Methods and instrumentation for distraction of a disc space

• US 20030032966A1
• Filed: 09/27/2002
• Published: 02/13/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kevin T. Foley, Mingyan Liu
• Original Assignee: Kevin T. Foley, Mingyan Liu
• Inventors: Liu, Mingyan, Foley, Kevin T.
• Granted Patent: US 6,855,148 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/105
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/025 Joint distractors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0256 for the spine

Abstract

Methods and instrumentation for surgical procedures relating to preparation of vertebral bodies and a disc space for insertion of spinal implants is disclosed. One instrument is a shim having a blade and a shaft having a first end connected with the blade. The blade is inserted into a distracted disc space to maintain distraction during subsequent procedures. Another instrument is a driver for driving the blade of the shim into the distracted disc space. Various methods contemplate the use of these instruments to maintain disc space distraction during disc space preparation for receiving an implant.

Claims

1. A shim assembly for maintaining distraction of a disc space, the assembly comprising:

a shaft having a first end a second end;

a blade connected to said first end of said shaft, said blade having a length extending between a leading end and a trailing end, a height extending between a top surface and a bottom surface, and a thickness extending between a first side surface and a second side surface, and a pair of shoulders at said trailing end extending from said shaft to a respective one of said top and bottom surfaces; and

a driver having a distal end, a proximal end, and a handle extending therebetween, said driver including a channel at its distal end slidably disposed about said shaft of the shim, whereby said channel has a driving end to impact said shoulders upon manipulation of said driver to insert said blade a desired depth into the disc space.

2. The shim assembly according to claim 1, wherein at least said blade is made from a radiolucent material.

3. The shim assembly according to claim 1, wherein said channel of said driver has an open side permitting side-loading of said shaft in said channel.

4. The shim assembly according to claim 1, wherein said channel is enclosed and shaft must be end-loaded in said channel.

5. The shim assembly of claim 1, wherein said blade includes a height to thickness ratio greater than 3.

6. The shim assembly according to claim 1, wherein said blade includes a height to thickness ratio is greater than 5.

7. The shim assembly of claim 1, wherein said shaft include opposite side surfaces therealong, said opposite side surfaces of said shaft each being co-planar with a respective one of said first and second side surfaces of said blade.

8. The shim assembly according to claim 1, wherein said shaft is bendable upon removal of said driver for connecting said second end to a table-based arm.

9. The shim assembly according to claim 8, wherein said second end includes a pair of prongs forming a gap therebetween.

10. The shim assembly according to claim 1, wherein each of said shoulders includes a flange projecting beyond a respective one of said top and bottom surfaces.

11. The shim assembly according to claim 1, wherein said leading end of said blade is rounded.

12. The shim assembly of claim 1, wherein said shaft is bendable along a length thereof away from a plane through an axis extending parallel to said pair of side surfaces of said blade.

13. The shim assembly of claim 1, wherein said channel of said driver is offset along one side of said handle.

14. The shim assembly of claim 1, wherein said channel includes a distal end opening and a proximal end opening and a receptacle defined by a wall extending therebetween.

15. The shim assembly of claim 14, wherein said channel includes an opening in said wall in communication with said receptacle, said opening in said wall extending between said distal end and said proximal end of said channel.

16. The shim assembly of claim 14, wherein said wall extends completely around said receptacle.

17. A shim for maintaining a distracted disc space, the shim comprising:

a blade having a length extending between a leading end and a trailing end, a height extending between a top surface and a bottom surface, and a thickness extending between a first side surface and a second side surface, said blade having a height to thickness ratio greater than 3; and

a shaft having a first end and an opposite second end and a pair of opposite side surfaces extending therebetween, said first end connected to said, trailing end of said blade, said opposite side surfaces of said shaft each being co-planar with a respective one of said first and second side surfaces of said blade.

18. The shim according to claim 17, wherein said height to thickness ratio is greater than 5.

19. The shim according to claim 17, wherein said shaft is bendable after insertion of said blade into the disc space for connecting said second end to a table-based arm.

20. The shim according to claim 19, wherein said second end includes a pair of prongs forming a gap therebetween.

21. The shim according to claim 17, wherein said blade has a pair of shoulders at said trailing end extending between said shaft and said top and bottom surfaces.

22. The shim according to claim 21, wherein each of said shoulders includes a flange projecting beyond a respective one of said top and bottom surfaces.

23. The shim according to claim 17, wherein said leading end of said blade is rounded.

24. The shim according to claim 17, wherein at least said blade is made from a radiolucent material.

25. A shim for maintaining a distracted disc space, the shim comprising:

a blade having a length extending between a leading end and a trailing end, a height extending between a top surface and a bottom surface, and a thickness extending between a first side surface and a second side surface; and

a shaft having a longitudinal axis and a first end and an opposite second end and a pair of generally parallel side surfaces extending therebetween along said axis, said first end connected to said trailing end of said blade, wherein said shaft is bendable along said length away from a plane through said axis extending parallel to said pair of side surfaces of said shaft

26. The shim according to claim 25, wherein said blade has a height to thickness ratio greater than 3.

27. The shim according to claim 25, wherein said second end of said shaft includes a pair of prongs forming a gap therebetween.

28. The shim according to claim 25, wherein said shim is made from aluminum.