Spine distraction implant and method

• US 6,514,256 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2001
• Issued: 02/04/2003
• 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:
  US09/809,305
• Publication Number:
  US 20010016743A1
• Time in Patent Office: 691 Days
• Field of Search: 606/60, 606/61, 623/17.11, 623/17.12, 623/17.16
• US Class Current: 606/249
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/66 Alignment, compression or distraction mechanisms
• 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

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 spine and associated tissues and structures, which implant is positionable between spinous processes of the spine, the implant comprising:

a body comprised of a flexible material that can self-mold about a spinous process, said body having a peripheral edge;

said body having upper and lower saddles adapted to receive adjacent spinous processes, said upper and lower saddles being located in said peripheral edge; and

at least one of said upper and lower saddles having a valley wherein the valley projects into the body and extends into the body and extends partially along and in a direction of the peripheral edge.

2. The implant of claim 1 wherein:

both of said upper and lower saddles are V-shaped.

3. The implant of claim 1 wherein:

said body has a D-shaped side.

4. The implant of claim 1 wherein:

said body is D-shaped from a side.

5. The implant of claim 1 wherein:

said body has first and second wings that are D-shaped.

6. The implant of claim 1 wherein said body has first and second wings that are located on opposite sides of the upper and lower saddles;

and said first and second wings are D-shaped.

7. The implant of claim 1 wherein:

both of said upper and lower saddles are V-shaped.

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

a body comprised of a flexible material that can self-mold about a spinous process; and

said body is D-shaped, including D-shaped side walls with a peripheral edge located between the D-shaped side walls;

wherein said body has upper and lower saddles adapted for receiving adjacent spinous processes, said upper and lower saddles being located in said peripheral edge and at least one of said upper and lower saddles having a valley that projects into the body and extends partially along and in the direction of the peripheral edge.

9. The implant of claim 8 wherein:

both of said upper and lower saddles are V-shaped.

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

a body comprised of a flexible material that can self-mold about a spinous process, said body having a peripheral edge;

said body having upper and lower saddles adapted for receiving adjacent spinous processes; and

at least one of said upper and lower saddles having a valley that projects into the body and extends partially along and in the direction of the peripheral edge.

11. The implant of claim 10 wherein:

said body has a D-shaped side.

12. The implant of claim 10 wherein:

said body is D-shaped from a side.

13. The implant of claim 10 wherein:

said body has first and second wings that are D-shaped.

14. The implant of claim 10 wherein said body has first and second wings that are located on opposite sides of the upper and lower saddles;

and

said first and second wings are D-shaped.

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

a body that can self-mold about a spinous process having upper and lower saddles adapted to receive adjacent spinous processes said upper and lower saddles being located in a peripheral edge of said body; and

at least one of said upper and lower saddles having a valley wherein the valley projects into the body and extends partially along and in the direction of said peripheral edge.

16. The implant of claim 15 wherein:

both of said upper and lower saddles are V-shaped.

17. The implant of claim 15 wherein:

said body has a D-shaped side.

18. The implant of claim 15 wherein:

said body is D-shaped from a side.

19. The implant of claim 15 wherein:

said body has first and second wings that are D-shaped.

20. The implant of claim 15 wherein said body has first and second wings that are located on opposite sides of the upper and lower saddles;

and said first and second wings are D-shaped.

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

a body that self-molds about a spinous process having upper and lower saddles adapted to receive adjacent spinous processes said upper and lower saddles being located in a peripheral edge of said body; and

at least one of said upper and lower saddles has a valley wherein the valley projects into the body and extends partially along and in a direction of the peripheral edge.

22. The implant of claim 21 wherein:

both of said upper and lower saddles are V-shaped.

23. The implant of claim 21 wherein:

said body has a D-shaped side.

24. The implant of claim 21 wherein:

said body is D-shaped from the side.

25. The implant of claim 21 wherein:

said body has first and second wings that are D-shaped.

26. The implant of claim 21 wherein said body has first and second wings that are located on opposite sides of the upper and lower saddles;

and said first and second wings are D-shaped.