CERVICAL DISTRACTION/IMPLANT DELIVERY DEVICE

• US 20130310878A1
• Filed: 07/23/2013
• Published: 11/21/2013
• 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.
• Granted Patent: US 9,622,874 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/279
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/025 Joint distractors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/562 Implants for placement in joint gaps without restricting joint motion, e.g. to reduce arthritic pain
• 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: A61B 17/7064 Devices acting on, attached to, or simulating the effect of, vertebral facets; Tools therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7065 Devices with changeable shape, e.g. collapsible or having retractable arms to aid implantation; Tools therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8014 the extension or compression force being caused by interaction of the plate hole and the screws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8085 with pliable or malleable elements or having a mesh-like structure, e.g. small strips A61B17/8071, A61B17/8076 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8095 Wedge osteotomy devices
• 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 17/8855 inflatable, e.g. kyphoplasty balloons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00557 inflatable A61B2017/22051 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0256 for the spine
• 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 2/442 Intervertebral or spinal discs, e.g. resilient non-disc-shaped intervertebral inflatable pockets A61F2/441; non-disc-shaped intervertebral fusion implants A61F2/4455
• 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 2/446 having a circular or elliptical cross-section substantially parallel to the axis of the spine, e.g. cylinders or frustocones
• 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 2002/30205 conical
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30227 : arched, domed or vaulted
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3023 : wedge-shaped cylinders
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30266 : wedge-shaped parallelepipeds
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30281 : wedge-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30433 : using additional screws, bolts, dowels, rivets or washers e.g. connecting screws
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30579 : with mechanically expandable devices, e.g. fixation devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30622 : Implant for fusing a joint or bone material
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30841 : Sharp anchoring protrusions for impaction into the bone, e.g. sharp pins, spikes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30878 : with non-sharp protrusions, for instance contacting the bone for anchoring, e.g. keels, pegs, pins, posts, shanks, stems, struts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30879 : Ribs
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30884 : Fins or wings, e.g. longitudinal wings for preventing rotation within the bone cavity
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30892 : parallel
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30894 : inclined obliquely with respect to each other
• 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: A61F 2220/0041 : using additional screws, bolts, dowels or rivets, e.g. connecting screws

Abstract

Systems for distracting a facet joint and positioning a permanent implant in the joint are disclosed. The implants serve to retain a distracted position of the facet joint which is achieved with positioning of the leading end of a distraction tool in the facet joint and then distracting or enlarging the joint a desired amount. The permanent implant could be part of the distraction mechanism which can be separated from the delivery tool once the joint has been distracted or an auxiliary implant may be positioned before the distraction mechanism is removed from the distracted joint. The permanent implants can be solid, mechanical devices that may have fixation means thereon to hold them in place or injected fluids such as hydrogels or fluids confined within balloons.

Claims

1. A method for distracting a facet joint, the method comprising:

delivering an expandable receiving portion in an insertion configuration into the facet joint, the expandable receiving portion including upper and lower elements operably coupled together; and

transitioning the delivered expandable receiving portion from the insertion configuration to an expanded configuration by placing an actuation device between the elements,

wherein, when the expandable receiving portion is in the insertion configuration, the expandable receiving portion is flatter than when the expandable receiving portion is in the expanded configuration.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the method is performed minimally invasively.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the method is performed percutaneously.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the expandable receiving portion is delivered into the facet joint in the insertion configuration via a cannula.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein a posterior approach is employed in delivering the expandable receiving portion into the facet joint.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the actuation device is an elongated member.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the actuation device is a block-like member.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the actuation device is a wedge-like member.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the elements is a planar element.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the elements includes a tapered keel.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the elements includes teeth.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the elements includes a slot.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the actuation device includes an elongated threaded member and the threaded member includes a thread adapted to engage the slot, wherein the threaded member is threaded between the elements in placing the actuation device between the elements.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein, when the threaded member is between the elements, the thread protrudes through the slot.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the thread protrudes through the slot sufficiently to act against the expandable receiving portion backing out of the facet joint.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the elements is generally planar and configured to bend around the actuation device when the actuation device is located in the receiving portion implanted in the facet joint.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein, when the expandable receiving portion is in the expanded configuration, the expandable receiving portion is wedge-shaped.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the elements is generally planar and includes a malleable material that facilitates the at least one of the planar elements conforming to the facet joint upon implantation.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the upper and lower planar elements being operably coupled together includes the upper and lower planar elements being connected at an end of the expandable receiving portion.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the upper and lower elements are connected at the end with a living hinge.