Method and apparatus for spinal distraction

• US 20050137602A1
• Filed: 10/22/2004
• Published: 06/23/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mis Ip Holdings LLC
• Original Assignee: TranS1 Incorporated (Baxano Surgical, Inc.)
• Inventors: Assell, Robert L., Cragg, Andrew H., Ainsworth, Stephen D., Dickhudt, Eugene A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,473,256 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/90
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0218 for minimally invasive surgery A61B17/0281, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/025 Joint distractors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1604 Chisels; Rongeurs; Punches; Stamps
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1615 Drill bits, i.e. rotating tools extending from a handpiece to contact the worked material
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1671 for the spine
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1697 specially adapted for wire insertion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1757 for the spine
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7074 Tools specially adapted for spinal fixation operations other than for bone removal or filler handling A61B17/7062, A61B17/808, A61B17/8858 take precedence; for spinal image producing devices A61B90/36, A61B34/20; markers A61B90/39
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8615 at the central region of the screw head
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/888 the driver bit acting on the central region of the screw head
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8888 at its central region
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8897 Guide wires or guide pins
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00261 Discectomy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0046 with a releasable handle; with handle and operating part separable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00469 for insertion of instruments, e.g. guide wire, optical fibre
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0256 for the spine
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22038 with a guide wire
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22044 with a pointed tip
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/3445 used as instrument channel for multiple instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/922 Devices for impaction, impact element

Abstract

Disclosed are surgical tools, tool sets and methods for percutaneously accessing and preparing treatment sites within the spine for subsequent treatment procedures. The treatment site may be an inter-vertebral motion segments in the lumbar and sacral regions of the spine. The tool set may comprise introducer tools and bone dilators for accessing and tapping into a targeted site, such as, for example, the anterior surface of the S1 vertebral body. The tool set may also comprise cutters and extractors for preparing the treatment site for subsequent treatment procedures. The tool set may additionally comprise a bone graft inserter, an exchange system, and/or a temporary distraction tool for further preparing the treatment site for subsequent treatment procedures.

Claims

1. A method of treating the spine, comprising the steps of:

identifying a site on the anterior surface of the sacrum;

forming a lumen from the site into the sacrum, through a first vertebral body and into a second vertebral body;

introducing a temporary distraction device into the lumen;

increasing the distance between the first and second vertebral body; and

removing the temporary distraction device from the lumen.

2. A method of treating the spine as in claim 1, additionally comprising engaging a proximal component of the distraction device with respect to the first vertebral body and engaging a distal component of the distraction device with respect to the second vertebral body.

3. A method of treating the spine as in claim 2, wherein the proximal and distal components are releasably connected together.

4. A method of treating the spine as in claim 1, wherein the lumen extends at least as far as the L5 vertebrae.

5. A method of treating the spine as in claim 4, wherein the lumen is linear.

6. A method of treating the spine as in claim 1, wherein the forming step comprises drilling.

7. A method of treating the spine as in claim 1, wherein the method additionally comprises removing at least a part of a disc from between the first and the second vertebral bodies.

8. A method of treating the spine as in claim 1, wherein the method additionally comprises removing an entire nucleus from between the first and the second vertebral bodies.

9. A method of increasing the distance between a first vertebral body and a second vertebral body, comprising the steps of:

providing an internal distraction device having an elongate body, a first threaded surface on a proximal portion of the body and a second threaded surface on a distal portion of the body;

engaging the first threaded surface with the first vertebral body, and the second threaded surface with the second vertebral body; and

rotating the distraction device to increase the distance between the first vertebral body and the second vertebral body.

10. A distraction device, comprising:

an elongate body, having at least a proximal component releasably connected to a distal component;

a proximal thread on the proximal component, having a first pitch and a first major diameter;

a distal thread on the distal component, having a second pitch and a second major diameter;

wherein the first pitch is different than the second pitch and the first major diameter is greater than the second major diameter.

11. A distraction device as in claim 10, wherein the first major diameter is within the range of from about 10 mm to about 15 mm.

12. A distraction device as in claim 11, wherein the second major diameter is no greater than about 98% of the first major diameter.

13. A distraction device as in claim 10, wherein the elongate body has a length within the range of from about 1.25 inches to about 2.25 inches.

14. A distraction device as in claim 10, wherein each of the proximal thread and the distal thread has an axial length within the range of from about 0.5 inches to about 1.25 inches.

15. A distraction device as in claim 10, further comprising complementary threaded surfaces in between the proximal component and the distal component.

16. A distraction device as in claim 10, wherein the elongate body comprises stainless steel.

17. A distraction device as in claim 10, wherein the elongate body comprises titanium.

18. A distraction device as in claim 10, wherein each of the proximal thread and the distal thread extends counterclockwise around the body, viewed in a proximal to distal direction.

19. A distraction device as in claim 10, wherein each of the proximal thread and the distal thread extends clockwise around the body, viewed in a proximal to distal direction.

20. A distraction device as in claim 10, wherein each of the proximal thread and the distal thread are self tapping.

21. A distraction device as in claim 11, wherein the first major diameter is within the range of from about 12 mm to about 13 mm.

22. A distraction device as in claim 10, wherein the second major diameter is about 9 mm.

23. A distraction device as in claim 10, wherein the second pitch is less than the first pitch.

24. A distraction device as in claim 10, wherein the first pitch is within the range of from about 10 to about 15 turns per inch.

25. A distraction device as in claim 10, wherein the second pitch is within the range of from about 10 to about 20 turns per inch.

26. A distraction device as in claim 10, wherein the second pitch is at least about 105% of the first pitch.

27. A distraction device as in claim 10, wherein the second pitch is at least about 110% of the first pitch.

28. A distraction device as in claim 10, wherein the second pitch is at least about 125% of the first pitch.

29. A distraction device as in claim 10, further comprising a releasable coupling, for releasably engaging a rotatable driver tool.

30. A temporary distraction device, comprising:

an elongate body, having at least a proximal component and a distal component;

a proximal bone engaging thread on the proximal component;

a distal bone engaging thread on the distal component, axially separated from the proximal bone engaging thread; and

a rotatable driver;

wherein rotating the rotatable driver changes the axial separation between the proximal and distal bone engaging threads.

31. A temporary distraction device as in claim 30, wherein the elongate body has a length within the range of from about 1.25 inches to about 2.25 inches.

32. A temporary distraction device as in claim 30, wherein each of the proximal thread and the distal thread has an axial length within the range of from about 0.5 inches to about 1.25 inches.

33. A temporary distraction device as in claim 30, further comprising complementary threaded surfaces in between the proximal component and the distal component.

34. A temporary distraction device as in claim 30, wherein the elongate body comprises stainless steel.

35. A temporary distraction device as in claim 30, wherein the elongate body comprises titanium.

36. A temporary distraction device as in claim 30, wherein each of the proximal thread and the distal thread extends counterclockwise around the body, viewed in a proximal to distal direction.

37. A temporary distraction device as in claim 30, wherein each of the proximal thread and the distal thread extends clockwise around the body, viewed in a proximal to distal direction.

38. A temporary distraction device as in claim 30, wherein each of the proximal thread and the distal thread are self tapping.

39. A temporary distraction device as in claim 30, further comprising a releasable coupling, for releasably engaging the rotatable driver.