Apparatus and Method of Spinal Implant and Fusion
First Claim
1. A system for minimally invasively accessing a spinal facet joint space to deliver an implant to the spinal facet joint space, the system comprising:
- a tool comprising a proximal portion including a handle, a distal portion generally opposite the proximal portion comprising an elongated shaft having a first end connected to the handle and a distal end, said elongated shaft having a generally cylindrical body and having a hollow portion about a longitudinal axis of the generally cylindrical body that is in communication with at least one aperture located at the distal end of the elongated shaft, said shaft having a head, said head having a forked end with a first time having a free standing distal end, and a second tine having a free standing distal end, wherein the distal end of the first tine and the distal end of the second tine are not connected, said forked end adapted for grasping an implantable material; and
wherein the first tine and the second tine each have a proximal-distal length adapted to extend substantially across the spinal facet joint space when the first tine and the second tine are positioned in the spinal facet joint space.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and method of performing a minimally invasive posterior spine fusion. More specifically an apparatus with a handle and a forked head on the distal end of the handle is used to grasp implant material and introduce the material to an implant site. The shaft of the apparatus is shaped so as to allow the affixation of a drill guide and drill while simultaneously holding the implant material in the implant site. After removal of the boring tools and assembly of the fusing element, the apparatus can be selectively removed from the implant site. A method of achieving facet joint fusion with near simultaneous fixation is also disclosed.
44 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system for minimally invasively accessing a spinal facet joint space to deliver an implant to the spinal facet joint space, the system comprising:
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a tool comprising a proximal portion including a handle, a distal portion generally opposite the proximal portion comprising an elongated shaft having a first end connected to the handle and a distal end, said elongated shaft having a generally cylindrical body and having a hollow portion about a longitudinal axis of the generally cylindrical body that is in communication with at least one aperture located at the distal end of the elongated shaft, said shaft having a head, said head having a forked end with a first time having a free standing distal end, and a second tine having a free standing distal end, wherein the distal end of the first tine and the distal end of the second tine are not connected, said forked end adapted for grasping an implantable material; and wherein the first tine and the second tine each have a proximal-distal length adapted to extend substantially across the spinal facet joint space when the first tine and the second tine are positioned in the spinal facet joint space. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A system for treating a spinal facet joint, the system comprising:
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a) a spinal facet implant configured for minimally invasive insertion into the spinal facet joint; and b) a delivery assembly comprising; i) a tool configured for minimally invasively accessing the spinal facet joint comprising an elongated shaft having a distal end and having a generally cylindrical body and having a hollow portion about a longitudinal axis of the generally cylindrical body that is in communication with at least one aperture located at the distal end of the elongated shaft, said shaft having a head, said head having a forked end adapted for grasping said spinal facet implant, said first tine having a free standing distal end, and a second tine having a free standing distal end, wherein the distal end of the first tine and the distal end of the second tine are not connected, and collectively define a distal tip of the tool; ii) a plunger distally displaceable within a channel and along a longitudinal axis of the tool, wherein the system is configured such that distal displacement of the plunger along the longitudinal axis causes the spinal facet implant to distally displace between the at least two tines for implantation of the spinal facet implant into the spinal facet joint. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of treating a spinal facet joint, the method comprising:
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inserting into the spinal facet joint, via a minimally invasive approach, a pair of tines of a forked distal region of an implant delivery tool, the tines being offset from each other transverse to a longitudinal axis of the tool, the pair of tines comprising a first tine having a free standing distal end, and a second tine having a free standing distal end, wherein the distal end of the first tine and the distal end of the second tine are not connected, said forked end adapted for receiving a spinal facet implant, said implant delivery tool having an elongated shaft with a generally cylindrical body and having a hollow portion about a longitudinal axis of the generally cylindrical body that is in communication with at least one aperture located at a distal end of the elongated shaft, and, distally displacing a plunger within the hollow portion of the tool to cause a distal end of the plunger to distally displace said spinal facet implant located between the pair of tines, the distal displacing of the plunger taking place while the tines are located within the spinal facet joint. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification