Spine distraction implant

• US 6,048,342 A
• Filed: 10/27/1998
• Issued: 04/11/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 01/02/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kyphon SARL (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: St. Francis Medical Technologies, Inc. (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Klyce, Henry A., Zucherman, James F., Winslow, Charles J., Hsu, Ken Y.
• Primary Examiner(s): Buiz, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): REIP, DAVID OWEN
• Application Number:
  US09/179,570
• Time in Patent Office: 532 Days
• Field of Search: 606/60, 606/61, 606/72, 623/17
• US Class Current: 606/249
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/66 Alignment, compression or distraction mechanisms
• 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 17/7065 Devices with changeable shape, e.g. collapsible or having retractable arms to aid implantation; Tools therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7068 Devices comprising separate rigid parts, assembled in situ, to bear on each side of spinous processes; Tools therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7071 Implants for expanding or repairing the vertebral arch or wedged between laminae or pedicles; Tools therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0256 for the spine
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/37 Coumarins, e.g. psoralen

Abstract

A spine distraction implant alleviates pain associated with spinal stenosis and facet arthropathy by expanding the volume in the spine canal and/or neural foramen. The implant provides a spinal extension stop while allowing freedom of spinal flexion.

Claims

1. An implant for relieving pain associated with at least one of the spinal column and associated tissues and structures, which implant is positionable between spinous processes of the spinal column, the implant comprising:

a first wing with a central body extending therefrom, said central body having a longitudinal axis;

a sleeve positioned over said central body with said sleeve being able to rotate about said longitudinal axis of said central body so as to be positionable relative to said central body in order to aid in positioning said implant between spinous processes; and

said sleeve has an elliptical cross-section in a plane which is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

2. An implant for relieving pain associated with at least one of the spinal column and associated tissues and structures, which implant is positionable between spinous processes of the spinal column, the implant comprising:

a first wing with a central body extending therefrom, said central body having a longitudinal axis;

a sleeve positioned over said central body with said sleeve being able to rotate about said longitudinal axis of said central body so as to be positionable relative to said central body in order to aid in positioning said implant between spinous processes; and

a second wing;

said central body having an end located distally from said first wing;

a first sleeve guide extending from said first wing; and

a first groove provided in said sleeve, such that with the sleeve received over said central body said first groove receives said first sleeve guide from said first wing so that said sleeve can rotate about said central body guided by said first sleeve guide.

3. The implant of claim 2 wherein said first guide include first and second pins extending from said first wing respectively.

4. The implant of claim 2 wherein said first grooves are curved.

5. An implant for relieving pain associated with at least one of the spinal column and associated tissues and structures, which implant is positionable between spinous processes of the spinal column, the implant comprising:

a first wing with a central body extending therefrom, said central body having a longitudinal axis;

a sleeve positioned over said central body with said sleeve being able to rotate about said longitudinal axis of said central body so as to be positionable relative to said central body in order to aid in positioning said implant between spinous processes; and

said sleeve can rotate as the implant is inserted between spinous processes from a posterior position to an anterler position closer to vertebral bodies of the spinal column.