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.

1 . An apparatus configured 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, having an RMS value less than 50.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the smooth interior surface has an RMS value of about 0 to about 45. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the smooth interior surface has an RMS value of about 0 to about 36. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the interior surface has an RMS value of about 0 to about 16. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the interior surface is coated with a dry lubricant. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein the dry lubricant comprises PTFE. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein a liner within the tubular section defines the smooth interior surface. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7  wherein the liner is made of Teflon®. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the tubular section is metallic. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a cannula defining a cannula lumen wherein at least a portion of the tubular section is configured to be located within the cannula lumen during delivery of the material. 
     
     
         11 . An apparatus according to  claim 10  and further comprising:
 a carrier for delivering material from an injector to an injection site, the carrier defining a lumen and the carrier comprising 
 a supply section operable to receive curable material, and 
 the tubular section configured as an inner section 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 cannula lumen. 
 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the inner section is rotatable and rotation of the inner section is dependent on rotation of the supply section. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the inner section is rotatable and rotation of the inner section is independent of rotation of the supply section. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 11  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. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14  wherein the connector further comprises a rotating adapter that connects with the end of the supply section. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15  wherein the rotating adapter is operative to rotate the supply section at least about 90 degrees. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16  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. 
     
     
         18 . A method of delivering material to an injection site comprising the steps of:
 providing an apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the supply section is configured as a tubular supply section defining a supply section lumen;   inserting the cannula into an injection site;   connecting the tubular supply section with an injector containing a volume of material;   advancing material through the tubular supply section lumen from the injector a sufficient distance to dispel a dry plug of material from the tubular supply section;   connecting the 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 thereby 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; and   delivering material to an injection site.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the injection site and a 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.