Methods and instrumentation for distraction of a disc space

• US 20050154396A1
• Filed: 01/04/2005
• Published: 07/14/2005
• 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 7,648,512 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/90
• 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 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, said shaft being movable relative to said blade along a length of said shaft in a direction away from a plane through an axis extending parallel to said pair of side surfaces of said blade.

2. The shim according to claim 1, wherein said height to thickness ratio is greater than 5.

3. The shim according to claim 1, wherein said shaft is bendable after insertion of said blade into the disc space for connecting said second end to a table-based arm.

4. The shim according to claim 3, wherein said second end includes a pair of prongs forming a gap therebetween.

5. The shim according to claim 1, wherein said blade has a pair of shoulders at said trailing end extending between said shaft and said top and bottom surfaces.

6. The shim according to claim 5, wherein each of said shoulders includes a flange projecting beyond a respective one of said top and bottom surfaces.

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

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

9. 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

10. The shim according to claim 9, wherein said blade has a height to thickness ratio greater than 3.

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

12. The shim according to claim 9, wherein said shim is made from aluminum.

13-29. -29. (canceled)

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

a shaft having a first end a second end, said second end including a pair of prongs forming a gap therebetween; and

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.

31. The shim of claim 30, 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.

32. The shim of claim 30, wherein said shaft is bendable upon removal of said driver for connecting said prong at said second end to a table-based arm.

33. The shim of claim 30, wherein each of said shoulders includes a flange projecting beyond a respective one of said top and bottom surfaces.

34. The shim of claim 30, 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.

35. A shim for maintaining a distracted disc space, 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, wherein each of said shoulders includes a flange projecting beyond a respective one of said top and bottom surfaces.

36. The shim of claim 35, wherein said second end includes a pair of prongs forming a gap therebetween.

37. The shim of claim 35, 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.