Joel S Saal

6517568, Feb 11, 2003

Nov 3, 2000

09/706244

Hugh J. Sharkey - Redwood City CA
Joel Saal - Portola Valley CA
Jeffrey Saal - Portola Valley CA
John Ashley - San Francisco CA

Oratec Interventions, Inc. - Menlo Park CA

A61F 700

607 96, 607101

A percutaneous method of repairing a fissure in the annulus pulposus comprises placing an energy source adjacent to the fissure and providing sufficient energy to the fissure to raise the temperature to at least about 45-70Â C. and for a sufficient time to cause the collagen to weld. An intervertebral fissure also can be treated by placing a catheter with a lumen adjacent to the fissure and injecting sealant into the fissure via the catheter, thereby sealing the fissure. An intervertebral fissure additionally can be treated by providing a catheter having a distal end, a proximal end, a longitudinal axis, and an intradiscal section at the catheters distal end on which there is at least one functional element. The next step is applying a force longitudinally to the proximal of the catheter which is sufficient to advance the intradiscal section through the nucleus pulposus and around an inner wall of an annulus fibrosus, but which force is insufficient to puncture the annulus fibrosus. Next the functional element is positioned at a selected location of the disc by advancing or retracting the catheter and optionally twisting the proximal end of the catheter.

6547810, Apr 15, 2003

Nov 6, 2000

09/707627

Hugh R. Sharkey - Woodside CA
John Ashley - San Francisco CA
Joel Saal - Portola Valley CA
Jeffrey A. Saal - Portola Valley CA
Le Trong Le - San Jose CA

Oratec Interventions, Inc. - Menlo Park CA

A61F 700

607 96, 607 99, 607113, 607116, 606 27, 128898

A percutaneous method of repairing a fissure in the annulus pulposus comprises placing an energy source adjacent to the fissure and providing sufficient energy to the fissure to raise the temperature to at least about 45-70Â C. and for a sufficient time to cause the collagen to weld. An intervertebral fissure also can be treated by placing a catheter with a lumen adjacent to the fissure and injecting sealant into the fissure via the catheter, thereby sealing the fissure. An intervertebral fissure additionally can be treated by providing a catheter having a distal end, a proximal end, a longitudinal axis, and an intradiscal section at the catheters distal end on which there is at least one functional element. The next step is applying a force longitudinally to the proximal of the catheter which is sufficient to advance the intradiscal section through the nucleus pulposus and around an inner wall of an annulus fibrosus, but which force is insufficient to puncture the annulus fibrosus. Next the functional element is positioned at a selected location of the disc by advancing or retracting the catheter and optionally twisting the proximal end of the catheter.

6749605, Jun 15, 2004

Feb 1, 2001

09/776186

John E. Ashley - San Francisco CA
Hugh R. Sharkey - Menlo Park CA
Joel Saal - Portola Valley CA
Jeffrey A. Saal - Portola Valley CA

Oratec Interventions, Inc. - Menlo Park CA

A61B 1818

606 41, 128898, 607 96, 607101

A catheter for delivering energy to a surgical site is disclosed. The catheter includes at a proximal end a handle and at a distal end a probe. The catheter includes at least one energy delivery device and an activation element. The at least one energy delivery device is located at the distal end of the catheter to deliver energy to portions of the surgical site. The activation element is located at the distal end of the catheter, to transition the probe from a linear to a multi-dimensional shape, within the surgical site. Methods for deploying the probe from the linear to multi-dimensional shape are disclosed. In another embodiment of the invention, the catheter includes a heating element fabricated on a substrate by photo-etching to deliver thermal energy to portions of the surgical site. In another embodiment of the invention, the catheter includes an energy delivery element, a tip and a blade. The energy delivery element is located at the distal end of the catheter to deliver energy to portions of the intervertebral disc.

6767347, Jul 27, 2004

Feb 1, 2001

09/776231

Hugh R. Sharkey - Menlo Park CA
Joel Saal - Portola Valley CA
Jeffrey A. Saal - Portola Valley CA
John E. Ashley - San Francisco CA

Oratec Interventions, Inc. - Menlo Park CA

A61B 1818

606 41, 604 21

A catheter for delivering energy to a surgical site is disclosed. The catheter includes at a proximal end a handle and at a distal end a probe. The catheter includes at least one energy delivery device and an activation element. The at least one energy delivery device is located at the distal end of the catheter to deliver energy to portions of the surgical site. The activation element is located at the distal end of the catheter, to transition the probe from a linear to a multi-dimensional shape, within the surgical site. Methods for deploying the probe from the linear to multi-dimensional shape are disclosed. In another embodiment of the invention, the catheter includes a heating element fabricated on a substrate by photo-etching to deliver thermal energy to portions of the surgical site. In another embodiment of the invention, the catheter includes an energy delivery element, a tip and a blade. The energy delivery element is located at the distal end of the catheter to deliver energy to portions of the intervertebral disc.

