Systems and methods for stabilizing the motion or adjusting the position of the spine

• US 20060122620A1
• Filed: 12/06/2004
• Published: 06/08/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University (Stanford University)
• Original Assignee: Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University (Stanford University)
• Inventors: Kim, Daniel H.
• Granted Patent: US 9,023,084 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/90
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/025 Joint distractors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3468 for implanting or removing devices, e.g. prostheses, implants, seeds, wires devices for implanting seeds A61M37/0069
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7064 Devices acting on, attached to, or simulating the effect of, vertebral facets; Tools therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7065 Devices with changeable shape, e.g. collapsible or having retractable arms to aid implantation; Tools therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7067 Devices bearing against one or more spinous processes and also attached to another part of the spine; Tools therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00557 inflatable A61B2017/22051 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0256 for the spine

Abstract

The present invention provides systems and methods for stabilizing or adjusting the position of at least one spinal motion segment.

Claims

1. A posterior element distraction system for implantation at a spinal motion segment comprising a superior vertebra, an inferior vertebra, each vertebra comprising a posterior element comprising a spinous process, laminal portions and a set of facet joints, and further comprising an interspinous space between the spinous processes, the system comprising:

at least one lateral member for positioning on a side of the spinal motion segment and outside the interspinous space, wherein the at least one lateral member has an unexpanded configuration and an expanded configuration; and

first and second transverse members extending transversely from the at least one lateral member, wherein when the system is operatively implanted at a spinal motion segment and the at least one lateral member is in an expanded configuration, the transverse members are caused to contact a portion of either the superior or inferior posterior elements thereby providing distraction between the superior and inferior posterior elements.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the system comprises two lateral members for positioning on opposite sides of spinal motion segment.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein each transverse member is a strap extending between the two lateral members.

4. The system of claim 2, further comprising a meshing about the two lateral members.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the system comprises only one lateral member.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one lateral member comprises a balloon configuration.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one lateral member comprises a strut configuration.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one lateral member comprises a balloon and a strut.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the transverse members have a pre-formed configuration.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the transverse members have a flexible configuration.

11. A system for implanting the system of claim 1, the implantation system comprising:

a temporary distraction device having an expanded configuration and an unexpanded configuration and further configured for insertion within the interspinous space, wherein upon expansion of the device, the superior and inferior vertebrae are distracted from each other.

12. The system of claim 11, further comprising:

a working channel for delivering the temporary distraction device and the posterior distraction system, wherein the temporary distraction device is deliverable in an unexpanded configuration.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the temporary distraction device and the posterior distraction system are deliverable simultaneously to the spinal motion segment.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the temporary distraction device comprises a balloon.

15. A method for distracting at least a portion of a spinal motion segment comprising a superior vertebra, an inferior vertebra, each vertebra comprising a posterior element comprising a spinous process, laminal portions and a set of facet joints, and further comprising an interspinous space between the spinous processes, the method comprising:

inserting an expandable member laterally of the spinal motion segment; and

expanding the expandable member thereby distracting the superior vertebra and the inferior vertebra relative to each other.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

inserting two transverse members within the interspinous space.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the distraction between the vertebrae is along the longitudinal axis of the spine.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the distraction between the vertebrae is rotational.

19. A method for distracting at least a portion of a spinal motion segment comprising a superior vertebra, an inferior vertebra, each vertebra comprising a posterior element comprising a spinous process, laminal portions and a set of facet joints, and further comprising an interspinous space between the spinous processes, the method comprising:

distracting the superior vertebra and the inferior vertebra relative to each other until a desired amount of distraction is achieved;

inserting an implantable expandable member within the interspinous space; and

expanding the implantable expandable member to contact the spinous processes thereby maintaining the distraction achieved.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the distracting comprises using another expandable member positionable within the interspinous space;

and wherein the other expandable member is removed subsequent to the expanding of the implantable expandable.