Methods of Distracting Tissue Layers of the Human Spine

• US 20070123986A1
• Filed: 08/15/2006
• Published: 05/31/2007
• 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 8,057,544 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/17.110
• 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 for prostheses A61F2210/0014
• 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

The present invention relates to methods of separating, supporting or both separating and supporting layers of tissue in the human spine. Such methods generally comprise inserting at least one member between layers of tissue in the human spine and changing the configuration of the member to define a support structure between the tissue layers.

Claims

1. A method of treating the human spine, comprising:

inserting at least one generally elongated member between layers of tissue in the human spine;

changing the configuration of the elongated member to define a support structure that separates, supports or both separates and supports the layers of tissue, said support structure including a resident volume.

2. The method of claim 1 in which the inserting comprises inserting the generally elongated member through a cannula to between the layers of tissue.

3. The method of claim 1 in which the support structure comprises a plurality of stacked windings of said elongated member.

4. The method of claim 1 in which the changing of shape of the elongated member results from a self-forming of the elongated member into the shape of the support structure.

5. The method of claim 4 in which the elongated member is comprised of a shape memory material.

6. The method of claim 1 further including inserting filler material or therapeutic drugs into the resident volume or around the support structure.

7. The method of claim 1 further including increasing the extent of the support structure as the elongated member is inserted between tissue layers.

8. The method of claim 1 in which the elongated member is inserted between layers of tissue under the influence of ultrasonic vibrations.

9. A method of treating a vertebral body, comprising:

inserting at least one generally elongated member into a vertebral body; and

changing the configuration of the elongated member to define a support structure that separates, supports or both separates and supports the superior endplate and inferior endplate of the vertebral body, said support structure including a resident volume.

10. The method of claim 9 in which the inserting comprises inserting the generally elongated member through a cannula into the vertebral body.

11. The method of claim 9 in which the support structure comprises a plurality of stacked windings of said elongated member.

12. The method of claim 9 in which the changing of shape of the elongated member results from a self-forming of the elongated member into the shape of the support structure.

13. The method of claim 12 in which the elongated member is comprised of a shape memory material.

14. The method of claim 9 further including removing cancellous bone from the vertebral body prior to inserting the elongated member into said vertebral body.

15. The method of claim 9 further including inserting bone filler or therapeutic drugs into the resident volume or around the support structure.

16. The method of claim 9 further including increasing the extent of the support structure as the elongated member is inserted into the vertebral body.

17. The method of claim 9 in which the elongated member is inserted into the vertebral body under the influence of ultrasonic vibrations.

18. A method of treating a superior vertebra and an inferior vertebra, comprising:

inserting at least one generally elongated member between a superior vertebra and an inferior vertebra; and

changing the configuration of the elongated member to define a support structure that separates, supports or both separates and supports the superior vertebra and inferior vertebra.

19. The method of claim 18 in which the inserting comprises inserting the generally elongated member through a cannula to between the superior vertebra and inferior vertebra.

20. The method of claim 18 in which the support structure comprises a plurality of stacked windings of said elongated member.

21. The method of claim 18 in which the changing of shape of the elongated member results from a self-forming of the elongated member into the shape of the support structure.

22. The method of claim 21 in which the elongated member is comprised of a shape memory material.

23. The method of claim 18 further including removing at least a portion of a vertebra between the superior and inferior vertebrae prior to inserting the elongated member between the vertebrae.

24. The method of claim 18 in which the support structure includes a resident volume, and further including inserting bone filler or therapeutic drugs into the resident volume or around the support structure.

25. The method of claim 18 further including increasing the extent of the support structure between the vertebrae as the elongated member is inserted therebetween.

26. The method of claim 18 in which the elongated member is inserted between the superior vertebra and inferior vertebra under the influence of ultrasonic vibrations.

27. A method of treating a vertebral body, comprising:

inserting at least one elongated member into a body of a human vertebra;

allowing the elongated member to self-form into a generally helical shaped support structure that includes a plurality of stacked windings; and

increasing the number of windings as the elongated member is inserted into the vertebral body, thereby increasing the extent of the support structure and separating, supporting or both separating and supporting the endplates of the vertebral body.

28. The method of claim 27 in which the inserting comprises inserting the generally elongated member through a cannula into the vertebral body.

29. The method of claim 27 further including removing cancellous bone from the vertebral body prior to inserting the elongated member into said vertebral body.

30. The method of claim 27 further including inserting bone filler or therapeutic drugs into or around the support structure.

31. The method of claim 27 in which the elongated member is comprised of a shape memory material.

32. The method of claim 27 further including removing cancellous bone from the vertebral body prior to inserting the elongated member into the vertebral body.

33. The method of claim 27 in which the elongated member is inserted into the vertebral body under the influence of ultrasonic vibrations.