Spinal Tissue Distraction Devices

• US 20070055272A1
• Filed: 08/15/2006
• Published: 03/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IZI Medical Products LLC (Halma PLC)
• Original Assignee: Benvenue Medical, Inc. (Halma PLC)
• Inventors: Schaller, Laurent
• Granted Patent: US 7,666,226 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/90
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/70 Spinal positioners or stabilisers ; Bone stabilisers comprising fluid filler in an implant
• 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 2017/00867 shape memory effect
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0256 for the spine
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/44 for the spine, e.g. vertebrae, spinal discs
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/441 made of inflatable pockets or chambers filled with fluid, e.g. with hydrogel
• 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 2/4455 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 2/4611 of spinal prostheses
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/2835 Bone graft implants for filling a bony defect or an endoprosthesis cavity, e.g. by synthetic material or biological material
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30092 using shape memory or superelastic materials, e.g. nitinol
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30153 rectangular
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30235 tubular, e.g. sleeves
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30263 cubical
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30289 helically-coiled
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30462 retained or tied with a rope, string, thread, wire or cable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3052 unrestrained in only one direction, e.g. moving unidirectionally
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30594 slotted, e.g. radial or meridian slot ending in a polar aperture, non-polar slots, horizontal or arcuate slots
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30601 telescopic
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30677 : Means for introducing or releasing pharmaceutical products, e.g. antibiotics, into the body
• 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 2002/448 : comprising multiple adjacent spinal implants within the same intervertebral space or within the same vertebra, e.g. comprising two 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 2002/4635 : using minimally invasive surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4683 : by applying ultrasonic vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4688 : having operating or control means
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0014 : using shape memory or superelastic materials, e.g. nitinol
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0085 : hardenable in situ, e.g. epoxy resins
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0025 : Connections or couplings between prosthetic parts, e.g. between modular parts; Connecting elements
• 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 2230/0019 : rectangular
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0069 : cylindrical
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0084 : cubical
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0091 : helically-coiled or spirally-coiled, i.e. having a 2-D spiral cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0067 : Means for introducing or releasing pharmaceutical products into the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00293 : containing a phosphorus-containing compound, e.g. apatite

Abstract

Spinal tissue distraction devices that include at least one guide member for guiding a distraction device to a location between layers of spinal tissue. The guide member has a proximal end portion and a distal end portion. The distal end portion is adapted for insertion between the tissue layers and defines a shape of a desired support structure. The distraction device is slidably mounted on the guide member for advancing the distraction device distally along the guide member for insertion of the distraction device between the tissue layers. The distraction device substantially conforms to the shape defined by the distal end portion of the guide member to form a support structure that separates, supports or both separates and supports the tissue layers.

Claims

1. A distraction system for treating the human spine, comprising:

at least one guide member for guiding a generally elongated member to a location between the tissue layers of the spine, said guide member having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, said distal end portion adapted for insertion between the tissue layers and defining a shape of a desired support structure; and

the elongated member slidably mounted on the guide member for advancing the elongated member distally along the guide member for insertion between the tissue layers, said elongated member substantially conforming to the shape defined by the distal end portion of the guide member to form a support structure that separates, supports or both separates and supports the tissue layers.

2. The distraction system of claim 1 in which the guide member has a pre-deployed configuration for insertion of the distal end portion between tissue layers and a deployed configuration in which the distal end portion of the guide member, by change of configuration, forms the shape of the desired support structure.

3. The distraction device of claim 2 in which the pre-deployed configuration of the guide member is generally linear.

4. The distraction system of claim 2 in which the distal end portion of the guide member self-forms into the deployed configuration.

5. The distraction system of claim 4 in which at least the distal end portion of the guide member is comprised of a shape memory material.

6. The distraction system of claim 1 in which the shape of the desired support structure formed by the distal end portion of the guide member is a coil-shape including a plurality of adjacent windings.

7. The distraction system of claim 1 in which the shape of the desired structure formed by the distal end portion of the guide member is a spiral or helical shape.

8. The distraction system of claim 1 further including a cannula for assisting in the insertion of the distal end portion of the guide member to the location between tissue layers.

9. The distraction system of claim 1 further including an energy source that produces ultrasonic vibrations operatively connected to the guide member to aid in the insertion of the distal end portion of the guide member to the location between tissue layers.

10. The distraction system of claim 1 in which the guide member is adapted to be removed from the elongated member after the support structure is formed.

11. The distraction system of claim 1 in which the elongated member has a cross-sectional shape that assists in maintaining the shape of the support structure.

12. The distraction system of claim 1 in which the elongated member includes interfering surfaces that assist in maintaining the shape of the support structure.

13. A distraction system for treating the human spine, comprising:

at least one guide member for guiding a distraction device to a location between the tissue layers of the spine, said guide member having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, said distal end portion adapted for insertion between the tissue layers and defining a shape of a multi-tiered support structure; and

the distraction device slidably mounted on the guide member for advancing the distraction device distally along the guide member for insertion between the tissue layers, said distraction device substantially conforming to the shape defined by the distal end portion of the guide member to form a multi-tiered support structure that separates, supports or both separates and supports the tissue layers.

14. The distraction system of claim 13 in which the guide member has a pre-deployed configuration for insertion of the distal end portion between tissue layers and a deployed configuration in which the distal end portion of the guide member, by change of configuration, forms the shape of the desired support structure.

