Methods of treating degenerative bone conditions

Abstract

A combination suction and irrigation device for a medical procedure. The device includes an elongated body having a proximal end and a distal end and defines an open channel that extends from the proximal end to the distal end. The open channel is open at both the proximal end and the distal end. A suction port is in communication with the open channel and is connectable to a source of suction. An irrigation port is in communication with the open channel and is connectable to a source of irrigation fluid. A valve selectively opens and closes the open channel to flow relative to the suction port and to the open proximal end, and to flow relative to the irrigation port.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §120 of U.S. application Ser. No. 13 / 173,701, entitled “METHODS OF TREATING DEGENERATIVE BONE CONDITIONS” filed on Jun. 30, 2011, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. Application Ser. No. 13 / 173,701 claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61 / 361,177, entitled “METHODS OF REPLACING DEGENERATIVE BONE” filed on Jul. 2, 2010, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates to methods of treating patients suffering from bone degeneration, such as osteopenia and osteoporosis. More particularly, the invention provides methods of treating patients suffering from bone degeneration by replacing at least a portion of the degenerated bone material.BACKGROUND[0003]Bone mineral density (BMD) is a term that is commonly recognized as relating to the amount of calcified matte...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

This approach effectively increases bone mineral density and compressive strength, reducing fracture risk and maintaining improved bone quality for at least a year, with newly formed bone exhibiting T-scores indicative of normal or improved bone health.

Problems solved by technology

For example, ultrasound is generally limited to evaluation of the calcaneus bone and is not useful for directly measuring sites common to osteoporotic fracture, such as the hip and spine.

In general, the risk for bone fracture is expected to increase with every standard deviation below normal.

In the elderly, bone fracture (particularly hip or vertebral fractures) can be correlated to increased mortality.

Thus, improving BMD can be a goal of medical intervention in osteopenic and / or osteoporotic patients since BMD can be correlated to increased risk for fracture.

Estrogen treatment of postmenopausal women may slow onset and / or progression of bone degeneration.

Although such drugs may provide some level of usefulness, recent studies have suggested that long-term use of bisphosphonates can increase the risk of spontaneous subtrochanteric and femoral shaft fractures (i.e., atypical fractures).

Further, since the antibody alters the body's immune system, there has been evidence that use of the antibody can increase risk of serious infection in the patient.

Safety studies in rats indicated a possibly increased risk of osteosarcoma associated with use of rPTH.

Thus, there remains a need in the art for treatments that do not require long-term medication use with possible effects that, although unintended, may still be harmful.

Although such treatments can attend to the presenting fracture, the unnatural physical properties (i.e., hardness, modulus, etc.) of the bone after the treatment are believed to increase the possibility of fracture of adjacent bone, particularly where the adjacent bone is in an advanced state of osteoporosis.

Moreover, such treatments do not result in formation of natural bone in the fracture but rather function as non-resorbable bone replacements.

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