VERTEBRAL JOINT IMPLANTS AND DELIVERY TOOLS

• US 20130012994A1
• Filed: 09/13/2012
• Published: 01/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Providence Medical Technology, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Providence Medical Technology, Inc.
• Inventors: McCormack, Bruce M., Smith, Jeffrey D., Tanaka, Shigeru, Liou, Edward, Eyster, Edward Fletcher, Druker, Joshua, Leugers, Martin, Tu, Kurin, Lombrozo, Peter, Carver, Jonathan
• Granted Patent: US 8,753,377 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/247
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/025 Joint distractors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0642 for bones, e.g. for osteosynthesis or connecting tendon to bone
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1604 Chisels; Rongeurs; Punches; Stamps
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1659 Surgical rasps, files, planes, or scrapers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1671 for the spine
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1735 for rasps or chisels
• 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 17/7074 Tools specially adapted for spinal fixation operations other than for bone removal or filler handling A61B17/7062, A61B17/808, A61B17/8858 take precedence; for spinal image producing devices A61B90/36, A61B34/20; markers A61B90/39
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/863 with thread interrupted or changing its form along shank, other than constant taper
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8811 characterised by the introducer tip, i.e. the part inserted into or onto the bone
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8819 characterised by the introducer proximal part, e.g. cannula handle, or by parts which are inserted inside each other, e.g. stylet and cannula A61B17/8825 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8822 characterised by means facilitating expulsion of fluid from the introducer, e.g. a screw pump plunger, hydraulic force transmissions, application of vibrations or a vacuum
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00424 ergonomic, e.g. fitting in fist
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00429 with a roughened portion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0256 for the spine
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320028 with reciprocating movements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/031 torque limiting
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/034 abutting on parts of the device itself
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/037 with a frangible part, e.g. by reduced diameter
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4405 : for apophyseal or facet joints, i.e. between adjacent spinous or transverse processes devices implanted between spinous or transverse processes A61B17/7062
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4455 : for the fusion of spinal bodies, e.g. intervertebral fusion of adjacent spinal bodies, e.g. fusion cages intervertebral discs A61F2/442
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/447 : substantially parallelepipedal, e.g. having a rectangular or trapezoidal cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4611 : of spinal prostheses
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30131 : horseshoe- or crescent- or C-shaped or U-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30168 : L-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30176 : V-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30266 : wedge-shaped parallelepipeds
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30289 : helically-coiled
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30378 : Spherically-shaped protrusion and recess
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30405 : made by screwing complementary threads machined on the parts themselves
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30451 : soldered or brazed or welded
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30471 : connected by a hinged linkage mechanism, e.g. of the single-bar or multi-bar linkage type
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30484 : Mechanically expandable devices located on the first prosthetic part for locking into or onto the second prosthetic part
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30507 : using a threaded locking member, e.g. a locking screw or a set screw
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3052 : unrestrained in only one direction, e.g. moving unidirectionally
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30523 : by means of meshing gear teeth
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30538 : for adjusting angular orientation
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30556 : for adjusting thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30599 : stackable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30733 : Inserts placed into an endoprosthetic cavity, e.g. for modifying a material property
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30841 : Sharp anchoring protrusions for impaction into the bone, e.g. sharp pins, spikes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3085 : with a threaded, e.g. self-tapping, bone-engaging surface, e.g. external surface
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30904 : serrated profile, i.e. saw-toothed
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/448 : comprising multiple adjacent spinal implants within the same intervertebral space or within the same vertebra, e.g. comprising two adjacent spinal implants
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4627 : with linear motion along or rotating motion about the instrument axis or the implantation direction, e.g. telescopic, along a guiding rod, screwing inside the instrument
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/00 : Routing or path finding of packets in data switching networks routing or path finding in wireless networks H04W40/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/02 : Topology update or discovery
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/22 : Alternate routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/28 : using route fault recovery
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/04 : Error control

Abstract

A spinal joint distraction system for treating a facet joint including articular surfaces having a contour is disclosed and may include a delivery device including a generally tubular structure adapted to engage a facet joint, an implant adapted to be delivered through the delivery device and into the facet joint, the implant comprising two members arranged in opposed position, and an implant distractor comprising a generally elongate member adapted to advance between the two members of the implant causing separation of the members and distraction of the facet joint, wherein the implant is adapted to conform to the shape of the implant distractor and/or the articular surfaces of the facet upon being delivered to the facet joint. Several embodiments of a system, several embodiments of an implant, and several methods are disclosed including a method for interbody fusion.

