Spine distraction implant and method
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An improved method for stabilizing a spinous process relative to another spinous process, said method being of the type wherein a device having at least two pieces is implanted in a region between the spinous process and the another spinous process, wherein said improvement comprises:
- introducing at least one of the two pieces into the region along a posterior-anterior direction, parallel to the spinous processes, to a position wherein said one of said two pieces extends along a side of at least one of the spinous process and the another spinous process.
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Accused Products
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.
355 Citations
24 Claims
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1. An improved method for stabilizing a spinous process relative to another spinous process, said method being of the type wherein a device having at least two pieces is implanted in a region between the spinous process and the another spinous process, wherein said improvement comprises:
introducing at least one of the two pieces into the region along a posterior-anterior direction, parallel to the spinous processes, to a position wherein said one of said two pieces extends along a side of at least one of the spinous process and the another spinous process. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. An improved method for stabilizing a spinous process relative to another spinous process, said method being of the type wherein a device having at least two pieces is implanted in a region between the spinous process and the another spinous process, wherein said improvement comprises:
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implanting a distracting unit between the spinous processes, which distracting unit has a body that can maintain a distraction between the first and second spinous processes; and implanting a retaining unit relative to the distracting unit along a posterior-anterior direction, parallel to the spinous processes, to a position wherein said retaining unit extends along a side of at least one of the spinous process and the another spinous process. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An improved method for stabilizing a spinous process relative to another spinous process, said method being of the type wherein a device having at least two pieces is implanted in a region between the spinous process and the another spinous process, wherein said improvement comprises:
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implanting a distracting unit between the spinous processes, which distracting unit has a body that can maintain a distracting between the spinous processes; and securing a retaining unit to the distracting unit; performing the implanting and securing steps without altering the spinous processes. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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19. An improved method for stabilizing a spinous process relative to another spinous process, said method being of the type wherein a device having at least two pieces is implanted in a region between the spinous process and the another spinous process, wherein said improvement comprises:
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implanting the distracting unit between the spinous processes, which distracting unit has a body that can maintain a distracting between the spinous processes; securing a retaining unit to the distracting unit; and performing the implanting and securing steps without severing any spinous ligaments. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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22. An improved method for stabilizing a spinous process relative to another spinous process, said method being of the type wherein a device having at least two pieces is implanted in a region between the spinous process and the another spinous process, wherein said improvement comprises:
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implanting a distracting unit between the spinous processes, which distracting unit has a body that can maintain a distracting between the spinous processes, which body has a longitudinal axis and positioning a retaining wing unit adjacent to said distracting unit by urging said retaining wing unit along a line which is substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis, which retaining wing extends along a side of at least one of the spinous process and the another spin process. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24)
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Specification