Spine distraction implant and method

• US 6,280,444 B1
• Filed: 02/18/2000
• Issued: 08/28/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/02/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kyphon SARL (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: St Francis Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Klyce, Henry A., Zucherman, James F., Fallin, T. Wade, Hsu, Ken Y.
• Primary Examiner(s): REIP, DAVID OWEN
• Application Number:
  US09/507,755
• Time in Patent Office: 557 Days
• Field of Search: 606/60, 606/61, 606/78, 623/17.11, 623/17.16, 148/402
• US Class Current: 606/86.00A
• 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. A method of relieving pain associated with the spine comprising the steps of:

introducing a device relative to a spinous process and another spinous process, wherein said device has a first configuration and a second configuration, and the introducing step includes introducing the device in the first configuration;

allowing the device to reconfigure to the second configuration in order to distract apart the spinous processes; and

said allowing step allows the device to reconfigure about one of the spinous process and the another spinous process.

2. The method of claim 1 including:

using an introduction tool in order to introduce the device relative to the spinous process and the another spinous process in the first configuration; and

removing the introduction tool in order to allow the device to reconfigure to the second configuration.

3. The method of claim 2 including:

said removing step allow the device to reconfigure about one of said spinous process and said another spinous process.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein:

prior to said introducing step is the step of causing the device to come to a first temperature associated with the first configuration; and

said allowing step allows the device to come to a second temperature when placed relative to the spinous process and the another spinous process in order that the device reconfigures to the second configuration.

5. The method of claim 1 including:

said introducing step including introducing an elongated implant, having an elongated first configuration, relative to a spinous process; and

allowing said elongated implant to curl about a spinous process when assuming the second configuration.

6. An improved method for stabilizing a spinous process relative to another spinous process, said method being of the type wherein a device is implanted between said spinous process and said another spinous process, wherein said improvement comprises:

introducing between said spinous process and said another spinous process a device which is comprised of a shape memory material and which device is formed in an introduction shape; and

allowing the device to assume a final implanted shape between said spinous process and said another spinous process in order to distract apart the spinous process.

7. The improved method of claim 6 wherein:

said introducing step includes using a material which changes shape according to temperature.

8. The method of claim 6 including:

using an introduction tool in order to introduce the device between the spinous process and the another spinous process in the first configuration; and

removing the introduction tool in order to allow the device to reconfigure to the second configuration.

9. The method of claim 6 wherein:

prior to said introducing step is the step of causing the device to come to a first temperature associated with the first configuration; and

said allowing step allows the device to come to a second temperature when placed between the spinous process and the another spinous process in order that the device reconfigures to the second configuration.

10. The method of claim 6 including:

said introducing step including introducing an elongated implant, having an elongated first configuration, relative to a spinous process; and

allowing said elongated implant to curl up between the spinous process when assuming the second configuration.