Interspinous process implant having deployable wings and method of implantation

• US 20060271049A1
• Filed: 03/24/2006
• Published: 11/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Europe SARL (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: St. Francis Medical Technologies, Inc. (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Flynn, John J., Klyce, Henry A., Mitchell, Steven T., Zucherman, James F., Winslow, Charles J., Markwart, John A., Hsu, Ken Y., Yerby, Scott A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,959,652 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/249
• 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 17/7068 Devices comprising separate rigid parts, assembled in situ, to bear on each side of spinous processes; Tools therefor

Abstract

An embodiment of a system in accordance with the present invention can include an implant having a spacer with a thickness and a wing, wherein a first configuration of the wing has a first height substantially similar to the thickness and wherein the wing is adapted to be selectably arranged in a second configuration such that the wing has a second height greater than the first height. A periphery of the implant has a shape generally conformal with a shape of an inner surface of a cannula and a cross-sectional diameter smaller than an inner diameter of the cannula. The cannula is inserted such that a proximal end of the cannula is arranged between the adjacent spinous processes. The implant is then urged into position between the adjacent spinous processes by way of the cannula, and subsequently arranged in a second configuration to fix the implant in position.

Claims

1. An interspinous implant adapted to be inserted between spinous processes, the implant comprising:

a spacer having a thickness; and

a wing extending from the spacer, the wing having a first configuration and the wing selectably arrangeable in a second configuration;

wherein in the first configuration the wing has a height that is approximately the same as the thickness of the spacer;

wherein in the second configuration the wing has a height that is greater than the thickness of the spacer.

2. The implant of claim 1, further comprising:

a rod extending through the spacer, the rod being used to selectably arrange the wing to the first configuration and the second configuration when moved relative to the spacer.

3. The implant of claim 1, wherein:

the wing is a second wing; and

the implant further comprises;

a first wing extending from the spacer, the first wing having a first configuration and the first wing selectably arrangeable in a second configuration.

4. The implant of claim 3, wherein:

in the first configuration the first wing has a height that is approximately the same as the thickness of the spacer;

in the second configuration the first wing has a height that is greater than the thickness of the spacer.

5. The implant of claim 1, wherein in the first configuration the wing is a distraction guide.

6. The implant of claim 1, wherein:

the wing includes one or both of an upper end having a first upper hinged structure pivotably connected with a second upper hinged structure and a lower end having a first lower hinged structure pivotably connected with a second lower hinged structure.

7. The implant of claim 2, wherein the rod is fixed in place relative to the spacer by at least one of a pin, a stop, and a clamp.

8. The implant of claim 6, further comprising:

one or both of;

a first strap connected between the first upper hinged structure and the second upper hinged structure, the first strap being adapted to limit the pivoting motion of the first upper hinged structure relative to the second upper hinged structure, and

a second strap connected between the first lower hinged structure and the second lower hinged structure, the second strap being adapted to limit the pivoting motion of the first lower hinged structure and the second lower hinged structure.

9. A system for supporting adjacent spinous processes, the system comprising:

an implant including;

a spacer having a thickness;

a wing;

wherein a first configuration of the wing has a first height substantially similar to the thickness;

wherein the wing is adapted to be selectably arranged in a second configuration such that the wing has a second height greater than the first height;

a cannula having a proximate end positionable between the adjacent spinous processes; and

wherein when the wing is arranged in the first configuration a periphery of the implant has a shape generally conformal with a shape of an inner surface of the cannula and a cross-sectional diameter smaller than an inner diameter of the cannula.

10. The implant of claim 9, further comprising:

a rod extending through the spacer, the rod being adapted to selectably arrange at least the second wing to the first configuration and the second configuration when moved relative to the spacer.

11. The implant of claim 9, wherein:

the wing is a second wing; and

the implant further comprises;

a first wing extending from the spacer, the first wing having a first configuration and the first wing selectably arrangeable in a second configuration.

12. The implant of claim 11, wherein:

in the first configuration the first wing has a height that is approximately the same as the thickness of the spacer;

in the second configuration the first wing has a height that is greater than the thickness of the spacer.

13. The implant of claim 9, wherein in the first configuration the second wing is tapered such that the second wing is a distraction guide.

14. The implant of claim 9, wherein:

the first and second wing include one or both of an upper end having a first upper hinged structure pivotably connected with a second upper hinged structure and a lower end having a first lower hinged structure pivotably connected with a second lower hinged structure.

15. The implant of claim 10, wherein the rod is fixed in place relative to the spacer by at least one of a pin, a stop, and a clamp.

16. The implant of claim 14, further comprising:

one or both of;

a first strap connected between the first upper hinged structure and the second upper hinged structure, the first strap being adapted to limit the pivoting motion of the first upper hinged structure relative to the second upper hinged structure, and

a second strap connected between the first lower hinged structure and the second lower hinged structure, the second strap being adapted to limit the pivoting motion of the first lower hinged structure and the second lower hinged structure.

17. A method of arranging an implant between adjacent spinous processes, the method comprising:

inserting a proximal end of a cannula at a surgical site;

positioning the proximal end between the adjacent spinous processes;

positioning an implant between the adjacent spinous processes by urging the implant through the cannula, the implant including a spacer having a thickness, and a wing, wherein a first configuration of the wing has a first height substantially similar to the thickness;

urging the implant at least partially past the proximal end such that the spacer is arranged between the adjacent spinous processes;

rearranging the wing to a second configuration such that the wing has a second height greater than the first height;

withdrawing the cannula from the surgical site.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the wing is a second wing, and the implant further includes a first wing wherein a first configuration of the first wing has a first height substantially similar to the thickness;

the method further comprising;

withdrawing the cannula so that the first wing is exposed to the surgical site;

rearranging the first wing to a second configuration such that the wing has a second height greater than the first height.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein rearranging the wing to a second configuration includes urging a rod operably associated with the implant in a direction opposite the direction of urging while generally maintaining the implant in position.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

fixing the rod in place, thereby maintaining the wing in the second configuration.