Erika L Palmer

Author:

Erika Palmer

ISBN #:

0471632848

US Patent:

8002743, Aug 23, 2011

Filed:

Jun 15, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/764085

Inventors:

David Miller - Cupertino CA, US
Michael Smith - San Jose CA, US
Steve Mouw - Santa Clara CA, US
Erika Palmer - Menlo Park CA, US

Assignee:

Kyphon SARL - Neuchatel

International Classification:

A61M 29/00
A61M 1/00
A61M 5/00

US Classification:

604 9903, 604129, 604247

Abstract:

A catheter with a balloon anchor may be sized to fit through an inner needle and introduced into the patient through the needle. The inner needle may comprise an atraumatic needle with a side port and/or a blunt tip. The catheter may include a radiopaque coil disposed over the distal portion of the catheter body to assist with catheter placement when viewed with fluoroscopy and/or x-ray. The distal portion of the catheter can be very flexible. A balloon inflation tube may terminate proximal to a proximal end of the expandable balloon anchor such that the distal portion of catheter can be flexible. This termination of the inflation tube may also position the inflation tube away from the annulus and nerve roots, so as to avoid irritation of the annulus and rubbing of the nerve roots that may potentially obscure FAD test results.

US Patent:

8226619, Jul 24, 2012

Filed:

Jun 15, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/764050

Inventors:

David Miller - Cupertino CA, US
Michael Smith - San Jose CA, US
Steve Mouw - Santa Clara CA, US
Erika Palmer - Menlo Park CA, US

Assignee:

Kyphon Sarl - Neuchatel

International Classification:

A61M 5/32

US Classification:

604272, 604158

Abstract:

A catheter with a balloon anchor may be sized to fit through an inner needle and introduced into the patient through the needle. The inner needle may comprise an atraumatic needle with a side port and/or a blunt tip. The catheter may include a radiopaque coil disposed over the distal portion of the catheter body to assist with catheter placement when viewed with fluoroscopy and/or x-ray. The distal portion of the catheter can be very flexible. A balloon inflation tube may terminate proximal to a proximal end of the expandable balloon anchor such that the distal portion of catheter can be flexible. This termination of the inflation tube may also position the inflation tube away from the annulus and nerve roots, so as to avoid irritation of the annulus and rubbing of the nerve roots that may potentially obscure FAD test results.

US Patent:

8403937, Mar 26, 2013

Filed:

Mar 30, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/694257

Inventors:

Jeffrey D. Schwardt - Palo Alto CA, US
Brian Donovan - San Jose CA, US
Andrew Kohm - Burlingame CA, US
Hugues F. Malandain - Mountain View CA, US
Erika I. Palmer - Menlo Park CA, US
Mike Smith - San Jose CA, US
Eric Wong - Mountain View CA, US

Assignee:

Kyphon Sarl - Neuchatel

International Classification:

A61B 17/58
A61B 17/60
A61B 17/88
A61F 2/00

US Classification:

606 92, 606279

Abstract:

Devices and methods for performing a procedure within a spine are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a method includes expanding an expandable member to move a tissue portion and form a cavity within an interior of a bone-related structure. At least a portion of the cavity is filled with a filler material while simultaneously withdrawing a medium from the expandable member at a predefined ratio such that the tissue portion substantially maintains its moved position. In some embodiments, the predefined ratio is 1:1. In another embodiment, a method includes expanding an expandable member to move a tissue portion and form a cavity within an interior of an intervertebral disc. At least a portion of the cavity is filled with a filler material while substantially maintaining the moved position of the tissue portion.

US Patent:

20060264896, Nov 23, 2006

Filed:

May 9, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/124387

Inventors:

Erika Palmer - Menlo Park CA, US

International Classification:

A61M 31/00

US Classification:

604506000, 604164010, 606159000, 600562000, 604264000

Abstract:

A method includes percutaneously accessing a patient via a cannula, such that a distal end of the cannula is disposed substantially adjacent a tumor associated with a bone of the patient. A composition of the tumor is modified via a medical device movably disposed within the cannula. At least a portion of the tumor is removed through the cannula. The modifying is performed during a first time period and the removing is performed during a second time period. At least a portion of the first time period overlaps with at least a portion of the second time period.

