VERTEBRAL JOINT IMPLANTS AND DELIVERY TOOLS

• US 20130023996A1
• Filed: 09/26/2012
• Published: 01/24/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Providence Medical Technology, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Providence Medical Technology, Inc.
• Inventors: Tanaka, Shigeru, McCormack, Bruce M., Leugers, Martin, Smith, Jeffrey D., Carver, Jonathan, Druker, Joshua, Liou, Edward, Eyster, Edward Fletcher, Tu, Kurin, Lombrozo, Peter
• Granted Patent: US 8,753,347 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/17.16
• 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 minimally invasive system for implanting an implant in a spinal facet joint space, the system comprising:

the implant comprising a leading distal portion and a trailing proximal portion;

a first tool comprising a proximal region, a distal region opposite the proximal region, and a tubular body extending between the proximal and distal regions, the tubular body comprising a lumen extending through the tubular body between the proximal and distal regions, the distal region distally terminating in a first chamfered tip comprising a first fork and a second fork offset from the first fork by a distance transverse to a longitudinal axis of the tubular body; and

a second tool comprising a proximal part, a distal part opposite the proximal part, and an elongated body extending between the proximal and distal parts, the distal part terminating in an implant support structure configured to releasably couple to the implant, the elongated body of the second tool being configured to extend through the lumen of the first tool,

wherein the first tool and second tool are further configured relative to each other such that, when the implant is releasably coupled to the implant support structure and the first chamfered tip is positioned in the spinal facet joint space and the elongated body of the second tool extends through the lumen of the first tool such that the implant is positioned in the spinal facet joint, the implant support structure and the implant releasably coupled to the implant support structure are both positioned between the first and second forks.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first fork distally tapers towards a distal point.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the implant support structure comprises a first arm and a second arm offset from the first arm by a distance transverse to a longitudinal axis of the elongated body.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein, when the implant is releasably coupled to the implant support structure, the implant is positioned between the first and second arms.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the implant further comprises a first lateral side and a second lateral side opposite the first lateral side, and the first and second arms respectively releasably engage the first and second lateral sides.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein, when the implant support structure and the implant releasably coupled to the implant support structure are both positioned between the first and second forks, the first and second arms generally align with the first and second forks.

7. The system of claim 3, wherein the proximal region of the first tool includes a first structure and the proximal part of the second tool includes a second structure configured to matingly engage with the first structure, and when the first and second structures are matingly engaged, the first arm and second arm are respectively generally aligned with the first fork and second fork.

8. The system of claim 3, wherein the first arm comprises a radially inward surface with a longitudinally extending ridge that projects radially inward from the radially inward surface, and, when the implant is releasably coupled to the implant support structure, the longitudinally extending ridge is received between a pair of longitudinally extending features of the implant.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the pair of longitudinally extending features of the implant comprises opposed planar members of the implant.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the elongated body of the second tool comprises a lumen extending between the proximal and distal parts, the second tool further comprising a rod extending through the lumen of the elongated body, the rod being longitudinally displaceable within the lumen of the elongated body to release the implant from the implant support structure.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the rod extending through the lumen of the elongated body of the second tool is further rotationally displaceable about a longitudinal axis of the rod to further assist in releasing the implant from the implant support structure.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the implant includes a pair of opposed members and a threaded member, and, when the threaded member is acted on by the rod both rotating and distally displacing, the threaded member is caused to be threadably received between the pair of opposed members.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the threaded member being threadably received between the pair of opposed members causes the opposed members to displace apart from one another at the proximal trailing end of the implant.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein when the opposed members displace apart from one another, the implant forms a substantially wedged shape.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein an inner diameter of the lumen of the tubular body of the first tool is substantially equal to an outer diameter of the elongated body of the second tool and a difference between the inner diameter and the outer diameter is such that the elongated body of the second tool can at least one of slide or rotate within the lumen.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the implant comprises a metal, ceramic or polymer.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein upon implantation, the implant is sized and configured to be substantially located within the confines of the spinal facet joint space.