , wherein the back side surface has a portion having a concave contour.  
   
   
       37 . The probe of  claim 36 , wherein the adjacent tissue is a spinal cord, and wherein the concave contour of the back side surface is adapted to conform to the spinal cord.  
   
   
       38 . The probe of  claim 31  wherein the target tissue is an intervertebral disc, and the proximal end portion comprises a first expandable portion adapted to conform to a proximal end of the disc tissue.  
   
   
       39 . The probe of  claim 31  wherein the target tissue is an intervertebral disc, and the distal end portion comprises a second expandable portion adapted to conform to a distal end of the disc tissue.  
   
   
       40 . The probe of  claim 31  wherein the therapeutic agent delivering means comprises an energy-delivering device.