Spine distraction implant and method

• US 20080215058A1
• Filed: 05/31/2007
• Published: 09/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/02/1997
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Kyphon SARL (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Kyphon SARL (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Flynn, John J., Klyce, Henry A., Zucherman, James F., Winslow, Charles J., Fallin, T. Wade, Hsu, Ken Y.
• Application Number:
  US11/806,529
• Publication Number:
  US 20080215058A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/90
• 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:

defining a minimally-invasive access path via a first tool; and

moving an implant along the minimally-invasive access path via a second tool until at least a portion of the implant is positioned between two adjacent spinous processes.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

distracting the two adjacent spinous processes via a third tool before the moving the implant along the minimally-invasive access path.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein a distal end portion of the implant has a tapered shape, the positioning including distracting the two adjacent spinous processes when the distal end portion of the implant moves between the two adjacent spinous processes.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

distracting the two adjacent spinous processes via the first tool before the moving.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first tool defines an opening, the moving including moving the implant through the opening of the first tool.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein a distal end portion of the first tool includes an opening, the defining including disposing the distal end portion of the first tool in a space between the two adjacent spinous processes, the moving including moving the implant through the opening of the first tool.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein a centerline of the first tool substantially corresponds to a centerline of the second tool after the moving.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first tool includes a stylet.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first tool includes a guide wire.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein a proximal end portion of the implant is removably coupled to a distal end portion of the second tool during the moving.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the minimally-invasive access path is a curved path at least a portion of which is between an incision in skin and a space between the two adjacent spinous processes.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the minimally-invasive access path is a curved path at least a portion of which is between an incision in skin and a space between the two adjacent spinous processes, the incision being at a location on a surface of a patient'"'"'s body offset from a midline of the patient'"'"'s body.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the minimally-invasive access path is a curved path, the first tool has a curved shape and the second tool has a curved shape.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the moving includes moving the implant along the minimally-invasive access path such that a first portion of the implant is positioned between the two adjacent spinous processes from a first side of the two adjacent spinous processes and a second portion of the implant is positioned adjacent a second side of the two adjacent spinous processes, the second side of the adjacent spinous processes being opposite the first side of the two adjacent spinous process.

15. A method, comprising:

distracting adjacent spinous processes via a first tool having an elongate portion proximate a distal end of the first tool; and

inserting, after the distracting, at least a portion of an implant into a space between adjacent spinous processes via a second tool having an elongate portion proximate a distal end of the second tool,

a shape of the elongate portion of the first tool substantially corresponding to a shape of the elongate portion of the second tool.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein a radius of the distal end portion of the first tool substantially corresponds to a radius of a distal end portion of the second tool.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein a distal end portion of the implant has a tapered shape, the inserting including further distracting the adjacent spinous processes when the distal end portion of the implant moves between the adjacent spinous processes.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the first tool defines an opening, the inserting including moving the implant through the opening of the first tool.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein a proximal end portion of the implant is removably coupled to a distal end portion of the second tool during the inserting.

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising defining a curved access path via the first tool, at least a portion of the curved access path is between an incision in skin and the space between the adjacent spinous processes.

21. The method of claim 15, further comprising defining a curved access path via the first tool, at least a portion of the curved access path is between an incision in skin and the space between the adjacent spinous processes, the incision being at a location on a surface of a patient'"'"'s body offset from a midline of the patient'"'"'s body.

22. The method of claim 15, wherein the shape of the elongate portion of the first tool is curved, the shape of the elongate portion of the second tool is curved.

23. The method of claim 15, wherein the inserting includes inserting the implant such that a first portion of the implant is positioned between the adjacent spinous processes from a first side of the adjacent spinous processes and a second portion of the implant is positioned adjacent a second side of the adjacent spinous processes, the second side of the adjacent spinous processes being opposite the first side of the adjacent spinous process.

24. A method, comprising:

defining a path between an opening in skin and a space between adjacent spinous processes;

moving at least a portion of an implant along the path and into the space between the adjacent spinous processes from a first side of the adjacent spinous processes; and

advancing the implant such that a first portion of the implant is disposed within the space between the adjacent spinous processes and such that a distal end portion of the implant is positioned adjacent a second side of the adjacent spinous processes, the second side of the adjacent spinous processes being opposite the first side of the adjacent spinous process.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the path is a curved path, the moving including moving the portion of the implant along the curved path.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein:

the defining is performed via a first tool; and

the moving is performed via a second tool.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein the defining is performed via a first tool, the moving is performed via a second tool, the method further comprising:

distracting the adjacent spinous processes via a third tool before the moving.

28. The method of claim 24, wherein a distal end portion of the implant has a tapered shape, the advancing including distracting the adjacent spinous processes when the distal end portion of the implant moves between the adjacent spinous processes.

29. The method of claim 24, wherein the defining is performed via a first tool defining an opening, the moving including moving the implant through the opening of the first tool via a second tool.

30. The method of claim 24, wherein the defining is performed via a first tool having an opening at a distal end portion, the defining including disposing the distal end portion of the first tool in the space between the adjacent spinous processes, the moving including moving the implant via a second tool through the opening of the first tool.

31. The method of claim 24, wherein a proximal end portion of the implant is removably coupled to a distal end portion of an insertion tool during the moving.

32. The method of claim 24, wherein the path is a curved path, the incision is at a location on a surface of a patient'"'"'s body offset from a midline of the patient'"'"'s body.

33. The method of claim 24, wherein the path is a curved path, the first tool has a curved shape and the second tool has a curved shape.

34. The method of claim 24, wherein the implant is a first implant member, the method further comprising:

coupling, after the advancing, a second implant member to the distal end portion of the first implant member using a fastener such that the second implant member is adjacent the second side of the adjacent spinous processes; and

moving the second implant member relative to the first implant member by adjusting the fastener.