Interspinous Process Spacer Having Tight Access Offset Hooks

• US 20090248076A1
• Filed: 03/26/2008
• Published: 10/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Depuy Spine Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Depuy Spine Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Hawkins, John Riley, Serhan, Hassan, Griffin, John, Gilman, Lisa, Reynolds, Martin A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,025,678 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/246
• 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

Abstract

An interspinous spacer having a pair of hooks that, upon lateral insertion between opposed spinous process, bear upon the opposed spinous processes.

Claims

1. An interspinous spacer comprising:

a) a spinal connecting member,

b) a first hook having a first body portion having a first outer face, a first inner face defining an inner plane, a first medial face, a first throughhole extending from the first outer face to the first inner face, and a first flange having i) a proximal portion extending medially and inwardly from the inner plane, ii) a curved intermediate portion, and iii) a distal portion extending medially from the curved intermediate portion and towards the inner plane,

c) a second hook having a second body portion having a second outer face, a second inner face defining an inner plane, a second medial face, a second throughhole extending from the second outer face to the second inner face, and a second flange having i) a proximal portion extending medially and inwardly from the inner plane, ii) a curved intermediate portion, and iii) a distal portion extending medially from the curved intermediate portion and towards the inner plane,

wherein the connecting member extends through each of the throughholes so that the hooks are slidably disposed on the rod,

wherein the hooks are oriented so that their inner faces oppose each other.

2. The spacer of claim 1 wherein the curved intermediate section forms an acute angle between the proximal and distal portions of the flange.

3. The spacer of claim 2 wherein the hooks are positioned so that the proximal portion of the first flange crosses the inner plane of the second hook.

4. The spacer of claim 3 wherein the hooks are positioned so that the distal portion of the first flange crosses the inner plane of the second hook.

5. The spacer of claim 4 wherein the distal portion of the second flange crosses the inner plane of the second hook.

6. The spacer of claim 5 wherein the hooks are positioned so that the distal portion of the first flange crosses the distal portion of the second flange.

7. The spacer of claim 6 wherein the proximal portion of the first flange extends from the inner face.

8. The spacer of claim 6 wherein the body further comprises a medial face, and the proximal portion of the first flange extends from the medial face.

9. The spacer of claim 1 wherein each body has a posterior face having a recess extending to the throughhole.

10. The spacer of claim 9 further comprising a set screw disposed in each recess.

11. The spacer of claim 2 wherein the acute angle is between about 30 degrees and about 60 degrees.

12. The spacer of claim 2 wherein the acute angle is about 45 degrees

13. The spacer of claim 1 wherein the first flange comprises a plurality of tynes.

14. The spacer of claim 1 wherein the first flange comprises at least three tynes.

15. A method of implanting an interspinous spacer, comprising the steps of:

a) providing the spacer of claim 1,

b) providing lateral access to a gap between opposed inner portions of an upper and lower spinous process,

c) laterally inserting the spacer into the gap so that the distal portion of the first flange contacts the upper spinous process and the distal portion of the second flange contacts the lower spinous process.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of:

d) further inserting the distal portions of the flanges into the gap.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising the step of:

e) further inserting the second flange to contact the curved intermediate portion of the second flange with the inner portion of the upper spinous process.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising the step of:

f) locking the second hook on the connecting member to fix the contact of the curved intermediate portion of the second flange with the inner portion of the upper spinous process.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the providing lateral access to the gap spares a supraspinous ligament.

20. An interspinous spacer comprising:

a) a spinal connecting member,

b) a first hook having a first body portion having a first outer face, a first inner face defining an inner plane, a first medial face, a first throughhole extending from the first outer face to the first inner face, and a first flange having i) a proximal portion extending medially, ii) a curved intermediate portion forming a concave surface, and iii) a distal portion extending medially from the curved intermediate portion,

c) a second hook having a second body portion having a second outer face, a second inner face defining an inner plane, a second medial face, a second throughhole extending from the first outer face to the first inner face, and a second flange having i) a proximal portion extending medially, ii) a curved intermediate portion forming a concave surface, and iii) a distal portion extending medially from the curved intermediate portion,

wherein the connecting member extends through each of the throughholes so that the hooks are slidably disposed on the connecting member.

wherein the concave surfaces of the hooks are oriented to face each other.

21. An interspinous spacer comprising:

a) a spinal connecting member,

b) a first hook having a first body portion having a first outer face, a first inner face defining an inner plane, a first medial face, a first throughhole extending from the first outer face to the first inner face, and a first flange having i) a proximal portion extending medially, ii) a curved intermediate portion forming a concave surface, and iii) a distal portion extending medially from the curved intermediate portion,

c) a second hook having a second body portion having a second outer face, a second inner face defining an inner plane, a second medial face, a second throughhole extending from the second outer face to the second inner face, and a second flange having i) a proximal portion extending medially, ii) a curved intermediate portion forming a concave surface, and iii) a distal portion extending medially from the curved intermediate portion,

wherein the rod extends through each of the throughholes so that the hooks are slidably disposed on the rod,

wherein the proximal, intermediate and distal portions of the first flange form a first flange plane,

wherein the proximal, intermediate and distal portions of the second flange form a second flange plane,

wherein the first flange plane is different from the second flange plane.

22. An interspinous spacer comprising:

a) a spinal connecting member,

b) a first hook having a first body portion having a first outer face, a first inner face defining an inner plane, a first medial face, a first throughhole extending from the first outer face to the first inner face, a first flange having i) a proximal portion extending medially, ii) a curved intermediate portion forming a concave surface, and iii) a distal portion extending medially from the curved intermediate portion, a second flange having i) a proximal portion extending medially, ii) a curved intermediate portion forming a concave surface, and iii) a distal portion extending medially from the curved intermediate portion,

c) a second hook having a second body portion having a second outer face, a second inner face defining an inner plane, a second medial face, a second throughhole extending from the second outer face to the second inner face, and a third flange having i) a proximal portion extending medially, ii) a curved intermediate portion forming a concave surface, and iii) a distal portion extending medially from the curved intermediate portion,

wherein the connecting member extends through each of the throughholes so that the hooks are slidably disposed on the rod.

23. An interspinous spacer comprising:

a) a spinal connecting member,

b) a first hook having a first body portion having a first outer face, a first inner face, a first throughhole extending through the first body portion, and a first substantially V-shaped flange extending from the first inner face and having a first tip,

c) a second hook having a second body portion having a second outer face, a second inner face, a second throughhole extending through the second body portion, and a second substantially V-shaped flange extending from the second inner face and having a second tip,

wherein the rod extends through each of the throughholes so that the hooks are slidably disposed on the rod,

wherein the hooks are oriented so that their inner faces oppose each other,

wherein the hooks are oriented so that their tips substantially meet.