Patent Application
20240366265
This invention pertains generally to generating passageways through tissue, and more particularly to creating curved paths in bone.
Recently, the technique of accessing the vertebral body through minimally invasive means has been developed through the surgical techniques used in vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty. Although accessing the vertebral segments of the spine through the pedicle and into the lateral/anterior section of the body of the vertebra is the primary method of placing a treatment device (e.g. a bone cement delivery device and/or an RF probe) into the vertebra, it is difficult to place a probe in the posterior midline section of the vertebra. Furthermore, accessing the posterior midline section of the S1 segment of the spine is difficult with a straight linear access route. A probe preferably needs to be capable of navigating to the posterior section of the S1 vertebral body as well as the same target area within a lumbar vertebral segment. In addition, it is contemplated that spinal segments in the cervical and thoracic spine may also be targeted.
In order to accurately and predictably place a treatment device in the posterior midline section of a lumbar vertebral body or S1 vertebral body, the device or probe needs to navigate to said area through varying densities of bone. However due to the varying densities of bone, it is difficult to navigate a probe in bone and ensure its positioning will be in the posterior midline section of the vertebral body.
Current techniques for tissue aspirations require a coaxial needle system that allows taking several aspirates through a guide needle without repositioning the guide needle. However the problem with this system is that after the first pass of the inner needle in to the lesion, subsequent passes tend of follow the same path within the mass, yielding only blood not diagnostic cells.
A scientific paper written by Kopecky et al., entitled “Side-Exiting Coaxial Needle for Aspiration Biopsy,” describes the use of a side exiting coaxial needle to allow for several aspiration biopsies. The guide needle has a side hole 1 cm from the distal tip. When a smaller needle is advanced through this new guide needle, the smaller needle is deflected by a ramp inside the guide, causing the smaller needle to exit through the side hole. Although this side exiting needle is able to deflect a bone aspiration needle, it does not guarantee that the needle exits the side hole in a linear direction into the tissue site. Once the tissue aspiration needle exits the needle, it will deviate from a linear path depending on the density of the tissue and inherent material strength of the needle. This is an inherent problem the device is unable to overcome.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is a system and method for generating a path in bone that predictably follows a predetermined curved path.
The present invention is directed to systems and methods to deploy and navigate a flexible treatment instrument, such as an RF bipolar probe, within bone. Although the systems and methods described below are primarily directed to navigating bone through a vertebral member of the spine, and particularly to treat the BVN of a vertebral member, it is appreciated that the novel aspects of the present invention may be applied to any tissue segment of the body.
The first novel principle of this invention is the ability to navigate a curve or angle within varying densities of cancellous bone and create a straight channel at the end of the navigated curve or angle. Several systems are described.
One aspect is a method of therapeutically treating a vertebral body having an outer cortical bone region and an inner cancellous bone region, and a BVN having a trunk extending from the outer cortical bone region into the inner cancellous region and a branches extending from the trunk to define a BVN junction, comprising the steps of: a) inserting an energy device into the vertebral body, and b) exclusively depositing energy within the inner cancellous bone region of the vertebral body between, but exclusive of the BVN junction and the outer cortical bone region, to denervate the BVN.
In another aspect of the present invention, a tube-within-tube embodiment has a deployable curved Nitinol tube that deploys from a straight cannula. The Nitinol tube is pre-curved to create an angular range of approximately 0° to approximately 180°, but more specifically from approximately 45° to approximately 110°, when fully deployed from the straight cannula. The design of the curve is such that the flexible element (carrying the treatment device) can navigate through the angular range of deployment of the nitinol tube. The curved nitinol tube allows the flexible element to navigate through a curve within bone without veering off towards an unintended direction. Cancellous bone density varies from person to person. Therefore, creating a curved channel within varying density cancellous bone will generally not predictably or accurately support and contain the treatment device as it tries to navigate the curved channel. With the present invention, the flexible element is deployed into the bone through the curved Nitinol tube, which supports the element as it traverses through the curve. When it departs from the tube, it will do so in a linear direction towards the target zone. This design allows the user to predictably and accurately deploy the flexible element towards the target zone regardless of the density of the cancellous bone.
