Tissue distraction device

• US 20060161166A1
• Filed: 03/09/2006
• Published: 07/20/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Spine Wave Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Spine Wave Incorporated
• Inventors: Lipschultz, Tyler, Johnson, Wes D., Kieval, Robert, Wales, Larry
• Granted Patent: US 7,780,734 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/90
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/025 Joint distractors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/66 Alignment, compression or distraction mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7097 Stabilisers comprising fluid filler in an implant, e.g. balloon; devices for inserting or filling such implants disc prostheses made of inflatable chambers or pockets filled with fluid A61F2/441; replacing the nucleus pulposus A61F2002/444
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8852 capable of being assembled or enlarged, or changing shape, inside the bone or disc
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0256 for the spine
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/28 Bones joints A61F2/30
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/44 for the spine, e.g. vertebrae, spinal discs
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/442 Intervertebral or spinal discs, e.g. resilient non-disc-shaped intervertebral inflatable pockets A61F2/441; non-disc-shaped intervertebral fusion implants A61F2/4455
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4425 made of articulated components
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4455 for the fusion of spinal bodies, e.g. intervertebral fusion of adjacent spinal bodies, e.g. fusion cages intervertebral discs A61F2/442
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/447 substantially parallelepipedal, e.g. having a rectangular or trapezoidal cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4611 of spinal prostheses
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30075 swellable, e.g. when wetted
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3008 radio-opaque, e.g. radio-opaque markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30237 partial tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30261 parallelepipedal
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30385 the rib and groove having non-parallel, e.g. conically-tapered, cooperating sides, e.g. having a trapezoidal front cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30387 Dovetail connection
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30392 Rotation
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/304 with additional means for limiting said sliding
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30448 : using adhesives
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30449 : the adhesive being cement
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30462 : retained or tied with a rope, string, thread, wire or cable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30476 : locked by an additional locking mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3049 : using a slidable sleeve covering the connection
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/305 : Snap connection
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30599 : stackable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30604 : modular
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30616 : Sets comprising a plurality of prosthetic parts of different sizes or orientations
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30772 : Apertures or holes, e.g. of circular cross section
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4415 : elements of the prosthesis being arranged in a chain like manner
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4485 : comprising three or more adjacent spinal implants
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4627 : with linear motion along or rotating motion about the instrument axis or the implantation direction, e.g. telescopic, along a guiding rod, screwing inside the instrument
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4666 : for measuring force, pressure or mechanical tension
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0061 : swellable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0025 : Connections or couplings between prosthetic parts, e.g. between modular parts; Connecting elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/005 : using adhesives
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0075 : sutured, ligatured or stitched, retained or tied with a rope, string, thread, wire or cable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0069 : cylindrical
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0082 : parallelepipedal
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0063 : Nested prosthetic parts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0098 : radio-opaque, e.g. radio-opaque markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00017 : Iron- or Fe-based alloys, e.g. stainless steel
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00023 : Titanium or titanium-based alloys, e.g. Ti-Ni alloys
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00029 : Cobalt-based alloys, e.g. Co-Cr alloys or Vitallium
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00071 : Nickel or Ni-based alloys
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00203 : containing alumina or aluminium oxide
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00239 : containing zirconia or zirconium oxide ZrO2
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00293 : containing a phosphorus-containing compound, e.g. apatite
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00353 : Bone cement, e.g. polymethylmethacrylate or PMMA
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00359 : Bone or bony tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00365 : Proteins; Polypeptides; Degradation products thereof
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 606/907 : Composed of particular material or coated
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 606/912 : Radiolucent material
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 606/914 : Toolkit for installing or removing spinal positioner or stabilizer

Abstract

An apparatus and method for distracting, in a given direction, and supporting two tissue surfaces. A plurality of wafers are consecutively inserted between the two tissue surfaces to create a column of wafers. The column of wafers is oriented between the tissue surfaces so as to expand in the given direction as the wafers are consecutively added to the column.

