U.S. patent application number 11/210307 was filed with the patent office on 2005-12-22 for method and pharmaceutical to treat spinal discs.
Invention is credited to Eek, Bjorn C.J..
Application Number | 20050282774 11/210307 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46304972 |
Filed Date | 2005-12-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050282774 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Eek, Bjorn C.J. |
December 22, 2005 |
Method and pharmaceutical to treat spinal discs
Abstract
An injectable for injection into a spinal disc, and a method to
treat a spinal disc with the injectable. The injectable consists
essentially of chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine HCl buffered to
a pH above about 6.0.
Inventors: |
Eek, Bjorn C.J.; (Long
Beach, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Donald D. Mon
Suite 303
750 East Green Street
Pasadena
CA
91101
US
|
Family ID: |
46304972 |
Appl. No.: |
11/210307 |
Filed: |
August 24, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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11210307 |
Aug 24, 2005 |
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10441130 |
Oct 4, 2002 |
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10441130 |
Oct 4, 2002 |
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09704267 |
Oct 31, 2000 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
514/54 ;
514/62 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61P 25/00 20180101;
A61K 31/726 20130101; A61P 23/00 20180101; A61K 31/445 20130101;
A61K 47/24 20130101; A61K 2300/00 20130101; A61K 31/7004 20130101;
A61K 31/737 20130101; A61K 9/0019 20130101; A61K 31/7008 20130101;
A61K 47/26 20130101; A61K 2300/00 20130101; A61K 31/7004 20130101;
A61K 47/20 20130101; A61K 47/42 20130101; A61K 31/737 20130101;
A61K 47/36 20130101; A61K 47/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
514/054 ;
514/062 |
International
Class: |
A61K 031/737; A61K
031/7008 |
Claims
I claim:
1. For injection directly into a disrupted spinal disc to reduce
pain caused by the disrupted disc, an injectable consisting
essentially of: (a) a stock solution consisting by weight
percentages, chondroitin sulfate, between about 0.5% to about 2.0%
glucosamine HCl, between about 5.0% to about 20.0%, and sterile
water to make 100%, and buffer substance in quantity sufficient to
bring the pH of this injectable to a value above 6.0; and (b) water
to dilute said stock solution to a concentration tolerated by the
disc.
2. An injectable according to claim 1 in which said stock solution
further includes a solution of dextrose (about 50% by weight of its
own solution) in the ratio between about 1:1 to about 3:2 by weight
(dextrose: stock solution before adding dextrose solution).
3. An injectable according to claim 1 in which said stock solution
further includes a temporary anesthetic.
4. An injectable according to claim 1 in which said stock solution
further includes low viscosity sodium carboxymethylcellulose in
concentration between about 0.5% to about 2.0%
5. An injectable according to claim 1 in which the concentration of
chondroitin sulfate in the stock solution is between about 1.5%,
and the concentration of glucosamine HCl about 8%.
6. An injectable according to claim 1 in which the ration of
glucosamine to chondroitin is between about 3:1 to 10:1.
7. For injection directly into a disrupted spinal disc to reduce
pain caused by the disrupted disc, a stock solution consisting
essentially of: glucosamine HCl, about 8%, chondroitin sulfate
about 1.5%, phosphate buffer substances to above pH 6.0, sterile
water to make 100%; and sterile water or normal saline solution to
dilute the stock solution about by half.
8. An injectable according to claim 7 in which said stock solution
for this includes low viscosity sodiumcarboxymethylcellulose, about
1.0%, and a temporary anaesthetic, about 1%.
9. An injectable according to claim 8 in which said stock solution
further includes a volume of 50% dextrose, about 1/2 of the volume
of the stock solution of claim 7.
10. An injectable according to claim 9 in which said stock solution
further includes a volume of contrast material and antibiotic about
1/2 of the volume of the stock solution of claim 7.
11. The method of treating a disrupted spinal disc comprising
injecting a physiologically acceptably amount of said injectable of
claim 1 into said disc.
12. The method of treating a disrupted spinal disc comprising
injecting the injectable of claim 7 into said disc.
13. The method of treating a disrupted spinal disc comprising
injecting the injectable of claim 10 into said disc.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO PRIOR APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of applicant's
co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/441,130, filed Oct.
