Spinous process implants and methods

• US 20080281360A1
• Filed: 05/10/2007
• Published: 11/13/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Warsaw Orthopedic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Warsaw Orthopedic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Lange, Eric C., Anderson, Kent M., Bruneau, Aurelian, Vittur, Shannon Marlece
• Granted Patent: US 8,840,646 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/248
• 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: A61F 2/44 for the spine, e.g. vertebrae, spinal discs
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30772 Apertures or holes, e.g. of circular cross section

Abstract

Devices and methods for replacing one or more spinous processes of a patient include a replacement body with a lamina portion positionable anteriorly toward the spinal canal along with a spinous process portion extending posteriorly from the lamina portion to replace a removed spinous process. Connecting elements extend from opposite sides of the body for connection to the vertebral body with anchors.

Claims

1. An artificial spinous process implant, comprising:

a replacement body including;

a lamina portion lying along an anterior side of said replacement body, said lamina portion extending from a superior end of said replacement body to an inferior end of said replacement body, said lamina portion further including opposite lateral sides extending between said superior end and said inferior end of said replacement body; and

a spinous process portion located between said lateral sides of said lamina portion and extending from said lamina portion toward a posterior side of said replacement body opposite said anterior side, said spinous process portion further extending between said superior and inferior ends of said replacement body and in a transverse orientation to said lamina portion, wherein said spinous process portion includes opposite lateral sides tapering in width from a mid-portion of the spinous process portion toward at least one of said superior and inferior ends of said replacement body.

2. The implant of claim 1, wherein said replacement body includes a pair of support members extending from said lateral sides of said lamina portion and along said spinous process portion toward said posterior side of said replacement body, said support members extending outwardly from respective ones of said opposite lateral sides of said spinous process portion.

3. The implant of claim 2, wherein each of said support members defines a superiorly oriented support surface and an inferiorly oriented support surface that are each concavely curved from said lamina portion along said spinous process portion.

4. The implant of claim 3, wherein said support members are located about mid-height between said superior and inferior ends of said replacement body.

5. The implant of claim 1, wherein said spinous process portion includes first and second bores extending therethrough in a direction between said opposite lateral sides of said spinous process portion, said first bore being located on a superior side of said support members and said second bore being located on an inferior side of said support members.

6. The implant of claim 5, wherein said first and second bores are elongated in a direction between said anterior and posterior sides of said replacement body.

7. The implant of claim 1, wherein said spinous process portion includes a bore extending therethrough in a direction between said opposite lateral sides of said spinous process portion.

8. The implant of claim 1, wherein said spinous process portion includes a beveled corner extending between said posterior side of replacement body and each of said superior and inferior ends of said replacement body.

9. The implant of claim 1, further comprising a pair of elongated connecting elements extending from respective ones of said opposite lateral sides of said lamina portion in opposite directions from one another, said connecting elements each being engageable to an anchor engageable to the spinal column of the patient.

10. The implant of claim 9, wherein said connecting elements lie at least in part along a common axis extending between said connecting elements.

11. The implant of claim 10, wherein said connecting elements are linear along said axis.

12. The implant of claim 9, wherein said connecting elements each include an outer end spaced from said replacement body, said connecting elements extending along a curve so that said outer ends are located anteriorly of said anterior side of said replacement body.

13. The implant of claim 9, wherein said connecting elements each include an outer portion and an oblique portion obliquely oriented to said respective outer portion and extending between said respective outer portion and an adjacent one of said lateral sides of said lamina portion.

14. The implant of claim 9, wherein said connecting elements each include at least one flat surface extending therealong adjacent an outer end thereof.

15. The implant of claim 14, wherein said connecting elements each include a square cross-section adjacent said outer end thereof.

16. The implant of claim 1, wherein said mid-portion of said spinous process portion is located between said superior and inferior ends of said replacement body and said spinous process portion tapers in width from said mid-portion toward each of said superior and inferior ends.

17. An artificial spinal process implant, comprising:

a replacement body including a lamina portion lying along an anterior side of said replacement body, said lamina portion extending in a direction from a superior end of said replacement body toward an inferior end of said replacement body, said lamina portion further including opposite lateral sides extending in a direction between said superior end and said inferior end of said replacement body and a spinous process portion extending transversely to said lamina portion toward a posterior side of said replacement body opposite said anterior side, said spinous process portion further extending in a direction between said superior and inferior ends of said replacement body, wherein said replacement body includes a pair of support members extending from said lateral sides of said lamina portion and along said spinous process portion toward said posterior side of said replacement body, said support members extending outwardly from a respective one of opposite lateral sides of said spinous process portion; and

a pair of elongated connecting elements extending in opposite directions from said replacement body and away from said spinous process portion.

