VERTEBRAL JOINT IMPLANTS AND DELIVERY TOOLS

• US 20170348027A1
• Filed: 04/17/2017
• Published: 12/07/2017
• 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, Carver, Jonathan, Druker, Joshua, Leugers, Martin, Tu, Kurin, Lombrozo, Peter
• Granted Patent: US 10,588,672 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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 method for delivering an implant to a spinal facet joint via a posterior access approach, the method comprising:

inserting a chisel via a posterior access approach into the spinal facet joint to provide initial distraction of the spinal facet joint;

advancing a decorticator over the chisel;

inserting a guide device over the chisel to maintain the initial distraction;

inserting an implant through the guide device, the implant mounted on a distal end of an implant insertion device; and

removing the guide device and the implant insertion device, thereby leaving the implant in place in the spinal facet joint.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising, before inserting the implant through the guide device, decorticating at least a portion of a vertebra adjacent the spinal facet joint, using a decorticator advanced over the chisel.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein decorticating comprises rotating the decorticator about the chisel.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein inserting the chisel into the spinal facet joint decorticates at least one surface of at least one vertebra that forms the spinal facet joint.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising, before inserting the implant through the guide device, rasping at least one surface of at least one vertebra that forms the spinal facet joint, using a rasp inserted through the guide device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein inserting the guide device comprises inserting a forked distal end of the guide device into the spinal facet joint.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein inserting the implant comprises:

inserting an angled portion of the implant into the spinal facet joint; and

advancing the implant into the spinal facet joint.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein inserting the implant comprises:

inserting a tapered portion of the implant into the spinal facet joint; and

advancing the implant into the spinal facet joint.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising advancing at least one of a screw or a nail through the implant, after it is inserted into the spinal facet joint, to connect the implant to a vertebra that forms the spinal facet joint.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein inserting the chisel comprises advancing the chisel with the aid of a mallet.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising advancing a decorticator over the chisel or through the guide device with the aid of a mallet.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the spinal facet joint is a cervical facet joint.

17. The method of claim 2, wherein decorticating comprises rotating the decorticator about the first tool.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising, before inserting the implant through the guide device, rasping at least one surface of at least one vertebra that forms the spinal facet joint, using a rasp inserted through the guide device.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein inserting the guide device comprises inserting a forked distal end of the guide device into the spinal facet joint.

20. The method of claim 1, further comprising advancing a fastener into the implant, after it is inserted into the spinal facet joint, to connect the implant to a vertebra that forms the spinal facet joint.

13. A method for delivering an implant to a spinal facet joint via a posterior access approach, the method comprising:

inserting a first tool via a posterior access approach into the spinal facet joint to provide initial distraction of the spinal facet joint;

advancing a decorticator over the first tool;

inserting a guide device over the first tool to maintain the initial distraction;

inserting an implant through the guide device, the implant mounted on a distal end of an implant insertion device; and

removing the guide device and the implant insertion device, thereby leaving the implant in place in the spinal facet joint.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the first tool is a chisel or a blade.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the spinal facet joint is a cervical spinal facet joint.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising, before inserting the implant through the guide device, decorticating at least a portion of a vertebra adjacent the spinal facet joint, using a decorticator advanced over the first tool.