US Patent:

20070010846, Jan 11, 2007

Filed:

Oct 17, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/250618

Inventors:

Andrea Leung - Milpitas CA, US
Hugues Malandain - Mountain View CA, US
Erika Palmer - Menlo Park CA, US
Paul Sand - San Carlos CA, US

International Classification:

A61M 29/00

US Classification:

606192000

Abstract:

A method includes heating a first portion of a tubular member to a first temperature greater than a temperature of a second portion of the tubular member. The first portion of the tubular member is different from the second portion of the tubular member. The tubular member is stretched after the heating such that a length of the first portion of the tubular member is associated with a width of an anulus of an intervertebral disc. After the heating and the stretching, the tubular member is disposed within a mold cavity at least until the first portion of the tubular member has a second temperature less than the first temperature and such that an outer diameter of the tubular member in a collapsed configuration is substantially constant along a longitudinal length of the tubular member.

US Patent:

20070060935, Mar 15, 2007

Filed:

Jun 12, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/450874

Inventors:

Jeffrey Schwardt - Palo Alto CA, US
Alberto Cantu - San Francisco CA, US
Erika Palmer - Menlo Park CA, US

International Classification:

A61B 17/32

US Classification:

606170000

Abstract:

In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a cannula configured to provide percutaneous access to a nucleus of an intervertebral disc, and an elongate body configured to be movably disposed within a lumen of the cannula. The cannula also defines an opening. The elongate body defines an internal passageway and an opening at a distal portion of the elongate body. The internal passageway of the elongate body can be coupled to a suction source. The elongate body has a cutting portion disposed on an edge of the opening of the elongate body and the elongate body is configured to draw a portion of tissue from within the nucleus of the intervertebral disc into the opening of the elongate body when the suction source is activated. The cutting portion is configured to sever the portion of tissue from the remaining tissue when the elongate body is moved relative to the cannula.

US Patent:

20070078436, Apr 5, 2007

Filed:

Oct 17, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/250617

Inventors:

Andrea Leung - Milpitas CA, US
Hugues Malandain - Mountain View CA, US
Erika Palmer - Menlo Park CA, US
Paul Sand - San Carlos CA, US

International Classification:

A61M 31/00

US Classification:

604509000

Abstract:

An apparatus includes a projection having a sharpened end portion configured to be inserted through an annulus of an intervertebral disc to define a distracted volume in the annulus. An expandable member is coupled to the projection and defines a longitudinal axis. The expandable member is configured to be expanded from a collapsed configuration to an expanded configuration in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis when at least a portion of the expandable member is disposed within the distracted volume of the annulus of the intervertebral disc. When the expandable member expands, it defines an expanded volume and defines a cross-sectional perimeter while in the expanded configuration. A cannula is configured to be at least partially inserted into the expanded volume. The cannula defines a cross-sectional outer perimeter having no portion extending outside of the cross-sectional perimeter of the expandable member while in its expanded configuration.

US Patent:

20070149990, Jun 28, 2007

Filed:

Jun 12, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/450878

Inventors:

Erika Palmer - Menlo Park CA, US
Alberto Cantu - San Francisco CA, US
Lloyd Diamond - Palo Alto CA, US
Chris Phan - San Leandro CA, US
Derek Rothwell - Los Altos CA, US
Meera Sankaran - Cupertino CA, US

International Classification:

A61B 17/32
A61B 17/00
A61B 10/00

US Classification:

606167000, 600562000, 606170000, 606079000

Abstract:

In one embodiment, an apparatus includes an elongate body having a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration. The elongate body has a cutting portion at a distal portion of the elongate body, and the cutting portion defines an opening in the elongate body. The distal portion of the elongate body is configured to be inserted into a nucleus of an intervertebral disc when the elongate body is in the collapsed configuration. The cutting portion of the elongate body is configured to disrupt at least a portion of tissue within the nucleus of the intervertebral disc when the elongate body is in the expanded configuration. The elongate body is configured to capture the portion of tissue within the opening of the elongate body when the elongate body is moved from the expanded configuration to the collapsed configuration while disposed within the nucleus of the intervertebral disc.