An aspect of the invention is a system for channeling a path into bone. The system comprises a trocar having a central channel and opening at its distal tip, and a cannula sized to be received in said central channel and delivered to said distal opening. The cannula has a deflectable tip with a preformed curve such that the tip straightens while being delivered through the trocar and regains its preformed curve upon exiting and extending past the distal opening of the trocar to generate a curved path in the bone corresponding to the preformed curve of the deflectable tip. The cannula comprises a central passageway having a diameter configured allow a treatment device to be delivered through the central passageway to a location beyond the curved path.
In one embodiment, the system further includes a straight stylet configured to be installed in the trocar, wherein the straight stylet comprises a sharp distal tip that is configured to extend beyond the distal opening of the trocar to pierce the bone as the trocar is being delivered to a treatment location within the bone.
The system may further include a straightening stylet configured to be installed in the cannula, wherein the straightening stylet comprising a rigid construction configured to straighten the distal tip of the cannula when positioned in the trocar.
In an alternative embodiment, the straightening stylet further comprises a sharp distal end to pierce the bone, and the straightening stylet and cannula are installed in the trocar in place of the straight stylet as the trocar is delivered into the bone.
In a preferred embodiment, the system further includes a curved stylet having an outer radius sized to fit within the central passageway of the curved cannula. The curved stylet is configured to be installed in the curved cannula while the curved cannula is extended past the distal opening of the trocar, the curved stylet configured to block the distal opening of the curved cannula while being delivered into the bone. Preferably, the curved stylet has a curved distal end corresponding to the curve of the curved cannula.
The curved stylet also has a sharp distal tip configured to extend past the curved cannula to pierce the bone as the cannula is delivered past the distal opening of the trocar. The curved stylet also preferably comprises an angled distal tip configured to further support and maintain the curved stylet radius as it is delivered past the distal opening of the trocar and into bone.
Preferably, the curved stylet and the curved cannula have mating proximal ends that align the curve of the curved stylet with the curve of the curved cannula.
In one embodiment, the system further includes a straight channeling stylet configured to be installed in the cannula after removing the curved stylet, wherein the straight channeling stylet is flexibly deformable to navigate the curved cannula yet retain a straight form upon exiting the curve cannula, and wherein straight channeling stylet has a length longer than the curved cannula such that it creates a linear path beyond the distal end of the curved cannula when fully extended.
Another aspect is method for channeling a path into bone to a treatment location in the body of a patient. The method includes the steps of inserting a trocar having a central channel and opening at its distal tip into a region of bone at or near the treatment location, and delivering a cannula through said central channel and to said distal opening, wherein the cannula comprises a deflectable tip with a preformed curve such that the tip straightens while being delivered through the trocar and regains its preformed curve upon exiting the trocar, and extending the cannula past the distal opening of the trocar to generate a curved path in the bone corresponding to the preformed curve of the deflectable tip. Finally, a treatment device is delivered through a central passageway in said cannula to the treatment location beyond the curved path.
In one embodiment, inserting a trocar into a region of bone comprises inserting a stylet into the trocar such that the stylet extends beyond the distal opening of the trocar, and inserting the stylet and trocar simultaneously into the region of bone such that the stylet pierces the bone as the trocar is being delivered to a treatment location.
In another embodiment, delivering a cannula through the central channel comprises inserting a straightening stylet into the central passageway of the cannula, wherein the straightening stylet comprises a rigid construction configured to straighten the curved distal tip of the cannula, and inserting the straightening stylet and straightened cannula simultaneously into the trocar.
In an alternative embodiment, the straightening stylet further comprises a sharp distal end to pierce the bone, wherein the straightening stylet and cannula are installed simultaneously along with the trocar as the trocar is delivered into the bone.
In yet another embodiment, extending the cannula past the distal opening is done by inserting a curved stylet into the central passageway of the curved cannula such that a distal tip of the curved stylet extends to at least the distal opening of the curved cannula, and simultaneously extending the curved cannula and curved stylet from the distal end of the trocar such that the curved stylet blocks the distal opening of the curved cannula while being delivered into the bone.
In a preferred embodiment, the curved stylet has a curved distal end corresponding to the curve of the curved cannula, and wherein the curved stylet reinforces the curved shape of the curved cannula as the curved cannula is extended past the distal opening of the trocar. The curved stylet has a sharp distal tip such that it is advanced within the central passageway so that the curved stylet extends past the distal opening of the curved cannula such that the curved stylet pierces the bone as the cannula is delivered past the distal opening of the trocar.