15. The distraction system of claim 14 in which the pre-deployed configuration of the guide member is generally linear.

16. The distraction system of claim 14 in which the distal end portion of the guide member self-forms into the deployed configuration.

17. The distraction system of claim 16 in which at least the distal end portion of the guide member is comprised of a shape memory material.

18. The distraction system of claim 13 in which the shape of the desired support structure formed by the distal end portion of the guide member is a coil-shape including a plurality of windings.

19. The distraction system of claim 13 further including a cannula for assisting in the insertion of the distal end portion of the guide member to the location between tissue layers.

20. The distraction system of claim 13 further including an energy source that produces ultrasonic vibrations operatively connected to the guide member to aid in the insertion of the distal end portion of the guide member to the location between tissue layers.

21. The distraction system of claim 13 in which the guide member is adapted to be removed from the distraction device after the support structure is formed.

22. The distraction system of claim 13 in which the distraction device comprises an elongated member.

23. The distraction system of claim 13 in which the distraction device comprises a plurality of distraction elements.

24. The distraction system of claim 13 in which the distraction device has a cross-sectional shape that assists in maintaining the shape of the support structure.

25. The distraction system of claim 13 in which the distraction device includes interfering surfaces that assist in maintaining the shape of the support structure.

26. An intravertebral distraction system insertable between a superior endplate and an inferior endplate of a vertebral body, comprising:

at least one guide member for guiding a distraction device to a location within the vertebral body, said guide member having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, said distal end portion adapted for insertion into the vertebral body and defining a shape of a desired support structure; and

the distraction device slidably mounted on the guide member for advancing the distraction device distally along the guide member for insertion into the vertebral body, said distraction device substantially conforming to the shape defined by the distal end portion of the guide member to form a support structure that separates, supports or both separates and supports the superior and inferior endplates.

27. The distraction system of claim 26 in which the guide member has a pre-deployed configuration for insertion of the distal end portion into the vertebral body and a deployed configuration in which the distal end portion of the guide member, by change of configuration, forms the shape of the desired support structure.

28. The distraction system of claim 27 in which the pre-deployed configuration of the guide member is generally linear.

29. The distraction system of claim 27 in which the distal end portion of the guide member self-forms into the deployed configuration.

30. The distraction system of claim 29 in which at least the distal end portion of the guide member is comprised of a shape memory material.

31. The distraction system of claim 26 in which the shape of the desired support structure formed by the distal end portion of the guide member is a coil-shape including a plurality of adjacent windings.

32. The distraction system of claim 26 in which the shape of the desired support structure formed by the distal end portion of the guide member is a spiral or helical shape.

33. The distraction system of claim 26 further including a cannula for assisting in the insertion of the distal end portion of the guide member to the location between tissue layers.

34. The distraction system of claim 26 further including an energy source that produces ultrasonic vibrations operatively connected to the guide member to aid in the insertion of the distal end portion of the guide member to the location between tissue layers.

35. The distraction system of claim 26 in which the guide member is adapted to be removed from the distraction device after the support structure is formed.

36. The distraction system of claim 26 in which the distraction device comprises an elongated member.

37. The distraction system of claim 26 in which the distraction device comprises a plurality of distraction elements.

38. The distraction system of claim 26 in which the distraction device has a cross-sectional shape that assists in maintaining the shape of the support structure.

39. The distraction system of claim 26 in which the distraction device includes interfering surfaces that assist in maintaining the shape of the support structure.

40. An intervertebral distraction system insertable between endplates of a superior vertebra and an inferior vertebra, comprising:

at least one guide member for guiding a distraction device to a location between a superior vertebra and an inferior vertebra, said guide member having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, said distal end portion adapted for insertion between the superior and inferior vertebrae and defining the shape of a desired multi-tiered support structure; and

the distraction device slidably mounted on the guide member for advancing the distraction device distally along the guide member for insertion between the superior and inferior vertebrae, said distraction device substantially conforming to the shape defined by the distal end portion of the guide member to form a support structure that separates, supports or both separates and supports the superior and inferior vertebrae.

41. The distraction system of claim 40 in which the guide member has a pre-deployed configuration for insertion of the distal end portion between the superior and inferior vertebrae and a deployed configuration in which the distal end portion of the guide member, by change of configuration, forms the shape of the desired support structure.

42. The distraction system of claim 41 in which the pre-deployed configuration of the guide member is generally linear.

43. The distraction system of claim 41 in which the distal end portion of the guide member self-forms into the deployed configuration.

44. The method of claim 43 in which at least the distal end portion of the guide member is comprised of a shape memory material.

45. The distraction system of claim 40 in which the shape of the desired support structure formed by the distal end portion of the guide member is a coil-shape including a plurality of windings.

46. The distraction system of claim 40 further including a cannula for assisting in the insertion of the distal end portion of the guide member to the location between superior and inferior vertebrae.

47. The distraction system of claim 40 further including an energy source that produces ultrasonic vibrations operatively connected to the guide member to aid in the insertion of the distal end portion of the guide member to the location between tissue layers.

48. The distraction system of claim 40 in which the guide member is adapted to be removed from the distraction device after the support structure is formed.

49. The distraction system of claim 40 in which the distraction device comprises an elongated member.

50. The distraction system of claim 40 in which the distraction device comprises a plurality of distraction elements.

51. The distraction system of claim 40 in which the distraction device has a cross-sectional shape that assists in maintaining the shape of the support structure.

52. The distraction system of claim 40 in which the distraction device includes interfering surfaces that assist in maintaining the shape of the support structure.