Device for treatment or evacuation of intervertebral disc

Abstract

A method of positioning an arcuate tool against inner annular walls of the disc that particularly facilitates reaching posterior and postero-lateral portions of the inner annulus of the disc by arthroscopy. An elongated, arcuate and shape memory tool such as a catheter is positioned against the inner annular wall of the disc, and particularly on the posterior and postero-lateral portions of the inner annulus of the disc, which are portions of the disc to be treated. The deformable and arcuate tool retains its predetermined arcuate shape when no pressure or force is applied to the tool.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device for treatment or evacuation of an interior of a mammalian intervertebral disc, comprising:
 an introducer comprising a guide constructed an arranged for insertion through an opening in a posterior wall of mammalian intervertebral disc;   an elongated tool formed of a shape memory material and comprising a preformed arcuate shape, the elongated tool and guide constructed and arranged for advancement of said elongated tool along said guide, wherein said preformed arcuate shape of said elongated tool is deformed by said guide while said preformed arcuate shape of the elongated tool engages said guide, and wherein the elongated tool is constructed and arranged to reassume its preformed arcuate shape upon exiting the guide and while in the interior of the mammalian intervertebral disc, and wherein the preformed arcuate shape of the elongated tool is constructed and arranged for selectively contacting substantially all surfaces of an interior of the wall of the mammalian intervertebral disc from selective advancement and retraction of the elongated tool within the interior of the mammalian intervertebral disc with independent selective advancement and retraction of the introducer.   
     
     
         2 . A device for treatment or evacuation of an interior of a mammalian intervertebral disc as described in  claim 1 , wherein said guide comprises a lumen, and where said elongated tool slidably engages said lumen as said elongated tool is transported into the interior of the mammalian intervertebral disc through said lumen. 
     
     
         3 . A device for treatment or evacuation of an interior of a mammalian intervertebral disc as described in  claim 1 , wherein said elongated tool comprises a deformable locator tip on a distal end of said elongated tool, wherein said deformable locator tip is visible under a fluoroscope, and wherein said deformable locator tip is constructed and arranged to deform upon contact under pressure with the interior wall of the mammalian intervertebral disc. 
     
     
         4 . A device for treatment or evacuation of an interior of a mammalian intervertebral disc as described in  claim 1 , wherein said elongated tool is a catheter. 
     
     
         5 . A device for treatment or evacuation of an interior of a mammalian intervertebral disc as described in  claim 1 , wherein said guide is a sheath. 
     
     
         6 . A device for treatment or evacuation of an interior of a mammalian intervertebral disc as described in  claim 1 , wherein said elongated tool comprises a cutter. 
     
     
         7 . A device for treatment or evacuation of an interior of a mammalian intervertebral disc as described in  claim 1 , wherein said elongated tool comprises a device for emitting radio frequency. 
     
     
         8 . A device for treatment or evacuation of an interior of a mammalian intervertebral disc as described in  claim 1 , wherein said elongated tool comprises a device for emitting heat. 
     
     
         9 . A device for treatment or evacuation of the interior of a mammalian intervertebral disc as described in  claim 1 , wherein said guide of said introducer comprises a substantially straight lumen that forms said elongated tool as substantially straight as said elongated tool slidably engages said lumen. 
     
     
         10 . A device for treatment or evacuation of the interior of a mammalian intervertebral disc as described in  claim 1 , wherein said elongated tool is rotatable relative to the introducer and the preformed arcuate shape of the elongated tool is constructed and arranged for positioning on a side of the mammalian intervertebral disc that is opposite a first side of the mammalian intervertebral disc after rotation of the elongated tool relative to the introducer.