Spine distraction implant and method

• US 6,419,676 B1
• Filed: 10/06/2000
• Issued: 07/16/2002
• 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., Fallin, T. Wade, Hsu, Ken Y.
• Primary Examiner(s): REIP, DAVID OWEN
• Application Number:
  US09/684,748
• Time in Patent Office: 648 Days
• Field of Search: 606/60, 606/61, 606/72, 623/17.11, 623/17.16
• 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 the spinal column comprising:

a central body

a first arm extending from the central body;

a second arm received in a first position in the central body and movable between said first position and a second position extending from the central body in order so that the first and the second arms can retain the implant relative to first and second spinous processes of the spinal column; and

wherein as said second arm moves between the first position and the second position, the second arm moves along a line that intersects the first arm.

2. The implant of claim 1, wherein:

said first and second arms are adapted for location on opposite sides of the spinous processes when implanted and said arms extend in opposite directions with the second arm extended from the central body.

3. The implant of claim 1 including:

a third arm received in a first position in the central body and movable between said first position and a second position extending from the central body.

4. The implant of claim 1 wherein:

said first arm is a peripheral flange extending from and about the central body.

5. An implant for relieving pain associated with the spinal column comprising:

a central body

a first arm extending from the central body;

a second arm received in a first position in the central body and movable between said first position and a second position extending from the central body in order so that the first and the second arms can retain the implant relative to first and second spinous processes of the spinal column; and

wherein said first arm and said second arm are of insufficient strength to penetrate a vertebral body.