In a further step, the curved stylet is removed from the curved cannula, and a straight channeling stylet is inserted into the curved distal end of the cannula. The straight channeling stylet is flexibly deformable to navigate the curved cannula, yet retain a straight form upon exiting the curved cannula. The straight channeling stylet is longer than the curved cannula to create a linear channel beyond the distal tip of the curved cannula.
In a preferred embodiment, the trocar is inserted through a cortical bone region and into a cancellous bone region of a vertebrae, and the curved cannula is extended though at least a portion of the cancellous bone region to a location at or near the treatment location. A preferred treatment location comprises a BVN of the vertebrae, and treatment is delivered to the treatment location to denervate at least a portion of the BVN. In one embodiment, a portion of the BVN is denervated by delivering focused, therapeutic heating to an isolated region of the BVN. In another embodiment, a portion of the BVN comprises is denervated delivering an agent to the treatment region to isolate treatment to that region. Preferably, the treatment is focused on a location of the BVN that is downstream of one or more branches of the BVN.
Another aspect is a kit for channeling a path into bone. The kit includes a trocar having a central channel and opening at its distal tip, and a cannula selected from a set of cannulas sized to be received in said central channel and delivered to said distal opening. The cannula has a deflectable distal tip with a preformed curve such that the tip straightens while being delivered through the trocar and regains its preformed curve upon exiting and extending past the distal opening of the trocar to generate a curved path in the bone corresponding to the preformed curve of the deflectable tip. The cannula comprises a central passageway having a diameter configured allow a treatment device to be delivered through the central passageway to a location beyond the curved path, wherein the set of cannulas comprises one or more cannulas that have varying preformed curvatures at the distal tip.
In a preferred embodiment, the one or more cannulas have a varying preformed radius at the distal tip. In addition, the one or more cannulas each have distal tips that terminate at varying angles with respect to the central channel of the trocar. The length of the distal tips may also be varied. The angle of the distal with respect to the central channel of the trocar may vary from 0 degrees to 180 degrees.
The kit may further include a straight stylet configured to be installed in the trocar, the straight stylet comprising a sharp distal tip that is configured to extend beyond the distal opening of the trocar to pierce the bone as the trocar is being delivered to a treatment location within the bone.
In a preferred embodiment, the kit includes a set of curved stylets having an outer radius sized to fit within the central passageway of the curved cannula, wherein each curved stylet is configured to be installed in the curved cannula while the curved cannula is extended past the distal opening of the trocar. The curved stylet is configured to block the distal opening of the curved cannula while being delivered into the bone. Each curved stylet has a varying curved distal end corresponding to the curve of a matching curved cannula in the set of curved cannulas. The curved stylet has a sharp distal tip configured to extend past the curved cannula to pierce the bone as the cannula is delivered past the distal opening of the trocar.
In another embodiment, the kit includes a set of straight channeling stylets wherein one of the set of stylets is configured to be installed in the cannula after removing the curved stylet. The straight channeling stylet is flexibly deformable to navigate the curved cannula yet retain a straight form upon exiting the curve cannula. Each of the straight channeling stylets has a varying length longer than the curved cannula such that the straight channeling stylet creates a predetermined-length linear path beyond the distal end of the curved cannula when fully extended.
Further aspects of the invention will be brought out in the following portions of the specification, wherein the detailed description is for the purpose of fully disclosing preferred embodiments of the invention without placing limitations thereon.
The invention will be more fully understood by reference to the following drawings which are for illustrative purposes only:
Referring more specifically to the drawings, for illustrative purposes the present invention is embodied in the apparatus generally shown in
The surgical devices and surgical systems described may be used to deliver numerous types of treatment devices to varying regions of the body. Although the devices and systems of the present invention are particularly useful in navigating through bone, it is appreciated that they may also be used to navigate through soft tissue, or through channels or lumens in the body, particularly where one lumen may branch from another lumen.
The following examples illustrate the system 10 applied to generating a curve bone path in the vertebral body, and more particularly for creating a bone path via a transpedicular approach to access targeted regions in the spine. In particular, the system 10 may be used to deliver a treatment device to treat or ablate intraosseous nerves, and in particular that basivertebral nerve (BVN). Although the system and methods provide significant benefit in accessing the BVN, it is appreciated that the system 10 of the present invention may similarly be used to create a bone path in any part of the body.