Claims

1. A spinal implant comprising:

a first member and a second member in opposed relation to each other, each of the first and second members comprising a distal leading portion and a proximal trailing portion opposite the distal leading portion, the first and second members coupled together near their respective distal leading portions via a hinge, and at least one slot defined in the first member, the at least one slot extending through a thickness of the first member to define a first opening in an inner surface of the first member and a second opening in an outer surface of the first member; and

a threaded member comprising a distal leading portion, a proximal trailing portion, a shaft extending between the distal leading and proximal trailing portions, and a thread extending along at least a portion of the shaft,

wherein, when the threaded member is threadably received between the first member and second member, at least a portion of the thread extends through the at least one slot to extend outwardly past the second opening in the outer surface of the first member, and at least the proximal trailing portions of the first and second members are caused to displace away from each other about the hinge.

2. The spinal implant of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first member or the second member is a generally planar member.

3. The spinal implant of claim 1, wherein the hinge comprises a flexible hinge.

4. The spinal implant of claim 3, wherein the flexible hinge comprises a continuous, unitary extension of the distal leading portion of the first member into the distal leading portion of the second member.

5. The spinal implant of claim 4, wherein the first and second members are formed via a single member bent to form the flexible hinge and define the first and second members.

6. The spinal implant of claim 3, wherein the flexible hinge comprises a U-shaped member extending between the first and second members at their respective distal leading portions.

7. The spinal implant of claim 6, wherein the U-shaped member overlaps a region of each of the distal leading portions of the first and second members.

8. The spinal implant of claim 3, wherein the flexible hinge comprises a weld coupling together the first and second members at their respective distal leading portions.

9. The spinal implant of claim 3, wherein the flexible hinge comprises an interlocked slot arrangement comprising:

a first gap in the first member near a distal leading end of the distal leading portion of the first member and extending laterally across at least a part of the first member; and

a second gap in the second member near a distal leading end of the distal leading portion of the second member and extending laterally across at least a part of the second member,

wherein the first and second gaps are interlocked together to couple the first and second members together to form the interlocked gap arrangement.

10. The spinal implant of claim 9, wherein, in being interlocked together, the first and second gaps are received in each other.

11. The spinal implant of claim 9, wherein a region of the first member near a distal leading end of the distal leading portion of the first member comprises a bend in a direction of the second member.

12. The spinal implant of claim 9, wherein a region of the second member near a distal leading end of the distal leading portion of the second member comprises a bend in a direction of the first member.

13. The spinal implant of claim 12, wherein a region of the first member near the distal leading end of the distal leading portion of the first member comprises a bend in a direction of the second member.

14. The spinal implant of claim 13, wherein at least a portion of the first gap is defined in the bend of the first member, and at least a portion of the second gap is defined in the bend of the second member.

15. The spinal implant of claim 9, wherein the flexible hinge further comprises a weld across aspects of the interlocked gap arrangement.

16. The spinal implant of claim 15, wherein the weld extends along a front seam of the interlocked gap arrangement between generally opposed surfaces of the first and second member, at least a portion of the weld being distal the interlocked gap arrangement.

17. The spinal implant of claim 15, wherein the weld extends along a first seam of the interlocked gap arrangement between a part of the first member proximal the interlocked gap arrangement and a part of the second member distal the interlocked gap arrangement.

18. The spinal implant of claim 17, wherein the weld extends along a second seam of the interlocked gap arrangement between a part of the second member proximal the interlocked gap arrangement and a portion of the first member distal the interlocked gap arrangement.

19. The spinal implant of claim 9, wherein the first and second gaps are interlocked together in such an orientation relative to a thread direction of the at least one slot so as to provide resistance to shearing of the first and second members relative to one another upon threadably receiving the threaded member.

20. The spinal implant of claim 1, wherein at least one slot is defined in the second member, the at least one slot of the second member extending through a thickness of the second member to define a first opening in an inner surface of the second member and a second opening in an outer surface of the second member, and wherein, when the threaded member is threadably received between the first member and second member, at least a portion of the thread extends through the at least one slot of the second member to extend outwardly past the second opening in the outer surface of the second member.

21. The spinal implant of claim 1, wherein the at least one slot in the first member and the thread are configured to lock together to inhibit the threaded member from self-threading proximally once the at least one slot and thread are locked together.

22. The spinal implant of claim 21, wherein the at least one slot in the first member and the thread both include a complementary truncated configuration.

23. The spinal implant of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first member or the second member is configured to at least partially conform to a shape of the shaft when the threaded member is threadably received between the first and second members after the first and second members have been implanted from a posterior direction into a spinal facet joint space.

24. The spinal implant of claim 23, wherein in at least partially conforming to the shape of the shaft, the at least one of the first member or second member bends about at least one of:

a curvature of the shaft transverse to a longitudinal axis of the shaft;

or a longitudinal curvature of the shaft.

25. The spinal implant of claim 1, wherein the spinal implant is configured for implantation within a spinal facet joint space.

26. The spinal implant of claim 1, wherein the spinal implant is configured for posterior implantation into a spinal facet joint space.