Spine distraction implant

• US 6,699,246 B2
• Filed: 04/26/2001
• Issued: 03/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/02/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kyphon SARL (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: St. Francis Medical Technologies, Inc. (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Zucherman, James F., Winslow, Charles J., Klyce, Henry A., Hsu, Ken Y.
• Primary Examiner(s): REIP, DAVID OWEN
• Application Number:
  US09/842,755
• Publication Number:
  US 20010021850A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,041 Days
• Field of Search: 606/60, 606/61, 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 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 relative to said central body; and

said sleeve has a circular 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 a spinal column and associated tissues and structures, 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 relative to said central body; and

wherein said sleeve is adapted to be positioned adjacent to said spinal column and between adjacent spinous processes.

3. 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 relative to said central body; and

said sleeve having a cross-section in a plane which is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, said cross-section having a shape substantially conforming to a space between spinous processes.

4. 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 relative to said central body;

said sleeve has a cross-section with a curved peripheral edge in a plane which is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

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 relative to said central body; and

said sleeve has a cross-section with a curved peripheral edge.

6. 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 relative to said central body; and

said sleeve has a curved surface adapted to contact a spinous process.

7. 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 member with a central body extending therefrom, said central body having an axis;

a sleeve positioned over said central body with said sleeve being able to rotate about said axis relative to said central body;

wherein said sleeve is adapted to be positioned adjacent to said spinal column and between adjacent spinous processes.

8. The implant of claim 7, wherein said sleeve has a cross-section with a curved peripheral edge.

9. The implant of claim 7, wherein said sleeve has a cross-section having a shape substaintially conforming to a space between spinous processes.

10. The implant of claim 7, wherein said sleeve has an elliptical cross-section.

11. The implant of claim 7, wherein said sleeve has an ovoid cross-section.