Preferably, the basivertebral nerves are at, or in close proximity to, the exit point 142. Thus, the target region of the BVN 122 is located within the cancellous portion 124 of the bone (i.e., to the interior of the outer cortical bone region 128), and proximal to the junction J of the BVN 122 having a plurality of branches 130 (e.g. between points A and B along nerve 122). Treatment in this region is advantageous because only a single portion of the BVN 122 need be effectively treated to denervate or affect the entire system. Typically, treatment in accordance with this embodiment can be effectuated by focusing in the region of the vertebral body located between 60% (point A) and 90% (point B) of the distance between the anterior and posterior ends of the vertebral body. In contrast, treatment of the BVN 122 in locations more downstream than the junction J require the denervation of each branch 130.
In one approach for accessing the BVN, the patient's skin is penetrated with a surgical instrument which is then used to access the desired basivertebral nerves, i.e., percutaneously. In one embodiment, a transpedicular approach is used for penetrating the vertebral cortex to access the BVN 122. A passageway 140 is created between the transverse process 134 and spinous process 136 through the pedicle 138 into the cancellous bone region 124 of the vertebral body 126 to access a region at or near the base of the nerve 122. It is appreciated that a postercolateral approach (not shown) may also be used for accessing the nerve.
Referring now to
After the proper depth is achieved, the straight stylet 80 is removed from the trocar 20, while the trocar 20 remains stationary within the vertebrae 120. The straightening stylet 40 is inserted into proximal aperture 53 (see
As shown in
Referring to
Once the stylet 60 is fully seated and aligned with the curved cannula 50 the tip of the curved stylet 60 will protrude from the tip of the curved cannula 50 by about 1/16 to 3/16 inches. This protrusion will help to drive the curve in the direction of its orientation during deployment.
Referring now to
Referring now to
Referring now to
With the trocar 20 and curved cannula 50 still in place, a treatment device (e.g. treatment probe 100 shown in
In a preferred embodiment, the active element 102 is delivered to the treatment site and activated to delivery therapeutic treatment energy. The treatment probe may comprise an RF delivery probe having bipolar electrodes 106 and 108 that deliver a therapeutic level of heating to stimulate or ablate the nerve 122.
It is appreciated that any number of treatment modalities may be delivered to the treatment site for therapeutic treatment. For example, treatment may be affected by monopolar or tripolar RF, ultrasound, radiation, steam, microwave, laser, or other heating means. Additionally, the treatment device may comprise a fluid delivery catheter that deposits an agent, e.g. bone cement, or other therapeutic agent, to the treatment site T. Alternatively, cryogenic cooling may be delivered for localized treatment of the BVN. Furthermore, treatment may be affected by any mechanical destruction and or removal means capable of severing or denervating the BVN. For example, a cutting blade, bur or mechanically actuated cutter typically used in the art of orthoscopic surgery may be used to affect denervation of the BVN.
In addition to or separate from treating the BVN, a sensor may be delivered to the region to preoperatively or postoperatively measure nerve conduction at the treatment region. In this configuration, the sensor may be delivered on a distal tip of a flexible probe that may or may not have treatment elements as well.
The goal of the treatment may be ablation, or necrosis of the target nerve or tissue, or some lesser degree of treatment to denervate the BVN. For example, the treatment energy or frequency may be just sufficient to stimulate the nerve to block the nerve from transmitting signal (e.g. signals indicating pain).
Once the treatment is complete, the probe 100 is withdrawn. The curved cannula 50 is then withdrawn into the needle trocar 20. The needle trocar 20 with the curved cannula 50 is then removed and the access site is closed as prescribed by the physician.
In the above system 10, the design of the curved sections 56 and 66 of the curved cannula 50 and curved stylet 60, respectively, is such that the flexible element (e.g. carrying the treatment device) can navigate through the angular range of deployment of the Nitinol tube of the curved cannula 50. The curved nitinol tube of the curved cannula 50 allows the flexible element to navigate through a curve within bone without veering off towards an unintended direction. Cancellous bone density varies from person to person. Therefore, creating a curved channel within varying density cancellous bone 124 will generally not predictably or accurately support and contain the treatment device as it tries to navigate the curved channel.
With the system 10 of the present invention, the treatment device 100 is deployed into the bone through the curved Nitinol tube of the curved cannula 50, which supports the element as it traverses through the curve. When it departs from the tube, it will do so in a linear direction along path 146 towards the target zone. This allows the user to predictably and accurately deploy the treatment device towards the target zone T regardless of the density of the cancellous bone.