6878155, Apr 12, 2005

Jun 18, 2001

09/884859

Hugh R. Sharkey - Menlo Park CA, US
Sepehr Fariabi - Fremont CA, US
John Ashley - San Francisco CA, US
Joel Saal - Portola Valley CA, US
Jeffrey Saal - Portola Valley CA, US

Oratec Interventions, Inc. - Menlo Park CA

A61F007/00
A61F002/00
A61B018/18

607 96, 606 15, 607101, 607 89

Apparatus and methods are disclosed for accessing the interior of an intervertebral disc to perform a function within the disc. One such apparatus comprises a catheter having a lumen; and a guide wire having a distal portion and a proximal portion, and configured to be positioned within and moved relative to the lumen of the catheter; wherein the guide wire is capable of navigating itself within an intradiscal section of the intervertebral disc to a selected section of the disc and the catheter is capable of being advanced relative to the guide wire such that the catheter follows a path of the guide wire within the intradiscal section of the disc to the selected section. These apparatus and methods may be used for the treatment of intervertebral disc disorders such as sealing fissures of the annulus fibrosus, which may or may not be accompanied with contained or escaped extrusions. These apparatus and methods may also be used, for example, for the removal or addition of material to the intervertebral disc.

6997941, Feb 14, 2006

Mar 17, 2003

10/388609

Hugh R. Sharkey - Woodside CA, US
John Ashley - San Francisco CA, US
Joel Saal - Portola Valley CA, US
Jeffrey A. Saal - Portola Valley CA, US
Le Trong Le - San Jose CA, US

Oratec Interventions, Inc. - Menlo Park CA

A61F 7/00

607 96, 607 99, 607113, 607116, 606 48, 606 50

A device is described that may be positioned at a location in an intervertebral disc for diagnosis or treatment of the disc. Treatment may include, for example, applying energy or removing material, and may decrease intradiscal pressure. Radiofrequency energy may be applied. A percutaneous method of repairing a fissure in the annulus pulposus comprises placing an energy source adjacent to the fissure and providing sufficient energy to the fissure to raise the temperature to at least about 45-70 C. and for a sufficient time to cause the collagen to weld. An intervertebral fissure also can be treated by placing a catheter with a lumen adjacent to the fissure and injecting sealant into the fissure via the catheter, thereby sealing the fissure. An intervertebral fissure additionally can be treated by providing a catheter having a distal end, a proximal end, a longitudinal axis, and an intradiscal section at the catheter's distal end on which there is at least one functional element. The next step is applying a force longitudinally to the proximal of the catheter which is sufficient to advance the intradiscal section through the nucleus pulposus and around an inner wall of an annulus fibrosus, but which force is insufficient to puncture the annulus fibrosus.

7069087, Jun 27, 2006

Feb 22, 2001

09/792628

Hugh R. Sharkey - Menlo Park CA, US
Sepehr Fariabi - Fremont CA, US
John Ashley - San Fancisco CA, US
Joel Saal - Portola Valley CA, US
Jeffrey Saal - Portola Valley CA, US

Oratec Interventions, Inc. - Menlo Park CA

A61F 7/00
A61F 2/00
A61B 18/18

607 76, 606 15, 607101, 607 89

Apparatus and methods are disclosed for accessing the interior of an intervertebral disc to perform a function within the disc. One such apparatus comprises a catheter having a lumen; and a guide wire having a distal portion and a proximal portion, and configured to be positioned within and moved relative to the lumen of the catheter; wherein the guide wire is capable of navigating itself within an intradiscal section of the intervertebral disc to a selected section of the disc and the catheter is capable of being advanced relative to the guide wire such that the catheter follows a path of the guide wire within the intradiscal section of the disc to the selected section. These apparatus and methods may be used for the treatment of intervertebral disc disorders such as sealing fissures of the annulus fibrosus, which may or may not be accompanied with contained or escaped extrusions. These apparatus and methods may also be used, for example, for the removal or addition of material to the intervertebral disc.

7282061, Oct 16, 2007

Nov 14, 2003

10/712007

Hugh R. Sharkey - Woodside CA, US
John Ashley - San Francisco CA, US
Joel Saal - Portola Valley CA, US
Jeffrey A. Saal - Portola Valley CA, US
Le Trong Le - San Jose CA, US

Oratec Interventions, Inc. - Menlo Park CA

A61F 7/00

607 96, 607101, 606 41

A device is described that may be positioned at a location in an intervertebral disc for diagnosis or treatment of the disc. Treatment may include, for example, applying energy or removing material, and may decrease intradiscal pressure. Radiofrequency energy may be applied. A percutaneous method of repairing a fissure in the annulus pulposus comprises placing an energy source adjacent to the fissure and providing sufficient energy to the fissure to raise the temperature to at least about 45-70 C. and for a sufficient time to cause the collagen to weld. An intervertebral fissure also can be treated by placing a catheter with a lumen adjacent to the fissure and injecting sealant into the fissure via the catheter, thereby sealing the fissure. An intervertebral fissure additionally can be treated by providing a catheter having a distal end, a proximal end, a longitudinal axis, and an intradiscal section at the catheter's distal end on which there is at least one functional element. The next step is applying a force longitudinally to the proximal of the catheter which is sufficient to advance the intradiscal section through the nucleus pulposus and around an inner wall of an annulus fibrosus, but which force is insufficient to puncture the annulus fibrosus.