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

• US 20070250060A1
• Filed: 04/24/2006
• Published: 10/25/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Warsaw Orthopedic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: SDGI Holdings Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Anderson, Kent, Trieu, Hai, Lange, Eric
• Granted Patent: US 8,118,844 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/86.A
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7064 Devices acting on, attached to, or simulating the effect of, vertebral facets; Tools therefor
• 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 2017/00535 pneumatically or hydraulically operated A61B2017/22051, A61B2090/401 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00557 inflatable A61B2017/22051 takes precedence

Abstract

A surgical implantation procedure and device according to which an expandable member is inserted between anatomical structures, and is expanded into engagement with the structures. The expansion is terminated when the member is in engagement with the structures.

Claims

1. A surgical implantation procedure comprising:

applying at least one retaining member to an expandable member to retain the expandable member in a non-expanded condition;

inserting the expandable member between two anatomical structures;

expanding the expandable member;

releasing the retaining member from the expandable member so that the expandable member expands into engagement with the structures; and

terminating the step of expanding when the expandable member is in engagement with the structures.

2. The procedure of claim 1 wherein the step of expanding comprises inflating the member.

3. The procedure of claim 1 wherein the expandable member is of a generally rectangular shape having two saddles disposed at each end to receive the structures.

4. The procedure of claim 1 wherein the step of releasing comprises manually removing the retaining member from the expandable member.

5. The procedure of claim 1 wherein the step of releasing comprises allowing the expandable member to break the retaining member during the expansion of the expandable member.

6. The procedure of claim 1 wherein the retaining member is a rope.

7. The procedure of claim 1 wherein the retaining member is in the form of a U-shape clamp.

8. The procedure of claim 1 wherein the expandable member is of a general cylindrical shape, and the retaining member is a sleeve.

9. The procedure of claim 1 wherein the structures are two spinal processes.

10. The procedure of claim 1 wherein the step of terminating occurs when the structures are stabilized.

11. The procedure of claim 1 wherein the step of inflating causes movement of at least one of the structures, and the step of terminating occurs when the structures are stabilized in a predetermined spatial relationship.

12. The procedure of claim 1 wherein the step of expanding comprises introducing fluid into the interior of the expandable member to inflate the member.

13. The procedure of claim 12 wherein the fluid is taken from a group consisting of air, water, and a curable polymer.

14. The procedure of claim 1 further comprising folding the expandable member before the step of applying so that the member is expanded to its normal state.

15. The procedure of claim 1 wherein the step of expanding comprises inflating the expandable member.

16. A surgical implantation device comprising:

an expandable member;

a retaining member adapted to retain the expandable member in its collapsed condition when the expandable member is inserted between two anatomical structures;

the retaining member adapted to be released from the expandable member; and

means for expanding the expandable member after the retaining member has been released to cause expansion of the expandable member into engagement with the structures.

17. The device of claim 16 wherein the means comprises means for introducing fluid into the interior of the expandable member to inflate the member.

18. The procedure of claim 17 wherein the fluid is taken from a group consisting of air, water, and a curable polymer.

19. The device of claim 16 wherein the step of releasing comprises manually removing the retaining member from the expandable member.

20. The procedure of claim 16 wherein the step of releasing comprises allowing the expandable member to break the retaining member during the expansion of the expandable member.

21. The device of claim 16 wherein the expandable member is of a generally rectangular shape having two saddles disposed at each end to receive the structures.

22. The device of claim 16 wherein the retaining member is a rope.

23. The device of claim 16 wherein the retaining member is in the form of a U-shape clamp.

24. The device of claim 16 wherein the structures are two spinal processes.

25. The device of claim 16 wherein the expanded expandable member stabilizes the structures.