Patent ID: 8974502
Filing Date: 2015-03-10
Classification: A61B,A61F

Abstract:
1. A method of treating an intervertebral disc of a patient, comprising: introducing a contrast media through an annulus and directly into a nucleus of the intervertebral disc via a first hypodermic needle having a maximum outer diameter less than about 1.7 mm such that the contrast media disperses within an interior of the nucleus, the contrast media being introduced without any of the annulus or nucleus being removed beforehand; imaging the intervertebral disc with the contrast media within the nucleus; evacuating the contrast media and other flowable material from the nucleus via vacuum extraction applied using a vacuum source positioned outside the patient, the vacuum extraction being applied to the nucleus through a second hypodermic needle having a maximum outer diameter less than about 3.3 mm, the second hypodermic needle having a distal portion for positioning within the nucleus and an opposing proximal portion for positioning outside the intervertebral disc, the proximal portion of the second needle in communication with a reservoir for receiving the evacuated contrast media and flowable material; and introducing a disc augmentation biomaterial into the nucleus through the annulus and into the nucleus of the intervertebral disc via a third hypodermic needle having a maximum outer diameter less than about 3.3 mm such that the disc augmentation biomaterial is maintained within the nucleus without having to repair an opening in the annulus; wherein the first and second hypodermic needles are retracted from the intervertebral disc before imaging.