Prosthetic Spinal Disk Nucleus

Abstract

This specification describes technologies relating to an intervertebral disc prosthesis used to strengthen and stabilize the spine. Implementations of the technology described herein comprise a surgical device that is implanted through a small surgical incision into a portion of a human intervertebral disc, various support tools used to insert such a surgical device, and a method by which the device is used to strengthen and stabilize the spine.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An implantable prosthetic device comprising:
 an inner chamber;   an outer chamber fluidly isolated from the inner chamber; and   a sealing valve in fluid communication with the inner chamber and the outer chamber, the sealing valve comprising a first sealing mechanism, a second sealing mechanism, and a stopper element;   wherein when the sealing valve is in an open state, the first sealing mechanism allows the inflow of a first material into the inner chamber and the second sealing mechanism allows the inflow of a second material into the outer chamber;   wherein when the sealing valve is in a closed state, the first sealing mechanism prevents outflow of the first material from within the inner chamber and the second sealing mechanism prevents outflow of the second material from within the outer chamber;   wherein a force applied the stopper causes the sealing valve to enter the open state; and;   wherein the release of the force causes the sealing valve to enter the closed state.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first material comprises an inert gas. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the second material comprises a silicone polymer. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the silicone polymer is curable. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the second material comprises an imaging contrast agent. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising an inflation device, the inflation device comprising:
 a first channel; and   a second channel fluidly isolated from the first channel;   wherein the inflation device is adapted to apply the force to the stopper, position the first channel in fluid communication with the inner chamber, position the second channel in fluid communication with the outer chamber, and simultaneously transfer the first material from the first channel to inner chamber and transfer the second material from the second channel to the outer chamber.   
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the prosthetic device is collapsible. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein inflating the inner chamber or the outer chamber with a material causes the prosthetic device to expand. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a memory material, wherein the memory material expands the device to a pre-determined shape. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the device is adapted to fit into a surgical cannula. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the device is adapted for use as an intervertebral disc prosthesis. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the device a first vertebra against an upper surface and a second vertebra against a lower surface, such that the first vertebra is separated from the second vertebra. 
     
     
         13 . A method of implanting a prosthetic device, comprising:
 penetrating the annular fibrosus;   removing the nucleus pulposus;   implanting an inflatable device within the annular fibrosus, the inflatable device comprising:
 an inner chamber; 
 an outer chamber fluidly isolated from the inner chamber; and 
 a sealing valve in fluid communication with the inner chamber and the outer chamber, the sealing valve comprising a first sealing mechanism, a second sealing mechanism, and a stopper element; 
   wherein when the sealing valve is in an open state, the first sealing mechanism allows the inflow of a first material into the inner chamber and the second sealing mechanism allows the inflow of a second material into the outer chamber;   wherein when the sealing valve is in a closed state, the first sealing mechanism prevents outflow of the first material from within the inner chamber and the second sealing mechanism prevents outflow of the second material from within the outer chamber;   wherein a force applied the stopper causes the sealing valve to enter the open state; and;   wherein the release of the force causes the sealing valve to enter the closed state.   
     
     
         14 . An inflatable implantable device comprising:
 an inflatable inner chamber;   an inflatable outer chamber, comprising a memory shape material adjacent the outer periphery capable of deforming from a first delivery shape, to a second, deployed shape;   an inflation valve in fluid communication with the inner and outer chamber and configured to receive and retain a first medium in the first chamber and a second medium in the second chamber.   
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein the inflation valve is configured to simultaneously inflate the first chamber with a first medium and the second outer chamber with a second medium. 
     
     
         16 . A method of providing cured silicon to the body:
 implanting an inflatable containment element in the body;   injecting a flowable, curable silicone into the containment vessel;   curing the injected silicone using either a curing agent or UV light.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the implanted inflatable containment element is a balloon comprising an inner chamber fluidly isolated from an outer chamber, wherein the silicon is injected into at least one of the inner or the outer chambers. 
     
     
         18 . A method of providing cured silicone to the body comprising:
 creating a body cavity;   injecting a flowable curable silicone into the body cavity; and   curing the injected silicone using either a curing agent or UV light.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the body cavity is made with a vertebral disc by removing the nucleus pulposus from within the annulus fibrosus; and wherein the silicone is injected within the annulus fibrosus. 
     
     
         20 . A system for implanting an inflatable prosthetic vertebral nucleus comprising:
 an access and delivery cannula having an inner diameter,   a nucleotomy tool for removal of the nucleus pulposus from a vertebral disc, wherein the nucleotomy tool is sized to fit within the inner diameter of the access and delivery cannula;   a delivery and inflation stylus for delivering an inflatable prosthetic implant, wherein the stylus is sized to fit within the inner diameter of the access and delivery cannula; and   an inflatable prosthetic disc implant comprising a first and second chamber, wherein the first and second chamber are fluidly isolated from one another, and the prosthetic disc implant is sized to be delivered through the access cannula by the delivery and inflation stylus to a position within the vertebral disc in an uninflated state.   
     
     
         21 . A method for implanting an inflatable prosthetic vertebral nucleus, comprising:
 penetrating the annulus fibrosus and accessing the nucleus pulposus of an intervertebral disk using an access and delivery cannula;   delivering through the access cannula a nucleotome that is configured to allow the removal of the nucleus fibrosis from the intervertebral disc while leaving the annulus fibrosus substantially intact;   maneuvering the nucleotome within the annulus fibrosus to remove the nucleus pulposus;   removing the nucleotome;   delivering a folded and deflated prosthetic implant through the access and delivery cannula and through the annulus fibrosus into the void formerly occupied by the nucleus pulposus;   inflating the prosthetic implant using an inflation stylus wherein the prosthetic implant is inflated with at least two mediums including a gas and a curable silicon;   curing the silicone within the prosthetic implant using a curing agent or UV light; and   removing the inflation stylus and the access and delivery cannula.   
     
     
         22 . An access cannula for penetrating and accessing the annulus fibrosus of a vertebral disc comprising:
 a proximal end;   a distal end;   an inner diameter sized to deliver one or more instruments or prosthetic devices;   wherein the one or more instruments include a nucleotome, a delivery stylus, or an inflatable balloon.   
     
     
         23 . The access cannula of  claim 22  wherein the proximal end is attachable to a light source. 
     
     
         24 . The access cannula of  claim 22 , wherein the inner diameter is sized to fit around one or more access dilators. 
     
     
         25 . The access cannula of  claim 22  further comprising a set screw and adhesive set screw assemble.