Segmented joint distractor

• US 20060293685A1
• Filed: 08/10/2006
• Published: 12/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Biomet Manufacturing, LLC (Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Kevin T Stone and RYAN Cameron Lakin
• Inventors: Stone, Kevin Thomas, Lakin, Ryan Cameron
• Granted Patent: US 7,819,881 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/90
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/025 Joint distractors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00539 hydraulically
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00557 inflatable A61B2017/22051 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0275 for the hip

Abstract

A method of separating two articulating surfaces of a joint is provided. The method includes providing a distractor having a series of generally spheroidal members. The method also includes inserting the distractor into the joint, and moving the distractor to separate the two articulating surfaces.

Claims

1. A method of separating two articulating surfaces of a joint of a hip having a femoral head and an acetabulum in part with a distractor comprising:

distracting externally the femoral head from the acetabulum a first space;

inserting the distractor in the first space between the femoral head and the acetabulum;

increasing the distractor dimension;

distracting internally the femoral head from the acetabulum to create a second dimension in the first space;

performing a medical procedure in the first space;

decreasing the internal distractor height dimension; and

removing the distractor from the joint.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

passing at least one instrument into the first space defined between the members; and

performing a procedure on at least one of the articulating surfaces.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a cord coupled to a plurality of members having an increasing dimension among the plurality of members; and

providing a first handle coupled to a first end of the chord.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the plurality of members are provided as a series of members with an increasing dimension;

arranging the series of members on the cord such that a member with a small dimension is adjacent to the first handle, and the dimension of each of the members in the series of members gradually increases from the first handle; and

wherein increasing the distractor height includes moving the cord to move the series of members to gradually increase a separation distance between the two articulating surfaces.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

selecting the members to be at least one of generally spheroidal, flattened on a side, planar regioned, elongated, or combinations thereof.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

viewing the space via an arthroscope.

7. A method of separating two articulating surfaces of a joint comprising:

providing a distractor having a series of members;

distracting the joint slightly;

inserting the distractor into the joint; and

pulling the distractor through the joint to separate the two articulating surfaces while maintaining at least partial contact of the joint.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

inserting at least one instrument through a region defined between the members; and

performing a procedure on at least one of the articulating surfaces.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

providing a first handle coupled to a first end of the distractor and a second handle coupled to a second end of the distractor;

inserting the first handle into the joint; and

pulling the first handle to separate the two articulating surfaces.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

providing the series of members with an increasing dimension;

arranging the series of members on the distractor such that a member with a small dimension is adjacent to the first handle, and the dimension of each of the members gradually increases in dimension from the first handle to the second handle; and

moving the distractor to move the series of members to enable a gradual increase in the separation distance between the two articulating surfaces.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein providing the series of members further comprises:

coupling together the members with an exterior surface that is one of flat, curved, oblong, or a combination thereof.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein distracting the joint slightly includes moving a femoral head a distance from an internal articulation surface of an acetabulum to create a first space;

and wherein inserting the distractor includes moving the distractor into the first space to move the femoral head less than about 10 centimeters from the articulation surface of the acetabulum.

13. A method of separating two articulating surfaces of a joint defined by two boney portions, comprising:

providing an instrument including;

providing a first end with a first handle operably interconnected therewith;

providing a series of members;

coupling the series of members;

passing the first handle into the joint;

pulling the first handle to contact the boney portions with the members to separate the two articulating surfaces;

inserting at least one instrument into a space defined between the two articulating surfaces formed by pulling the first handle; and

preparing at least one of the two articulating surfaces.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

wherein providing the series of members includes providing members with an increasing dimension;

arranging the series of members on the instrument such that a member with a small dimension is adjacent to the first handle and the dimension of each of the members in the series of members gradually increases in dimension away from the first handle; and

pulling the instrument moves the series of members to gradually increase a separation distance between the two articulating surfaces.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein providing the series of members further comprises:

providing the series of members with an exterior surface that is round, curved, flat, oblong or combinations thereof.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein providing the series of members further comprises:

providing a series of bone contacting members.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein providing the series of members further comprises:

selecting the members to be at least one of generally spheroidal, flattened on a side, planar regioned, elongated, or combinations thereof.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein preparing at least one of the two articulating surfaces includes:

moving an instrument between the members; and

obtaining access to the tissue in a hip joint.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein obtaining access to a hip joint includes:

maintaining mobility of a leg and not distracting the hip joint.

20. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

first preparing the joint by initially moving the two articulating surfaces a first distance apart while maintaining the mobility of the joint; and

moving the instrument into the prepared joint to allow for internal distraction of the joint;

wherein pulling the first handle causes distraction of the joint from an interior of the joint.