Expandable device for insertion between anatomical structures and a procedure utilizing same

• US 20070233074A1
• Filed: 03/16/2006
• Published: 10/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Companion Spine LLC
• Original Assignee: SDGI Holdings Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Anderson, Kent, Trieu, Hai, Lange, Eric
• Granted Patent: US 8,262,698 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/86.A
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7062 Devices acting on, attached to, or simulating the effect of, vertebral processes, vertebral facets or ribs rib fixation devices A61B17/8076; Tools for such devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/842 Flexible wires, bands or straps A61B17/72, A61B17/82, A61B17/86 take precedence

Abstract

A surgical procedure and device according to which an expandable member is inserted between anatomical structures, and a force is applied to the member in a first plane to cause expansion of the member in a second plane and into engagement with the structures.

Claims

1. A surgical procedure comprising:

inserting a member between two anatomical structures of a patient;

applying a force to the member in a first plane to cause expansion of the member in a second plane and towards the structures until the member engages at least one of the structures.

2. The procedure of claim 1 further comprising terminating the step of applying when the member is in engagement with the structures, so that the member serves as an implant between the structures to stabilize the structures.

3. The procedure of claim 1 further comprising continuing the step of applying after the member engages one of the structures until a predetermined amount of distraction between the structures is obtained.

4. The procedure of claim 3 further comprising terminating the step of applying after the predetermined amount of distraction is obtained and inserting another member adjacent at least one of the structures.

5. The procedure of claim 3 further comprising terminating the step of applying after the predetermined amount of distraction is obtained and performing a surgical procedure in the space between the distracted structures or in an area near the structures.

6. The procedure of claim 1 wherein the structures are components of the spine.

7. The procedure of claim 6 wherein the structures are located externally to the discs of the spine.

8. The procedure of claim 7 wherein the structures are the spinous processes.

9. The procedure of claim 1 wherein the member is a frame and wherein the step of applying comprises tightening a tie around the frame.

10. The procedure of claim 9 wherein the frame is rigid and the tie is stretchable in response to loads caused by movements of the patient.

11. The procedure of claim 9 wherein the tie is rigid and the frame is stretchable in response to loads caused by movements of the patient.

12. The procedure of claim 6 further comprising interconnecting a plurality of articulating members to form the frame.

13. The procedure of claim 6 further comprising interconnecting a plurality of articulating members at their respective end by hinge joints to form the frame.

14. The procedure of claim 1 wherein the member is partially rigid and partially stretchable so as to expand in the second plane in response to the step of applying.

15. The procedure of claim 1 wherein the compression is a linear compression.

16. The procedure of claim 1 wherein the compression is a radial compression.

17. The procedure of claim 1 wherein the step of applying causes compression of the member in the first plane.

18. A surgical device comprising:

a member adapted to be inserted between two anatomical structures of a patient; and

means for applying a force to the member in a first plane to cause expansion of the member in a second plane and towards the structures until the member engages at least one of the structures.

19. The device of claim 18 wherein the member serves as an implant between the structures to stabilize the structures.

20. The device of claim 18 wherein the means is applied until a predetermined amount of distraction between the structures is obtained.

21. The device of claim 18 wherein the member is a frame and wherein the step of applying comprises tightening a tie around the frame.

22. The device of claim 21 wherein the frame is rigid and the tie is stretchable in response to loads caused by movements of the patient.

23. The device of claim 21 wherein the tie is rigid and the frame is stretchable in response to loads caused by movements of the patient.

24. The device of claim 21 wherein the frame comprises a series of interconnecting articulating members that articulate in response to the step of applying.

25. The device of claim 24 wherein the articulating members are interconnected at their corresponding ends by hinge joints to permit the articulation.

26. The device of claim 24 wherein each articulating member comprises a first portion and a second portion connected to the first portion by a hinge joint.

27. The device of claim 26 wherein the hinge joint is formed by a notch at the connection between the interconnected ends.

28. The device of claim 18 wherein the member is partially rigid and partially stretchable so as to expand in the second plane in response to the step of applying.

29. The device of claim 18 wherein the force applies a radial compression to the member in the first plane.

30. The device of claim 18 wherein the force applies a linear compression to the member in the first plane.

31. The device of claim 18 wherein the means is a tie that is adapted to apply a radial compression to the member.

32. The device of claim 18 wherein the means is a threaded bolt connected to the member and a nut adapted to threadedly engage the bolt to apply a linear compression to the member.