4, 2002, which will be abandoned after the filing of this
continuation-in-part. In turn Ser No. 10/441,130 is a
continuation-in-part of applicant's then co-pending application Ser
No. 09/704,267, filed Oct. 31, 2000 (now abandoned).
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] An injectable for, and a method of use to treat spinal
discs.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The human skeleton has evolved to allow for upright posture
and bipedal motion. The human spine in its development to support
the upright body has developed areas of stress particularly at the
base of the neck, the apex of the mid back (thoracic spine) and in
the lower back (lower lumbar spine). The spine is formed by bony
elements, the vertebrae, and cushions between vertebrae, the
intervertebral discs. The spine is then supported by ligaments,
fibrous bands of tissue that join bones together, and muscles and
fascia, which provide dynamic support and zygapophyseal joints, two
at each level posteriorly which join the vertebrae together.
Anteriorly the intervertebral disc serves as a cushion between the
vertebrae but also helps join the vertebrae together and provides
stability.
[0004] When neck or back pain become chronic, usually due to injury
or repetitive stress, and the pain becomes severe and limiting or
disabling the intervertebral disc(s) is/are the source of pain.
[0005] The most common cause of disability below the age of
forty-five is chronic low back pain. Chronic low back pain is due t
intervertebral disc disease in forty percent of patients,
zygapophyseal joint dysfunction is fifteen to thirty percent of
patients, sacro-iliac joint complex dysfunction in fifteen percent
of patients, and in the remaining fifteen percent, multiple
causes.
[0006] When an intervertebral disc becomes injured, the natural
reparative process is often hindered due to limited blood supply to
the inner portion of the intervertebral disc. Normally blood
vessels are found only in the outer third of the peripheral portion
of the disc, the annulus. However nutrition to the central portion
of the disc depends upon perfusion of nutrients through the
vertebral end-plate which separates the disc from the body of the
vertebra above and below.
[0007] When nutrition becomes impaired the disc tissue becomes
acidic and a degenerative process usually ensues. If the normal
reparative process is inadequate, the disc can continue to
degenerate and be the source of pain. The degenerative process
varies in extent in every intervertebral disc that is chronically
painful. A chemical reaction occurs within the disc usually at the
site of injury. The chemicals cause further breakdown of the disc
and when the chemicals escape into the spinal canal inflammation
occurs and effects the spinal nerves causing further pain. In older
patients (35 years plus) where degeneration is present the pain is
not only due to a chemical reaction within the disc but instability
of the disc secondary to previous degeneration.
[0008] Low back pain is reaching epidemic proportions in the
Western world. Traditionally the treatment for severe discogenic
pain has been surgical removal of the injured intervertebral disc
and fusion of the spine surgically by replacing the disc with bone
graft or various metal implants containing bone graft. This
procedure is very expensive. Costs can range up to one hundred
thousand dollars. It requires from six months to one year to
recover. Up to eighty percent of the fusions becomes solid. However
pain improvement is problematical. At best fifty to sixty percent
of patients experience pain reduction, not always completely. Up to
fifty percent remain with the same degree of pain or worse. The
latter group often becomes permanently disabled and dependent upon
opioid medications.
[0009] Upon evaluation of back pain many factors must be
considered: age, severity of pain, radiation of pain into buttock
or legs, and the presence of leg numbness or weakness. Commonly
most patients who suffer an initial injury can recover fully if
they rest appropriately, and inflammation within or about the disc
is addressed. Thereafter a conditioning program becomes important
in order to strengthen the muscles for supporting the trunk and
providing controlled movement. When there is recurrence of low back
pain after injury or stress the condition usually becomes more
serious.
[0010] When an intervertebral disc can be identified as a source of
pain usually by combination of a MRI scan of the lumbar spine as
well as lumbar discography, the latter is a provocative test for
discogenic pain by placing a needle into the center of the disc and
injection of radiographic contrast under pressure. In a normal disc
there is no pain provoked. In an abnormal disc pain is provoked,
and if it causes the pain that is experienced by the patient, then
the disc is concordantly painful.
[0011] At the same time fissures to the outer portion of the disc,
the annulus, or multiple tears radiating from the center of the
disc, the nucleus, to the periphery of the disc through the annulus
are visualized. If the intervertebral disc has normal height, and
there is a single fissure, and there is severe pain on low pressure
by discogram, then a highly chemically sensitive disc is present.
