VERTEBRAL JOINT IMPLANTS AND DELIVERY TOOLS

• US 20180161077A1
• Filed: 02/08/2018
• Published: 06/14/2018
• 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 10,568,666 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 system for distracting a facet joint of a spine via a posterior approach to the spine, the system comprising:

a chisel comprising a shaft, a distal tip and a proximal end;

a delivery device comprising a receiving assembly at a proximal end, anchoring forks at a distal end, and a tubular shaft between the receiving assembly and the anchoring forks, wherein the delivery device tubular shaft is sized to slide over the shaft of the chisel;

a decorticator comprising a tubular shaft, an abrasive distal end and handle at a proximal end, wherein the decorticator tubular shaft is sized to slide over and rotationally around the delivery device tubular shaft;

a hammer for tapping the proximal ends of the chisel and the delivery device to deliver distal tip of the chisel and the forks of the delivery device into the facet joint;

a driver assembly comprising an implant shaft and implant holding arms; and

an implant removably mounted on the implant arms of the driver assembly for distracting the facet joint.

2. A system as in claim 1, wherein the distal tip of the chisel and the forks of the delivery device have a matching V-shape.

3. A system as in claim 1, wherein the chisel comprises a longitudinal lumen.

4. A system as in claim 1, wherein the receiving assembly of the delivery device comprises a conical outer surface and a longitudinally extending bore.

5. A system as in claim 1, wherein forks of the delivery device comprise at least one of serrations or teeth.

6. A system as in claim 1, wherein the handle of the decorticator comprises a generally cylindrical portion with at least one of raised portions or recesses adapted to assist gripping the handle.

7. A system as in claim 1, wherein the abrasive distal end of the decorticator comprises serrated teeth.

8. A system as in claim 1, wherein chisel further comprises a head at its proximal end that abuts the receiving assembly of the delivery device when the chisel is inserted far enough into the delivery device.

9. A system as in claim 1, wherein the driver assembly further comprises:

an implant distractor;

a distractor knob; and

an internal actuator coupled between the implant distractor and the distractor knob.

10. A system as in claim 9, wherein the implant shaft of the driver assembly further comprises a keyway feature for preventing relative motion between the tubular shaft of the delivery device and the implant shaft of the driver assembly.

11. A system as in claim 9, wherein the internal actuator comprises a longitudinal shaft positioned within, and longitudinally slidable relative to, the implant shaft of the driver assembly, so as to advance the implant distractor into the implant, causing distraction of the facet joint.

12. A system as in claim 1, wherein the each of the two arms of the driver assembly comprises an engagement feature, and wherein the implant comprises two receiving features for engaging the engagement features of the two arms.

13. A system as in claim 12, wherein the engagement feature on each of the arms comprises a longitudinal ridge extending the length of each of the arms.

14. A method for distracting a facet joint of a spine via a posterior approach to the spine, the method comprising:

advancing a distal tip of a chisel into the facet joint via the posterior approach;

decorticating bone adjacent the facet joint using a decorticator disposed over the chisel;

removing the decorticator over the chisel;

advancing a delivery device over the chisel to position anchoring forks of the delivery device in the facet joint;

removing the chisel through the delivery device; and

advancing an implant through the delivery device and into the facet joint to distract the facet joint.

15. A method as in claim 14, wherein advancing the chisel comprises tapping a proximal end of the chisel with a hammer.

16. A method as in claim 14, further comprising advancing the decorticator over the chisel to contact the bone before decorticating, wherein decorticating the bone comprises rotating the decorticator about a shaft of the chisel.

17. A method as in claim 16, wherein advancing the decorticator comprises tapping a proximal end of the decorticator with a hammer.

18. A method as in claim 14, further comprising, after removing the chisel from the delivery device:

advancing a smaller diameter decorticator through the delivery device; and

decorticating additional bone with the smaller diameter decorticator.

19. A method as in claim 14, wherein the implant is advanced via a driver assembly comprising a shaft, a distal end, a proximal end, and an engagement feature at the distal end for holding the implant.

20. A method as in claim 19, further comprising:

turning a knob on the proximal end of the driver assembly to release the implant from the engagement feature; and

removing the driver assembly through the delivery device, leaving the implant in the facet joint.