The enSpire™ Interventional Disectomy System is a new and novel needle-based technology that aids the physician in mechanically and minimally invasively removing target disc tissue in percutaneous disectomy procedures.

The Potential Benefits of the procedure:

• Simple outpatient procedure, No general anesthesia, No hospital stay
• Reduced pain likely, often a fast return to work
• Quick recovery similar to other needle-based procedures

The Intended Use of the enSpire device is for use in cutting, grinding and aspirating intervertebral disc material during discectomy procedures in the lumbar spine.

Contraindications include but are not limited to active systemic or local infection, discitis, irreversible coagulopathy or bleeding disorder, allergy to any device materials, including nickel, and pregnancy.

Potential Complications include infections, nerve damage, bleeding, increased pain, failure to remove disc material, increased pain, anaphylaxsis and death.

Percutaneous Discectomy is a minimally invasive alternative to surgery for patients with debilitating, radiating pain from contained intervertebral disc herniations who have failed conservative treatments like physical therapy, steroid injections, and oral pain medications. The pain is referred to as "radicular" pain. The procedure is a needle-based therapy where target disc tissue "nucleus" material, a gel like material inside the disc is removed from the disc in order to reduce or relieve the pain symptoms.

This procedure has been evolving for over 20 years in terms of physician expertise, technique including needle navigation into the disc, and available technologies to remove disc material. The SpineView enSpire Interventional Discectomy System represents a major advancement in terms of removing target disc tissue with a device the size of a needle.

Percutaneous Discectomy is a straightforward procedure which can be done under local anesthesia with or without conscious sedation.
A small needle is inserted through the skin and reaches the disc under imaging guidance, usually live x-ray. Once the needle is inserted into the disc, the discectomy itself takes only a few minutes. The entire procedure takes approximately 15 to 30 minutes and patients are able to leave the recovery area with a small bandage over the needle insertion site.

The patient typically feels only mild irritation where the needle was inserted and is discharged home the same day. The patients will be required to stay for a few hours for observation. A family member or friend should drive the patient home. Typically, patients are released to rest for a few days with limited activity. After about one week, the patient can pursue physical activity and return to work. Often, symptoms caused by the disc herniation diminish or go away in a few weeks.

Percutaneous means "through the skin" and a discectomy is the removal of nuclear material from a herniated disc that is pressing against a nerve root. The herniated or "slipped disc" causes pressure and pain in areas of your lower extremities along the path of the irritated nerve. When the nerve is a lower lumbar nerve root, the symptoms may radiate down the leg producing what is often referred to as Sciatica. When disc material causing nerve compression is removed, the pressure on the nerve is often relieved, and the patient's pain may resolve.




Pictured above is a herniated disc with resulting compressed nerve.