This condition is called an internal disc disruption. If multiple
tears are identified, the disc has become narrowed by degeneration,
and the pain is less severe but still significant, the condition is
often called symptomatic degenerative disc disease.
[0012] The traditional-treatment to the present time for severe
painful discogenic disease has been spinal fusion. Successful
results are modest. Therefore it is essential to find simpler and
better ways to treat painful intervertebral discs. Several devices
have been developed in recent years. At present there are two
devices that are used relatively commonly, the first is the IDET
(intra-discal electrothermal therapy) and the other is the
nucleoplasty.
[0013] These two devices have limited use. They can only be used on
intervertebral discs that have nearly normal height, have a single
fissure and are chemically sensitive. The nucleoplasty is also used
when there is posterior bulging of the disc for it will remove or
ease the central pressures within the disc and therefore the
pressure upon the periphery of the disc is reduced. Their success
is partial. No alternative treatment for internal disc disruption
or symptomatic degenerative disc disease has been developed until
the chemical disc injection treatment (disc restorative solution)
of this invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0014] Observation based upon injection treatment of soft tissue
injuries, namely ligaments, tendons and fascia, wherein the
injected solution causes a mild inflammatory reaction followed by a
reparative response within the tissues, led to the concept that
painful and damaged intervertebral discs could be treated
similarly. The solution selected to test this hypothesis was the
combination of chondroitin sulfate, glucosamine HCl, hypertonic
dextrose, bupivicaine and DMSO (dimethyl sulfoxide) when indicated.
Because the solution becomes acidic with a pH of 4.3, a buffer
solution has also been added to the solution, namely a combination
of mono and diphosphates which increases the pH level to above
about 6.0, and preferably between about 6.3 to about 6.8 which is
slightly acidic but within physiologic range. In some conditions
where the annular portion of the intervertebral disc has
degenerated significantly and there appears to be inflamed areas
within parts of the annulus, then DMSO can be added to facilitate
dispersion of the solution. DMSO serves essentially as a
solvent.
[0015] Chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine hydrochloride are
substrates of collagen. Collagen is the basic building block of
fibrous tissue, which the annular portion of the disc is
comprised.
[0016] The hypertonic dextrose stimulates growth factor as well as,
it is believed, nourishes the chondrocytes and fibrocytes present
within the intervertebral disc, and to some degree serves as a
neurolytic agent for unmyelinated sensory nerve fibers that can
penetrate the intervertebral disc.
[0017] In a recent study done by Klein, Eek et al (manuscript
submitted for publication) presented a potential new alternative
treatment for chronic disogenic back pain. Thirty patients were
included in the study. All of the patients treated had positive
discography at one or more levels as evidenced by concordant pain
and morphologic disc disruption. The discs were injected with the
disc solution as described. Three to four treatments were done at
two to three month intervals. The patients were followed for
approximately twelve months after completion of treatment.
Seventeen patients improved on average seventy-four percent using
the Roland-Morris functional questionnaire and the VAS pain scale.
Thirteen patients did not improve significantly. These patients
fell into varying groups, namely, failed posterior spinal fusion,
spinal stenosis, generalized fibromyalgia syndrome, failed IDET
procedure etc. Since that time over one hundred patients have been
treated. Now the majority of patients are gradually improving. It
requires up to a year to gain maximum improvement.
[0018] It is believed that the disc restorative solution will
mitigate the chemical-inflammatory condition within the disc and
will stimulate gradually a reparative response, which will reduce
pain and stabilize degenerative discs.
[0019] The ingredients are formulated into pharmaceutically
acceptable and tolerable carrier such as sterile water or normal
saline in accordance with standard pharmaceutical practice. These
ingredients are provided in a stock solution, which is then diluted
or augmented to the desired concentrations and composition. The
formulation is passed through a 2 micron filter.
[0020] Common to all formulations according to this invention is
the inclusion, in an injectable tolerated by the spinal disc, of
both glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate (in a buffered injectable
solution). Injections with only one of these constituents have
proved to be without value, but their combination in a properly
buffered solution has proved to be otherwise.
[0021] The dispersion of this solution in the disc appears to be
markedly improved by the optional inclusion of dimethyl sulfoxide
(DMSO), which is an optional ingredient, but one which appears to
provide for greater acceptance in the disc.
[0022] Improved stability of the disc and reduction of pain appears
to be provided by the incorporation of low viscosity
sodiumcarboxymethylcellulo- se, which is also believed to coat
sensory unmyelinated nerves in the discs.