In some embodiments, a radius of curvature that is smaller than that which can be achieved with a large diameter Nitinol tube may be advantageous. To achieve this, the curved tube of the curved cannula 50 may take one of several forms. In one embodiment, the tube 50 is formed from a rigid polymer that can be heat set in a particular curve. If the polymer was unable to hold the desired curve, an additional stylet (e.g. curved stylet 60) of Nitinol, or other appropriate material, may also be used in conjunction with the polymer tube to achieve the desired curve. This proposed combination of material may encompass and number or variety of materials in multiple different diameters to achieve the desired curve. These combinations only need to ensure that the final outside element (e.g. trocar 20) be “disengageable” from the internal elements and have an inner diameter sufficient to allow the desired treatment device 100 to pass to the treatment region T.
In an alternative embodiment, of the curved cannula 50 may comprise a Nitinol tube having a pattern of reliefs or cuts (not shown) in the wall of the tube (particularly on the outer radius of the bend). The pattern of cuts or reliefs would allow the tube to bend into a radius tighter than a solid tube could without compromising the integrity of the tubing wall.
In one method according to the present invention, the straightening stylet 40 is inserted into the curved cannula 50 and secured. In this embodiment, the straightening stylet 40 has a sharp tip 46 designed to penetrate bone. Once the straightening stylet 40 is secure and the curved cannula 50 is straight, they are inserted into the needle trocar 20 and secured. In this embodiment, the curved cannula 50 and straightening stylet 40 are inserted into the shaft 28 of the trocar 20 only as far as to have sharp tip 46 of the straightening stylet 40 protrude from the distal end 22 of the trocar 20. Proper alignment is maintained by aligning a flat on the upper portion of the curved cannula 50 with a pin secured perpendicularly into the needle trocar 20 handle.
Referring now to
After the proper depth is achieved, the straightening stylet 40 is removed. The curved stylet 60 is then straightened out by sliding the small tube 68 on its shaft towards the distal tip 64. The curved distal tip 66 is straightened out and fully retracted inside the small tube 68, and then the curved stylet 60 is inserted into the curved cannula 50 which still resides inside the needle trocar 20. Once the curved stylet 60 is inserted into the curved cannula 50, the small tube 68 is met by a stop 55 (see
To create the maximum force, it is preferred that the curve of the two parts (50 & 60) are aligned. To ensure alignment the cap on the curved stylet 60 has an alignment pin, which engages with a notch on the top of the curved cannula 50.
When the stylet 60 is fully seated and aligned with the curved cannula 50, the tip of the curved stylet 60 will protrude from the tip of the curved cannula 50 by about 1/16 to 3/16 inches. This protrusion will help to drive the curved cannula 50 in the direction of its orientation during deployment. Once the curved stylet 60 and the curved cannula 50 are engaged, the lock nut at the top of the curved cannula 50 is rotated counter clockwise to allow the cannula 50 and stylet 60 to be advanced with relation to the needle trocar 20 (as shown in
The curved stylet 60 is then removed and replaced by the channeling stylet 90. The channeling stylet 90 is advanced beyond the end of the curved cannula 50 (see
Once the treatment is complete, the treatment device 100 is withdrawn. The curved cannula 50 is then withdrawn into the needle trocar 20. The needle trocar 20 with the curved cannula 50 is then removed and the access site is closed as prescribed by the physician.
FIGS.7A and 7B illustrate detail views of a Nitinol wire for the curved stylet 60 (proximal end not shown). The wire comprises a shaft 78 having constant diameter D and a length Ls that may vary according to the application and desired depth to the treatment location. The wire has a preformed distal tip that is curved to have a radius r that redirects the distal tip 64 at an angle Θ with the shaft. As shown in
As shown in
In the example illustrated in
It is appreciated that all the above embodiments may be provided as a kit of instruments to treat different regions of the body. For example, the location, orientation and angle of the treatment device with respect to the trocar 20 may be varied by providing a set of instruments at varying increments. This may be achieved by varying the curvature (56, 66) in the curved cannula 50 and curved stylet 60. The curvature may be varied by varying the radius of curvature r, the insertion depth (shaft length Ls and tip length LT, and/or the final exit angle Θ with respect to the trocar 20 central bore. Thus, the physician may select a different kit for treating a lumber spine segment as opposed to a cervical spine segment, as the anatomy will dictate the path that needs to be channeled.
