Curable material delivery device with a rotatable supply section

Abstract

An apparatus and method for introducing material into an injection site of a patient is disclosed. The device includes a cannula and a carrier. The cannula is inserted into an injection site of a patient. The carrier is connected to an injector containing a volume of material. Material may be pre-loaded into the carrier so that the material is delivered to a distal end of the carrier from the injector and the carrier is thus pre-loaded with material. A portion of the distal end of the pre-loaded carrier is inserted into the cannula and material is delivered to an injection site. The supply section can be rotatable with respect to the longitudinal axis of the inner section.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the curable material delivery device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention prior to insertion of the inner section into the cannula;

FIG. 2 is a cross-section view of the curable material delivery device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention after insertion of the inner section into the cannula;

FIG. 3 is a cross-section view of the curable material delivery device according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention after insertion of the inner tube into the cannula;

FIG. 4 is a cross-section of the connection between the supply tube and the cannula according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 a is a cross-section of the inner section according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a cross-section of the connection between the supply tube and the cannula according to a another preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 a is a cross-section view of the curable material delivery device according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 b is a cross-section view of the curable material delivery device according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 c is a cross-section view of the curable material delivery device according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the curable material delivery device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention after insertion of the inner section into the cannula;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the tip portion of the curable material delivery device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the tip portion of the curable material delivery device according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the tip portion of the curable material delivery device according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the curable material delivery device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Claims

1. An apparatus for introducing material into an injection site of a patient comprising: a cannula defining a lumen;a carrier for delivering material from an injector to an injection site, the carrier defining a lumen and the carrier comprisinga supply section operable to receive curable material, andan inner section proximal to the patient having a longitudinal axis,wherein the supply section is rotatable with respect to the longitudinal axis of the inner section and at least a portion of the inner section is located within the lumen of the cannula.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the inner section is rotatable and rotation of the inner section is dependant on rotation of the supply section.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the inner section is rotatable and rotation of the inner section is independent of rotation of the supply section.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the carrier further comprises a connector for connecting an end of the supply section with an end of the inner section wherein the connector defines a chamber between the end of the supply section and the end of the inner section.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the connector further comprises a rotating adapter that connects with the end of the supply section.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the rotating adapter is operative to rotate the supply section at least about 90 degrees.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the supply section, chamber and inner section form a lumen having walls defining a substantially smooth transition from the supply section to the inner section.

8. An apparatus for introducing material into an injection site of a patient comprising: a tubular section having an interior surface defining a lumen for transporting curable material wherein the interior surface of the lumen is smooth.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the smooth interior surface has an RMS value of about 0 to about 45.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the smooth interior surface has an RMS value of about 0 to about 36.

11. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the interior surface has an RMS value of about 0 to about 16.

12. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the interior surface is coated with a dry lubricant.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the dry lubricant is Teflon®.

14. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein a liner within the tubular section defines the smooth interior surface.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the liner is made of Teflon®.

16. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the tubular section is metallic.

17. The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising a cannula defining a second lumen wherein at least a portion of the inner section is located within the second lumen of the cannula during delivery of the material.

18. A method of delivering material to an injection site comprising the steps of: inserting a cannula defining an elongated lumen into an injection site;connecting a tubular supply section of a carrier defining a lumen with an injector containing a volume of material;advancing material through the tubular supply section from the injection to dispel a dry plug of material from the tubular supply section;connecting a tubular inner section of the carrier with the supply section;pre-loading the lumen of the carrier with the material so that the material is delivered to a distal end of the tubular inner section from the injector, wherein the carrier is thus pre-loaded with material;inserting at least a portion of the distal end of the pre-loaded tubular inner section into the elongated lumen of the cannula; anddelivering material to an injection site.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the injection site and second injection site are within a vertebra.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the tubular supply section and the tubular inner section are of different diameters.