METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SPINAL FIXATION

• US 20080097436A1
• Filed: 04/20/2007
• Published: 04/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Depuy Synthes Products Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Interventional Spine, Inc (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: CULBERT, BRAD, Flower, Bob, Khoo, Larry
• Granted Patent: US 7,938,832 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/86.00A
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0218 for minimally invasive surgery A61B17/0281, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1655 for tapping
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1671 for the spine
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1757 for the spine
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7064 Devices acting on, attached to, or simulating the effect of, vertebral facets; Tools therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8861 Apparatus for manipulating flexible wires or straps devices for inserting Kirschner wires A61B17/1697
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0046 with a releasable handle; with handle and operating part separable for prosthetic joint-implanting tools A61F2/4603
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00469 for insertion of instruments, e.g. guide wire, optical fibre
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/922 Devices for impaction, impact element

Abstract

Fusion of cervical spinal vertebrae with one or more fixation devices can be accomplished with the described tools and methods. For example, a guidewire introducer can include a tubular introducer cannula and a handle. The handle can be angularly offset from the introducer cannula such that positioning of the introducer on the cervical spine does not interfere with a patient'"'"'s head. A sheath assembly can include inner and outer sheath bodies and a handle. The handle is angularly offset from the sheath bodies such that the sheath assembly can be applied to the cervical spine without interference to the patient'"'"'s head. The sheath body can be curved or straight. Various tools such as drills, tapping devices, compression tools, and pin release tools can be applied to the cervical spine through the sheath body to apply the fixation device. The tools can include elongate flexible shafts.

Claims

1. A device used for deploying a spinal fixation device comprising:

an elongated cannulated member having a proximal end, a distal end, a first longitudinal axis extending therebetween, and an outer surface, the cannulated member comprising a an elongated opening on the outer surface and

a handle extending along a second longitudinal axis;

wherein the first and second longitudinal axis form an angle with respect to each other, and

wherein the elongated opening is configured to receive an elongate tubular member having a third longitudinal axis when the third longitudinal axis is oriented transversely to the first longitudinal axis.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the angle formed by the first and second longitudinal axes is in the range of approximately 30 degrees to approximately 150 degrees.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the first and second longitudinal axes are substantially perpendicular.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the elongate tubular member comprises a tool selected from the group of a drill, a tapping member, a driver, a compression device, and a pin removal device.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the elongate tubular member comprises a flexible member.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the elongated opening is oriented on the outer surface of the cannulated member facing the housing.

7. A wire introducer for creating a tissue track for a guidewire, the wire introducer comprising:

an elongated cannulated member having a first longitudinal axis, a distal end and a proximal end, the distal end including at least one cutting element; and

a handle extending along a second longitudinal axis, wherein the first and second longitudinal axes form an angle with respect to each other;

a trocar having a distal end with a sharpened tip and a proximal end configured to receive a strike pin, the trocar positioned within the cannulated member such that the distal end extends beyond the elongated cannulated member.

8. The wire introducer of claim 7, wherein the trocar and the elongated cannulated member are releasably coupled together by a bayonet connection.

9. The wire introducer of claim 8, wherein the proximal end elongated cannulated member comprises a track portion of a bayonet connection.

10. The wire introducer of claim 9, wherein the proximal end of the trocar comprises a pin portion of the bayonet connection.

11-26. -26. (canceled)

27. A method of providing spinal fixation in a cervical spine, the method comprising:

advancing a distal end of an elongated cannulated member to a first, superior vertebrae in the cervical spine;

advancing at least one flexible transmission member through the elongated cannulated member; and

inserting a distal end of a fixation device through the elongated cannulated member and through the first vertebrae and into the second vertebrae; and

wherein the at least one flexible transmission member is used to perform at least one of the following steps;

tap a hole in the cervical spine;

rotate the fixation device;

or

apply proximal retraction to a portion of the fixation device.

28. (canceled)

29. A system for coupling a first superior vertebra of a cervical spine to a second inferior vertebra, the system comprising:

a fixation device having a distal end and a proximal end, the distal end configured to extend between the first superior vertebra and the second inferior vertebra;

at least one cannulated device; and

at least one flexible member.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the cannulated device comprises a tool configured to drive the fixation device.

31. The system of claim 29, wherein the cannulated device comprises a tapping device.

32. The system of claim 29, wherein the cannulated device comprises a fascia cutting device.

33. The system of claim 29, wherein the cannulated device comprises a drilling device, and wherein the flexible member comprises a flexible transmission member of the drilling device.

34. The system of claim 29, wherein the cannulated device comprises a curved elongated member.