METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MINIMALLY INVASIVE POSTEROLATERAL SPINAL FUSION

• US 20190328405A1
• Filed: 06/19/2019
• Published: 10/31/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/2016
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Quandary Medical LLC (The Quandary Group LLC)
• Original Assignee: Quandary Medical LLC (The Quandary Group LLC)
• Inventors: LaPierre, Leighton Joseph, Noble, Scott, Arce, Ryan Alexander, Schell, Jeffrey R., Okkotsu, Yuta, Eyvazzadeh, David C., Arthurs, Brandon B., Schell, Gerald R.
• Application Number:
  US16/446,285
• Publication Number:
  US 20190328405A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1604 Chisels; Rongeurs; Punches; Stamps
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1635 for grafts, harvesting or transplants
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1671 for the spine
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1757 for the spine
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3421 Cannulas
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7061 for stabilising vertebrae or discs by improving the condition of their tissues, e.g. using implanted medication or fluid exchange intraosseous injection devices A61B17/3472
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7089 wherein insertion is along an arcuate path
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8802 Equipment for handling bone cement or other fluid fillers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320052 Guides for cutting instruments by marking A61B2090/395
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/32006 with a cutting strip, band or chain, e.g. like a chainsaw

Abstract

Certain embodiments of the invention relate to a surgical procedure resulting in the fusion of transverse processes. The disclosure herein presents novel approaches for accessing transverse processes of the spine, novel methods for the delivery of fusion material for the fusion of said transverse processes, and novel tools to facilitate the procedure. Certain embodiments of the invention include a graft delivery assembly, which has a delivery shaft, delivery sheath, and at least one curved rod. Bony material is position with a graft delivery assembly, in which retraction of the delivery shaft or sheath places the bone fusion material to the fusion site. The graft delivery assembly further includes features to decorticate and prepare the bone surface for fusion.

Claims

1. A medical device assembly for delivering bone graft, comprising:

a delivery shaft, said delivery shaft having a tool insertion end and a graft delivery end, said delivery shaft aligned with a central axis, said central axis defining a shaft pathway extending between said tool insertion end and said graft delivery end, said delivery shaft further comprising a handle, said delivery shaft further comprising a retention lock; and

a first element having a first end, a second end, and an exterior surface, said first element aligned with said central axis, said first element being axially slidable through said shaft pathway, said first element further comprising a handle, wherein said delivery shaft retention lock is adapted to retain said first element from sliding.

2. The assembly of claim 1, said delivery shaft further comprising a slot, said slot in communication with said delivery shaft pathway, and wherein said first element handle is a jut protruding from said first element exterior surface, said jut correspondingly passing through said slot and extending past the delivery shaft exterior surface.

3. The assembly of claim 2, wherein said slot further comprises a slot end.

4. The assembly of claim 1 further comprising a second element;

said first element further comprising a pathway extending between said first end and said second end, and defining a hollow form with an interior surface;

said second element having a first end, a second end, and an exterior surface, said second element being axially slidable through said first element pathway; and

said delivery shaft further comprising a second retention lock adapted to retain said second element from sliding.

5. The assembly of claim 4, said second element comprising a mating feature, said mating feature engageable with said second retention lock.

6. The assembly of claim 4, said second element further comprising an abrading surface.

7. The assembly of claim 4, said second element second end further comprising a beveled end configured to create a pathway through tissue.

8. The assembly in claim 1, said retention lock further comprising a retention latch defined by a collar portion rotatable about said shaft central axis, and a latch portion being able to restrict the slideable movement of said first element.

9. The assembly of claim 1, said first element further comprising an abrading surface.

10. The assembly of claim 1, said first element second end further comprising a beveled end configured to create a pathway through tissue.

11. A medical device assembly for delivering bone graft, comprising:

a delivery shaft, said delivery shaft having a tool insertion end and a graft delivery end, said delivery shaft aligned with a central axis, said central axis defining a shaft pathway extending between said tool insertion end and said graft delivery end, said delivery shaft further comprising a handle;

a first element having a first end, a second end, and an exterior surface, said first element aligned with said central axis, said first element being axially slidable through said shaft pathway, said first element further comprising a pathway extending between said first end and said second end, and defining a hollow form with an interior surface;

said first element further comprising a handle; and

a second element having a first end, a second end, and an exterior surface, said second element being axially slidable through said first element pathway.

12. The assembly of claim 11, wherein said delivery shaft further comprises a retention lock, wherein said delivery shaft retention lock prevents said first element from sliding.

13. The assembly in claim 12, wherein said retention lock comprises a retention latch defined by a collar portion rotatable about said delivery shaft central axis, and a latch portion restricting slideable movement of said first element when said retention latch is positioned in a locking position.

14. The assembly in claim 12, wherein said delivery shaft further comprises a second retention lock wherein said delivery shaft second retention lock prevents said second element from sliding.

15. The assembly of claim 11, said delivery shaft further comprising a slot, said slot in communication with said delivery shaft pathway, and wherein said first element handle is a jut protruding from said first element exterior surface, said jut correspondingly passing through said slot and extending past the delivery shaft exterior surface.

16. A method of placing bony material between adjacent transverse processes, comprising:

making an incision in the skin on the posterior side of a patient offset from the medial plane and in proximity to a transverse process;

creating a pathway to a first transverse process through said incision with an assembly, the assembly comprising;

a delivery shaft, said delivery shaft having a tool insertion end and a graft delivery end, said delivery shaft aligned with a central axis, said central axis defining a shaft pathway extending between said tool insertion end and said graft delivery end, said delivery shaft further comprising a handle, said delivery shaft further comprising a retention lock; and

a first element having a first end, a second end, and an exterior surface, said first element aligned with said central axis, said first element being axially slidable through said shaft pathway, said first element further comprising a handle, wherein said delivery shaft retention lock is adapted to retain said first element from sliding;

extending said pathway to at least a second transverse process adjacent to said first transverse process with said assembly; and

dispensing bony material through said pathway depositing bony material between said first transverse process and said second transverse process.

17. The method in claim 16, further comprising:

decorticating the posterior surface of said first transverse process and said at least second transverse process through said pathway, wherein said assembly further comprises an ablating surface configured for decorticating said transverse processes.

18. The method in claim 16, further comprising:

pre-loading said assembly with bony material and dispensing said bony material between said first transverse process and said at least second transverse process.

19. The method of claim 16, said delivery shaft further comprising a slot, said slot in communication with said delivery shaft pathway, and wherein said first element handle is a jut protruding from said first element exterior surface, said jut correspondingly passing through said slot and extending past the delivery shaft exterior surface.

20. The method of claim 16 wherein the assembly further comprises a second element having a first end, a second end, and an exterior surface, said second element being axially slidable through said first element pathway, said first element further comprising a pathway extending between said first end and said second end, and defining a hollow form with an interior surface, and said delivery shaft further comprising a second retention lock adapted to retain said second element from sliding.