SPINE DISTRACTION IMPLANT AND METHOD

• US 20080039946A1
• Filed: 06/28/2007
• Published: 02/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/02/1997
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Kyphon SARL (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Kyphon SARL (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Hsu, Ken, Klyce, Henry, Flynn, John, Zucherman, James, Winslow, Charles
• Application Number:
  US11/770,360
• Publication Number:
  US 20080039946A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/17.16
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/66 Alignment, compression or distraction mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7047 Clamps comprising opposed elements which grasp one vertebra between them
• 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 17/7068 Devices comprising separate rigid parts, assembled in situ, to bear on each side of spinous processes; Tools therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7071 Implants for expanding or repairing the vertebral arch or wedged between laminae or pedicles; Tools therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/37 Coumarins, e.g. psoralen

Abstract

A spine distraction implant alleviates pain associated with spinal stenosis and facet arthropathy by expanding the volume in the spine canal and/or neural foramen. The implant provides a spinal extension stop while allowing freedom of spinal flexion.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

inserting into a patient'"'"'s body an implant coupled to an insertion tool having a first shaft and a second shaft collectively coupled to the implant; and

moving the second shaft within the first shaft to release the implant from the insertion tool while at least a portion of the implant is disposed between a pair of adjacent spinous processes within the patient'"'"'s body.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

a distal end portion of the first shaft defines a longitudinal axis and has an engagement portion,

the engagement portion defines a longitudinal axis substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the first shaft.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein:

a distal end portion of the second shaft defines a longitudinal axis and has an engagement portion,

the engagement portion defines a longitudinal axis substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of the first shaft.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the distal end portion of the first shaft defines a longitudinal axis and has an engagement portion,

the distal end portion of the second shaft defines a longitudinal axis and has an engagement portion,

the engagement portion of the first shaft defines a longitudinal axis substantially perpendicular with the longitudinal axis of the first shaft, the engagement portion of the second shaft defines a longitudinal axis substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of the second shaft.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the moving includes actuating an actuator disposed at a proximal end portion of the first shaft or the second shaft to disengage the implant.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the distal end portion of the second shaft defines a longitudinal axis and has an engagement portion,

the engagement portion defines a longitudinal axis substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the first shaft,

the moving includes actuating an actuator disposed at a proximal end portion of the second shaft to move the engagement portion proximally and disengage the implant.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

aligning, before the inserting, an engagement portion of the second shaft with the implant.

8. A method, comprising:

inserting into a body an interspinous-process implant coupled to an insertion tool having a first engagement portion and a second engagement portion;

disengaging the first engagement portion from the implant from a first direction relative to the interspinous-process implant; and

disengaging the second engagement portion from the interspinous-process implant from a second direction non-parallel to the first direction.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the second direction is substantially perpendicular to the first direction.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

aligning, before the inserting, the second engagement portion with the interspinous-process implant.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein:

the insertion tool includes a first shaft and a second shaft moveably disposed within the first shaft,

the disengaging the first engagement portion includes proximally moving the second shaft relative to the first shaft and a second shaft.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein:

the insertion tool includes a first shaft and a second shaft moveably disposed within the first shaft,

the first shaft has a distal end portion that defines a longitudinal axis,

the distal end portion of the first shaft includes the first engagement portion, the first engagement portion has a longitudinal axis substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the first shaft.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein:

the insertion tool includes a first shaft and a second shaft moveably disposed within the first shaft,

the second shaft has a distal end portion that defines a longitudinal axis,

the distal end portion of the second shaft includes the second engagement portion, the second engagement portion has a longitudinal axis substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the second shaft.

14. A method, comprising:

inserting into a body an interspinous-process implant coupled to an insertion tool having a first engagement portion and a second engagement portion, the insertion tool defining a longitudinal axis; and

disengaging the first engagement portion from the interspinous-process implant from a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, the second engagement portion configured to align the interspinous-process implant relative to the insertion tool.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the direction is a first direction, the method further comprising:

disengaging the second engagement portion from the interspinous-process implant from a second direction is substantially non-parallel to the first direction.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the direction is a first direction, the method further comprising:

disengaging the second engagement portion from the interspinous-process implant from a second direction is substantially perpendicular to the first direction.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

aligning, before the inserting, the second engagement portion with the interspinous-process implant.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein:

the insertion tool includes a first shaft and a second shaft moveably disposed within the first shaft, a distal end portion of the first shaft includes the first engagement portion, a distal end portion of the second shaft includes the second engagement portion,

the disengaging the first engagement portion includes proximally moving the second shaft relative to the first shaft and a second shaft.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein:

the insertion tool includes a first shaft and a second shaft moveably disposed within the first shaft,

the first shaft has a distal end portion that defines a longitudinal axis and includes the first engagement portion,

the first engagement portion has a longitudinal axis substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the first shaft.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein:

the insertion tool includes a first shaft and a second shaft moveably disposed within the first shaft,

the second shaft has a distal end portion that defines a longitudinal axis and includes the second engagement portion,

the second engagement portion has a longitudinal axis substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the second shaft.