Claims

1-97. -97. (canceled)

98. A kit for use in the distraction of tissue surfaces in a given direction, comprising;

a plurality of elements adapted for contact with each other; and

an inserter for consecutively inserting a plurality of elements between said tissue surfaces in a manner such that such elements are placed in contact with each other in a direction generally extending in the given direction.

99. The kit of claim 98 further including bone filler.

100. An apparatus for distracting body tissue, comprising:

an expandable implant comprising a lower member and an upper member, said lower member and said upper member being movably separable and configured for disposition between body tissue to be distracted;

an inserter releasably connected to said expandable implant; and

a plurality of elements, each configured to be consecutively delivered by said inserter between said lower member and said upper member and to cause separation of said lower member and said upper member upon receipt therebetween.

101. The apparatus of claim 100, wherein said elements are each substantially the same size.

102. The apparatus of claim 100, wherein the size of said lower member is greater than the size of said elements.

103. The apparatus of claim 102, wherein the size of said upper member is greater than the size of said elements.

104. The apparatus of claim 100, wherein said inserter is releasably connected to said lower member.

105. The apparatus of claim 100, wherein each said element is a substantially flat plate member configured to be slidably received one atop the other.

106. The apparatus of claim 105, wherein said upper member, said lower member and said plate members are key for interlocking coupling.

107. The apparatus of claim 100, wherein said inserter includes a movable plunger operable to move said elements from said inserter to said implant.

108. The apparatus of claim 107, wherein said inserter further includes a mechanism for feeding wafers between said plunger and said implant.

110. The apparatus of claim 100, wherein said body tissue to be distracted is defined by superior and inferior endplates of opposing vertebral bodies in a spine, wherein said upper member and said lower member are configured for receipt between said vertebral bodies and upon receipt of said elements to form a structure between said superior and inferior endplates of said opposing vertebral bodies.

111. The apparatus of claim 100, wherein said body tissue to be distracted is defined by surfaces of a damaged or fractured tibia, wherein said upper member and said lower member are configured for receipt between said surfaces and upon receipt of said elements to form a structure between said surfaces.

109. The apparatus of 100, wherein said body tissue to be distracted is defined by superior and inferior surfaces of a damaged or diseased vertebral body in a spine, wherein said upper member and said lower member are configured for receipt into said vertebral body and upon receipt of said elements to form a structure between said superior and inferior surfaces of said vertebral body.

112. An apparatus for sequentially inserting wafers, stackable consecutively one upon another to form a stack extending in a given direction into a body tissue space to be distracted, the apparatus comprising;

an inserter configured to sequentially advance wafers from a source of wafers into the space to be distracted, said inserter having a distal end for extending into said body tissue space;

a first wafer supported by said inserter at said distal end, said first wafer defining a support surface for supporting subsequent wafers received from said inserter; and

a connection mechanism releasably connecting said first wafer to said inserter.

113. The apparatus of claim 112, wherein said first wafer is of size greater than the size of subsequently received wafers.

114. The apparatus of claim 113, wherein said inserter supports said source of wafers.

115. The apparatus of claim 112, wherein said connection mechanism is capable of supporting forces generated during the consecutive stacking of wafers and to cause separation of said first wafer from said inserter upon movement of said inserter away from said stack of wafers once formed in said body tissue.

116. The apparatus of claim 115, wherein said connection mechanism comprises a releasable press fit between said first wafer and said inserter.

117. The apparatus of claim 115 wherein said connection mechanism comprises a breakable adhesive bond between said first wafer and said inserter.

118. The apparatus of claim 115 wherein said connection mechanism comprises a releasable mechanical coupling between said first wafer and said inserter.

119. The apparatus of claim 112, wherein said first wafer is substantially flat.

120. The apparatus of claim 112, wherein said first wafer is curved in a plane generally normal to said given direction.

121. The apparatus of claim 120, wherein said inserter comprises a guide track for inserting said first wafer into said body tissue space, said guide track being curved in the same plane as said first wafer.