[0023] Important improvements to the comfort of the patient can be
attained in all situations by the further inclusion of a local
temporary-acting anaesthetic such as Marcaine (bupivicaine). Any
lessening of pain, even during the brief period during and
following the injection, can provide important benefits to an
apprehensive patient, and reduce the inflammation caused by the
insult of the needle and the event of the injection.
[0024] The ingredients are formulated into a
pharmaceutically-acceptable and tolerable carrier such as sterile
water in accordance with good pharmaceutical practice. These
ingredients are provided in a stock solution, which is then diluted
or augmented to the desired concentrations and composition.
[0025] For example, if only the ingredients in this stock solution
are desired, an equal volume of water will be added to it, to
reduce the concentration by half, thereby providing the injectable.
The ratios between the ingredients will not be changed, but their
concentration in the injectable will be reduced from what they were
in the stock solution.
[0026] Improved injectables can be provided by the addition of
other substances.
[0027] For example, either sodiumcarboxymethylcellulose or a
temporary anaesthetic such as Bupivicane can optionally be added to
the stock solution in a respective amount of one percent each. This
provides a modified stock solution, subject to the same later
dilution.
[0028] The stock solution (basic or modified) is conveniently made
in 2 cc increments subject to later dilution. The sodium
carboxymethylcellulose and anaesthetic when used are added to the
basic stock solution, to form the 2 cc increment. In both events, 2
cc of water will be added to make the injectable.
[0029] Two other optional ingredients can provide additional
benefits. They are used as, or part of the diluent, each as 1 cc in
place of 1 cc of dilution water.
[0030] One such ingredient is dextrose, 50% solution. When added
alone, it will be accompanied by 1 cc of dilution water. Then, when
combined with the stock solution, it will be about 12.5% of the
injectable.
[0031] Similarly, a contrast medium with or without an antibiotic
of 2 cc can be provided. If only this ingredient is added, it will
be accompanied by 1 cc of dilution water. These are provided in
suitable physiological amounts.
[0032] When both are used, they will replace the dilution water
entirely.
[0033] The presently preferred injectable is formulated as
follows:
1 Glucosamine 4% Chondroitin 0.75% Bupivicaine 0.5%
[0034] Phosphate buffers to about 6.0, preferably about 6.7
[0035] The above to make 50% by volume of this injectable, plus
12.5% by volume dextrose, plus 12.5% by volume of a solution of an
aqueous solution and or antibiotic.
[0036] In suitable-injectables, the ratio or glucosamine to
chondroitin can vary from about 3:1 to about 10:1. The presently
preferred ratio is about 5 1/3:1.
[0037] A stock solution can be prepared as follows, the components
being given by weight percentages:
2 Chondroitin Sulfate about 0.5% to about 2% Glucosamine HCl about
5.0% to about 20% Bupivicaine (optional) about 2.0% to about 4%
Buffer substances in quantity sufficient to bring the pH above
about 6.0. Sodium mono and di-phosphate are useful. Sterile Water
to make 100%
[0038] The preferred stock solution is as follows:
3 Chondroitin Sulfate about 1.5% Glucosamine HCl about 8.0% Buffer
substances in quantity sufficient to bring the pH above about 6.0.
Sodium mono and di-phosphate are useful Sterile water to make
100%.
[0039] This stock solution will provide a useful injectable when
suitable diluted with sterile water.
[0040] Chondroitin sulfate is an acidic irritant. Control over the
pH of the injectable appears to alleviate some of its irritating
effects. Accordingly it has been found that a pH close to neutral,
but a bit on the acid side is better tolerated. Experiment has
shown that a pH above about 6.0, is useful, preferably about 6.5 to
7.4. A buffer of monobasic sodium phosphate and dibasic phosphate
in sterile water functions well for this purpose and is agreeable
to the tissues. The actual amount will be determined by observing
the pH value of the injectable when the solution is being
prepared.
[0041] The amount to be injected is for the discretion and
judgement of the surgeon. His experience, and the "feel" of the
syringe will be the best guidance. Several ccs of the injectable
will be the usual dosage per disc.
[0042] This invention is not to be limited by the embodiments
described in the description, which are given by way of example and
not of limitation, but only in accordance with the scope of the
appended claims.
* * * * *