18. The implant of claim 17, wherein said connecting elements lie along a common axis.

19. The implant of claim 18, wherein said connecting elements are linear along said common axis.

20. The implant of claim 17, wherein said connecting elements extend along a curve so that outer ends of said connecting elements are located anteriorly of said replacement body.

21. The implant of claim 17, wherein said connecting elements each include an outer portion spaced from said replacement body and an oblique portion obliquely oriented to said respective outer portion and extending from said respective outer portion to an inner end integrally formed with a respective one of said support members.

22. The implant of claim 17, wherein said connecting elements each include an outer portion having at least one flat surface extending therealong.

23. The implant of claim 22, wherein said connecting elements each include a square cross-section along said outer portion.

24. The implant of claim 17, wherein said connecting elements each include an ear portion extending from said lamina portion at said superior end of said replacement body, said connecting elements each further including a body portion extending from said ear portion in opposite directions from one another.

25. The implant of claim 17, wherein said spinous process portion defines at least one notch in at least one of said superior and inferior ends of said replacement body.

26. The implant of claim 25, wherein said at least one notch is located adjacent said lamina portion.

27. The implant of claim 25, wherein said notch forms an elongated, concave recess extending from said lamina portion to said posterior side of said replacement body.

28. The implant of claim 17, wherein said spinous process portion includes at least one through-hole extending between and opening at opposite lateral sides thereof.

29. The implant of claim 17, wherein said support members each define a concavely curved surface extending from said lamina portion and along said respective lateral side of said spinous process portion.

30. The implant of claim 17, wherein said connecting elements and said replacement body are formed as an integral, one-piece unit.

31. A method for stabilizing adjacent vertebrae of a spinal column, comprising:

accessing the spinal column from a posterior approach;

removing at least a portion of at least one of the spinous process and lamina of a vertebra;

engaging an artificial spinous process implant to the vertebra; and

positioning an interspinous implant between the artificial spinous process implant and a spinous process of a second vertebra adjacent the vertebra.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein engaging the artificial spinous process implant includes engaging connecting elements of the artificial spinous process implant to pedicles of the vertebra.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein engaging the artificial spinous process implant includes positioning a lamina portion of the artificial spinous process implant adjacent to a lamina of the vertebra and orienting a spinous process portion of the artificial spinous process posteriorly from the lamina portion.

34. The method of claim 31, wherein the interspinous implant is compressible in response to movement of the spinous process of the second vertebra and the artificial spinous process implant toward one another.

35. The method of claim 31, further comprising positioning a second interspinous implant between the artificial spinous process implant and a spinous process of a third vertebra adjacent the vertebra and opposite the second vertebra.

36. The method of claim 31, further comprising distracting the vertebra and the second vertebra with a distractor engaged to the spinous process of the second vertebra and a notch in the artificial spinous process implant before positioning the interspinous implant.

37. The method of claim 31, further comprising tethering the interspinous implant to the artificial spinous process implant.

38. The method of claim 31, wherein the interspinous implant includes opposite generally U-shaped ends, one of the U-shaped ends receiving the spinous process therein and the other of the U-shaped ends receiving the artificial spinous process implant therein.

39. A system comprising:

a replacement body engageable to a first vertebra; and

an interspinous spacer having a body with a first end configured to be positioned about the replacement body, the body of the interspinous spacer extending from the first end to an opposite second end spaced from the first end for engagement with a second vertebra.

40. The system of claim 39, wherein the interspinous spacer includes a compressible, resilient body between said first and second ends.

41. The system of claim 39, wherein said first and second ends of said interspinous implant are generally U-shaped.

42. The system of claim 39, wherein said replacement body includes a spinous process portion and a lamina portion extending along an anterior side of said spinous process portion.

43. An artificial spinous process implant, comprising:

a replacement body including;

a lamina portion lying along an anterior side of said replacement body, said lamina portion extending from a superior end of said replacement body to an inferior end of said replacement body, said lamina portion further including opposite lateral sides extending between said superior end and said inferior end of said replacement body; and

a spinous process portion located between said lateral sides of said lamina portion and extending from said lamina portion toward a posterior side of said replacement body opposite said anterior side, said spinous process portion further extending between said superior and inferior ends of said replacement body and in a transverse orientation to said lamina portion.

44. The implant of claim 43, wherein said spinous process portion includes opposite lateral sides tapering in width from a mid-portion of the spinous process portion toward at least one of said superior and inferior ends of said replacement body.

45. The implant of claim 43, wherein said lamina portion includes a flat anterior surface.

46. The implant of claim 43, further comprising a notch in at least one of said superior and inferior ends of said replacement body along said spinous process portion.

47. The implant of claim 43, further comprising opposite support members extending along and outwardly from said spinous process portion from said lamina portion toward said posterior side of said replacement body.