Minimally invasive method and apparatus for placing facet screws and fusing adjacent vertebrae

• US 20060079908A1
• Filed: 06/20/2005
• Published: 04/13/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cleveland Clinic Foundation
• Original Assignee: Cleveland Clinic Foundation
• Inventors: Lieberman, Isador H.
• Granted Patent: US 7,740,635 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/99
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/171 for external fixation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1757 for the spine
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7064 Devices acting on, attached to, or simulating the effect of, vertebral facets; Tools therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/061 for measuring dimensions, e.g. length
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/062 penetration depth

Abstract

An example apparatus places translaminar screws across a facet joint between adjacent first and second vertebrae in a minimally invasive surgical procedure. The apparatus includes a first K-wire, a second K-wire, a first fixation block, a second fixation block, a support block, a first rod member, a second rod member, and a cannula. The first K-wire is inserted into the spinous process of the first vertebrae. The second K-wire is inserted into a transverse process of the second vertebrae. The first fixation block has perpendicularly extending first and second passages. The first K-wire extends into the first passage in the first fixation block. The second fixation block has perpendicularly extending first and second passages. The second K-wire extends into the first passage in the second fixation block. The support block has perpendicularly extending first and second passages. The first K-wire extends into the first passage in the support block. The first rod member extends through the second passage in the first fixation block and the second passage in the second fixation block. The second rod member further secures the first and second fixation blocks to the first and second vertebrae. The second rod member extends through the second passage in the support block. The cannula enables implantation of the translaminar screws across a facet joint between the first and second vertebrae.

Claims

1. An apparatus for placing translaminar screws across a facet joint between adjacent first and second vertebrae in a minimally invasive surgical procedure, said apparatus comprising:

a first K-wire for inserting into a spinous process of the first vertebrae;

a second K-wire for inserting into a transverse process of the second vertebrae;

a first fixation block having perpendicularly extending first and second passages, said first K-wire extending into said first passage in said first fixation block

a second fixation block having perpendicularly extending first and second passages, said second K-wire extending into said first passage in said second fixation block;

a first support block having perpendicularly extending first and second passages, said first K-wire extending into said first passage in said first support block;

a first rod member extending through said second passage in said first fixation block and said second passage in said second fixation block;

a second rod member for further securing said first and second fixation blocks to the first and second vertebrae, said second rod member extending through said second passage in said first support block; and

a cannula for implanting the translaminar screws across a facet joint between the first and second vertebrae.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further including a swivel block assembly comprising relatively movable first and second block members, said first block member having a passage for receiving said first rod member.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 further including a second support block for receiving said second rod member, said second support block further securing said first and second fixation blocks to the first and second vertebrae.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 further including a third K-wire for inserting into a portion of a pelvic bone or other bony landmark, said second support block being secured to said third K-wire.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 further including a third rod member extending through said second support block, said third rod member being secured to a third K-wire and a fourth K-wire, said third and fourth K-wires being secured to a portion of a pelvic bone or other bony landmark.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first and second K-wires include graduations for measuring axial length along said K-wires.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first rod member includes graduations for measuring axial length along said first rod member.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 further including a swivel block assembly comprising relatively rotatable first and second block members, said second block member having a passage for receiving said cannula.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first fixation block includes a first thumbscrew for securing said first K-wire to said first fixation block and a second thumbscrew for securing said first rod member to said first fixation block.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first support block includes a first thumbscrew for securing said first K-wire to said first support block and a second thumbscrew for securing said second rod member to said first support block.

11. A minimally invasive apparatus for placing screws across a facet joint between adjacent first and second vertebrae, said apparatus comprising:

a first K-wire for inserting into a spinous process of the first vertebrae;

a first fixation block removably connected to said first K-wire;

a second K-wire for inserting into a transverse process of the second vertebrae;

a second fixation block removably connected to said second K-wire;

a first rod member removably connected to both of said first and second fixation blocks;

a support apparatus for further securing said first and second K-wires to the first and second vertebrae; and

a cannula for implanting the screws across the facet joint between the first and second vertebrae.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 further including a swivel block assembly comprising relatively movable first and second block members, said first rod member being removably connected to said first block member.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said support apparatus includes a third K-wire for further securing said cannula to the first and second vertebrae.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said support apparatus includes a fourth K-wire for further securing said cannula to the first and second vertebrae.

15. The apparatus of claim 11 further including serrations for controllably adjusting the angular position of said cannula.

16. An apparatus for placing screws through a cannula and across a facet joint between adjacent first and second vertebrae, said apparatus comprising:

a first K-wire for inserting into a spinous process of the first vertebrae;

a first fixation block removably connected to said first K-wire;

a second K-wire for inserting into a transverse process of the second vertebrae;

a second fixation block removably connected to said second K-wire;

a first rod member removably connected to both said first and second fixation blocks; and

a support apparatus for further securing said first and second K-wires to the first and second vertebrae.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 further including a swivel assembly for angularly adjusting a distal end the cannula to a position adjacent the facet joint.

18. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said support apparatus includes a support block and a third fixation block, said support block securing said support apparatus to said first K-wire, said third fixation block securing said support apparatus to a third K-wire.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said support apparatus further includes a second rod member for securing said support block to said third fixation block.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said support block and said third fixation block are both secured to said second rod member by thumbscrews.