Thus, when treating different spine segments, a set out of the kit may be selected to match the vertebra (or other region being treated). For example, delivering the treatment device at or near the BVN junction for a lumbar vertebra may have a different angle than for a cervical vertebra, and may vary from patient to patient. The set may be selected from the kit intra-operatively, or from a pre-surgery diagnostic evaluation (e.g. radiographic imaging of the target region).
It is appreciated that each of the instruments in the embodiments 100 and 200 detailed above may have any length, shape, or diameter desired or required to provide access to the treatment region (e.g. intraosseous nerve trunk) thereby facilitating effective treatment of the target region. For example, the size of the intraosseous nerve to be treated, the size of the passageway in the bone (e.g. pedicle 138) for accessing the intraosseous nerve, and the location of the bone, and thus the intraosseous nerve, are factors that that may assist in determining the desired size and shape of the individual instruments.
The systems 100, 200 described above may be used with a number of different treatment modalities for therapeutic treatment of the target region. For example, in one embodiment, it is desirable to operate the treatment device 100 in a manner that ablates the tissue of the target region (e.g. BVN) to produce as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,699,242, herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.
In another embodiment, the treatment device is configured to deliver therapeutic treatment that is targeted to block nerve conduction without ablating the nerve, i.e. thermal treatment is delivered to the nerve (e.g. via thermal therapy, agent or the like) that results in denervation of the BVN without necrosis of tissue. This may be achieved via delivery of a lesser amount of energy or agent to the tissue site (either in the form of less exposure time, concentration, intensity, etc.) than is required for ablation, but an amount sufficient to achieve some amount of temporary or permanent denervation.
As can be seen, therefore, the present invention includes the following inventive embodiments among others:
In accordance with yet another example, individual components of one embodiment of a system or kit are described in Table 1 below.
According to yet another example, individual components of one embodiment of a system or kit are described in Table 2 below.
In a still further embodiment,
For purposes of illustration, the treatment device 220 is shown as an RF probe. However, a number of other treatment devices may be used for treatment, e.g., including but not limited to ultrasound, radiation, fluidic heating through heat or stem, injection of bone cement or other compound/agent, light or laser energy, etc.
The treatment device 220 may ablate the treatment location, or stimulate it with a lesser amount of heat/energy or other treatment modality.
In addition to a treatment device, the methods and systems described below may also be used to deliver a diagnostic device (e.g. imaging system or the like) prior to or in conjunction with treatment.
Once in position, the reverse ramp window stylet 214 is removed and replaced with the flexible channeling stylet 216. As shown in
The channeling stylet 216 is then removed and, as shown in
Although the description above contains many details, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but as merely providing illustrations of some of the presently preferred embodiments of this invention. Therefore, it will be appreciated that the scope of the present invention fully encompasses other embodiments which may become obvious to those skilled in the art, and that the scope of the present invention is accordingly to be limited by nothing other than the appended claims, in which reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean “one and only one” unless explicitly so stated, but rather “one or more.” All structural, chemical, and functional equivalents to the elements of the above-described preferred embodiment that are known to those of ordinary skill in the art are expressly incorporated herein by reference and are intended to be encompassed by the present claims. Moreover, it is not necessary for a device or method to address each and every problem sought to be solved by the present invention, for it to be encompassed by the present claims. Furthermore, no element, component, or method step in the present disclosure is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether the element, component, or method step is explicitly recited in the claims. No claim element herein is to be construed under the provisions of 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, unless the element is expressly recited using the phrase “means for.”
This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/368,453, filed on Mar. 28, 2019, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/040,268, filed on Feb. 10, 2016, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 10,265,099, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/862,242 filed on Apr. 12, 2013, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,259,241, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/566,895 filed on Sep. 25, 2009, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,419,730, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application 61/100,553 filed on Sep. 26, 2008, each of which is expressly incorporated in its entirety by reference herein.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61100553 | Sep 2008 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 16368453 | Mar 2019 | US |
| Child | 18778387 | US | |
| Parent | 15040268 | Feb 2016 | US |
| Child | 16368453 | US | |
| Parent | 13862242 | Apr 2013 | US |
| Child | 15040268 | US | |
| Parent | 12566895 | Sep 2009 | US |
| Child | 13862242 | US |
