Patent ID: 7785314
Filing Date: 2010-08-31
Classification: A61B,A61M

Abstract:
1. A catheter for accessing an intervertebral disc, said catheter comprising: an elongate flexible catheter body having a proximal portion, a distal portion, and at least one lumen for introducing substances; an inflatable anchoring balloon on the distal portion of the catheter body; a radiopaque coil comprising a plurality of wound spaced apart loops disposed along the distal portion of the elongated flexible catheter body through the inflatable anchoring balloon from a proximal portion of the inflatable anchoring balloon to a distal portion of the inflatable anchoring balloon and to a distal most point of a distal tip of the elongated flexible catheter body, the spaced apart loops allowing the distal portion to maintain flexibility, the radiopaque coil being configured to permit the catheter to be removed in situ as one-piece if a portion of the catheter breaks where the radiopaque coil is disposed along the elongated flexible catheter body such that the radiopaque coil retains the broken portion of the catheter.