VERTEBRAL JOINT IMPLANTS AND DELIVERY TOOLS

• US 20130030532A1
• Filed: 09/26/2012
• Published: 01/31/2013
• 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 8,834,472 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 system for minimally invasively accessing a spinal facet joint space via a posterior approach in preparation for delivering an implant to the spinal facet joint space, the system comprising:

a first tool comprising a proximal portion, a distal portion generally opposite the proximal portion, and a shaft extending between the proximal and distal portions, the distal portion distally terminating in a first chamfered tip; and

a second 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 second 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,

wherein the first tool and second tool are further configured relative to each other such that, when the second chamfered tip is positioned in the spinal facet joint space and the shaft of the first tool extends through the lumen of the second tool such that the first chamfered tip is positioned in the spinal facet joint, the first chamfered tip is positioned between the first and second forks.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first chamfered tip comprises a first planar surface approximately parallel to a longitudinal axis of the shaft.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the first chamfered tip is a double chamfered tip, the first chamfered tip further comprising a second planar surface opposite the first planar surface.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the first chamfered tip has a proximal-distal length adapted to extend substantially across the spinal facet joint space.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the proximal-distal length of the first chamfered tip is between approximately 5 mm to approximately 35 mm.

6. The system of claim 2, wherein the distal portion of the first tool further includes a transition region between the first planar surface and an outer surface of the shaft.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the transition region includes an arcuate surface.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein a longitudinal cross section of the first chamfered tip is generally similar to a longitudinal cross section of the second chamfered tip.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein an inner diameter of the lumen is substantially equal to an outer diameter of the shaft and a difference between the inner diameter and the outer diameter is such that the shaft can slide within the lumen.

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

11. The system of claim 1, wherein second chamfered tip and the first chamfered tip both comprise complementary transverse holes that align when the second chamfered tip and first chamfered tip are generally aligned to generally form a combined chamfered tip.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein when the first chamfered tip is positioned between the first and second forks of the second chamfered tip, the first and second chamfered tips generally align to form a combined chamfered tip.