Patent ID: 6102930
Filing Date: 2000-08-15
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
A device for determining lateral recess and foraminal volume prior to and following spinal decompression procedures comprising:a) a flexible catheter having first and second ends;b) an inflatable tip at said first end of said catheter, said tip when deflated being of a size such that it can be inserted into the lateral recess and/or foramen of the spine by manipulation of said catheter, said tip being inflatable to a size indicating the volume of the lateral recess and/or foramen into which it is inserted by enabling manual sensing through said catheter of resistance to further inflation of said tip by an area of compression where said tip is inserted;c) means at said second end of said catheter for connection to a source of fluid under pressure for inflating said tip; andd) readout means operatively associated with said catheter for indicating the volume of inflation of said tip;e) so that said tip can be inserted and inflated in the lateral recess and/or foramen and the volume indicated by said readout means recorded prior to and after a spinal decompression procedure to assess the adequacy of the decompression procedure by comparing recorded volumes of inflation of said tip obtained from said readout means.