Delivery apparatus for use with implantable medical devices

Abstract

An apparatus for delivering an intravertebral implant into a vertebral body of a vertebra. The apparatus includes a cannula operatively connected to a housing wherein the cannula is adapted for insertion into the vertebral body. The housing includes a drive system for advancing a guide member through the cannula, out of a distal end opening of the cannula and into the vertebral body. Further, the drive system also selectively or simultaneously advances a pushing element that is adapted to push an intravertebral implant along the guide member so that the guide member guides the implant through the cannula, out of the distal end opening of the cannula and into the vertebral body for implantation.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . An assembly for treatment of a human spine, comprising:
 a spinal implant;   a delivery apparatus comprising:
 a housing; 
 a cannula having a proximal end portion, a distal end portion and a lumen extending therebetween, the proximal end portion of the cannula operatively connected to the housing and the distal end portion of the cannula configured for insertion into spinal tissue and including an opening in communication with the lumen; 
 a guide member having the spinal implant slidably mounted thereon, the guide member having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, the distal end portion of the guide member being advanceable through the lumen of the cannula, relative to the spinal implant and out of the opening in the distal end portion of the cannula, the guide member configured for advancement of the spinal implant therealong to guide the spinal implant through the lumen of the cannula and out of the distal end opening of the cannula; 
 an advancing element advanceable through the lumen of the cannula and being moveable relative to the guide member, the advancing element contacting the spinal implant to advance the spinal implant along the guide member as the advancing element is advanced; and 
 a drive system associated with the housing, the drive system configured to advance the guide member through the lumen of the cannula and the distal end opening of the cannula, the drive system also configured to advance the advancing element relative to the guide member and cause advancement of the spinal implant along the guide member. 
   
     
     
         22 . The assembly of  claim 21  in which the drive system includes a first drive element for advancing the guide member and a second drive element for advancing the advancing element. 
     
     
         23 . The assembly of  claim 22  in which the first drive element comprises a first drive shaft in contact with the guide member, and the second drive element comprises a second drive shaft in contact with the advancing element. 
     
     
         24 . The assembly of  claim 22  in which the first drive element comprises a first carriage having a portion of the guide member wound thereabout, and the second drive element comprises a second carriage having a portion of the advancing element wound thereabout. 
     
     
         25 . The assembly of  claim 21  in which the drive system selectively advances the guide member and the advancing element. 
     
     
         26 . The assembly of  claim 21  in which the drive system simultaneously advances the guide wire and the advancing element. 
     
     
         27 . The assembly of  claim 21  in which the advancing element is slidably connected to the guide member. 
     
     
         28 . The assembly of  claim 21  further including a flexible element operatively connecting the cannula to the housing, the flexible element having a lumen in communication with the housing and the cannula. 
     
     
         29 . The assembly of  claim 28  in which the flexible element includes a friction reducing member to reduce friction between the flexible element and the guide member. 
     
     
         30 . The assembly of  claim 29  in which the friction reducing member comprises a straightening element that selectively maintains the flexible element in a substantially linear configuration. 
     
     
         31 . The assembly of  claim 21  wherein the spinal implant is an intravertebral implant. 
     
     
         32 . The assembly of  claim 21  wherein at least the distal end portion of the guide member changes from a first substantially liner configuration within the cannula to a second non-linear configuration upon advancement out of the opening in the distal end portion of the cannula. 
     
     
         33 . The assembly of  claim 21  wherein the opening in the distal end portion of the cannula is a side opening. 
     
     
         34 . An assembly for delivering a spinal implant into spinal tissue, comprising:
 a cannula having a proximal end portion, a distal end portion and an interior lumen, the distal end portion of the cannula being adapted for insertion into spinal tissue and having an opening in communication with the interior lumen;   a guide wire having a spinal implant slidably mounted thereon, the guide wire being advanceable through the interior lumen of the cannula and out of the opening in the distal end portion of the cannula, at least a distal end portion of the guide wire having a first substantially linear configuration when disposed within the cannula and a second generally nonlinear configuration when advanced out of the distal opening of the cannula, the guide wire configured for advancement of the spinal implant therealong to guide the implant through the lumen of the cannula, out of the distal end opening of the cannula and into a generally nonlinear configuration;   an advancing element operatively associated with the guide wire for advancing the spinal implant along the guide wire; and   a drive system that advances the guide wire and the advancing element.   
     
     
         35 . The assembly of  claim 34  in which the drive system includes a first drive element for advancing the guide wire, and a second drive element for advancing the advancing element. 
     
     
         36 . The assembly of  claim 35  in which the first drive element comprises a first drive shaft in contact with the guide wire, and the second drive element comprises a second drive shaft in contact with the advancing element. 
     
     
         37 . The assembly of  claim 34  in which the drive system selectively advances the guide wire and the advancing element. 
     
     
         38 . The assembly of  claim 34  in which the drive system simultaneously advances the guide wire and the advancing element. 
     
     
         39 . A method of delivering a spinal implant into a spinal tissue, comprising:
 inserting a cannula of a spinal treatment apparatus into tissue of the spine, said spinal treatment apparatus including a guide wire having a spinal implant slidably mounted thereon and an advancing element for advancing the spinal implant along the guide wire, the spinal treatment apparatus also including a drive system for advancing the guide wire and the advancing element through a lumen of the cannula;   activating the drive system to advance the guide wire relative to the spinal implant through the lumen of the cannula, out of a distal end opening of the cannula and into the spinal tissue;   activating the drive system to advance the advancing element through the lumen of the cannula so that the advancing element advances the spinal implant along the guide wire, as the implant is advanced along the guide wire, the guide wire guides the implant through the cannula, out of the distal end opening of the cannula and into the spinal tissue, thereby implanting the spinal implant within the spinal tissue; and   activating the drive system to retract the guide wire from the spinal implant and back into the cannula.   
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39  further including holding the implant in place with the advancing element while retracting the guide wire from the spinal implant and back into the cannula.