Method of performing a transforaminal posterior lumber interbody fusion procedure
First Claim
1. A method for implanting an intervertebral implant into a disc space of a patient comprising:
- distracting adjacent vertebra;
removing an inferior facet of the cranial vertebrae and a superior facet of the caudal vertebrae to create a transforaminal window from a posterior side of the patient'"'"'s spine;
removing substantially all of the disc material between the adjacent vertebra;
removing the superficial layers of the vertebra endplates to expose bleeding bone;
inserting and removing at least one trial fit spacer until a desired implant thickness is determined;
inserting an implant into the intervertebral disc space via the transforaminal window; and
guiding the implant through the transforaminal window into a desired position within the disc spacewherein the implant has a curved, concave posterior face and a curved, convex anterior face, both curved posterior and anterior faces extending along a longitudinal axis of the implant;
a pair of convex narrow ends separating the posterior and anterior faces;
superior and inferior faces for contacting upper and lower vertebral endplates, the superior and inferior surfaces defining a thickness of the implant; and
first and second non-threaded, horizontal channels configured and adapted for engagement by the insertion tool, the first channel disposed along at least a portion of the curved posterior face and the second channel disposed along at least a portion of the curved anterior face;
wherein the superior and inferior faces are convex and include a plurality of undulating surfaces thereon.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An intervertebral implant for fusing vertebrae is disclosed. The implant has a body with curved, substantially parallel posterior and anterior faces separated by two narrow implant ends, superior and inferior faces having a plurality of undulating surfaces for contacting upper and lower vertebral endplates, and at least one depression at a first end for engagement by an insertion tool. The arcuate implant configuration facilitates insertion of the implant from a transforaminal approach into a symmetric position about the midline of the spine so that a single implant provides balanced support to the spinal column. The implant may be formed of a plurality of interconnecting bodies assembled to form a single unit. An implantation kit and method are also disclosed.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. A method for implanting an intervertebral implant into a disc space of a patient comprising:
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distracting adjacent vertebra; removing an inferior facet of the cranial vertebrae and a superior facet of the caudal vertebrae to create a transforaminal window from a posterior side of the patient'"'"'s spine; removing substantially all of the disc material between the adjacent vertebra; removing the superficial layers of the vertebra endplates to expose bleeding bone; inserting and removing at least one trial fit spacer until a desired implant thickness is determined; inserting an implant into the intervertebral disc space via the transforaminal window; and guiding the implant through the transforaminal window into a desired position within the disc space wherein the implant has a curved, concave posterior face and a curved, convex anterior face, both curved posterior and anterior faces extending along a longitudinal axis of the implant;
a pair of convex narrow ends separating the posterior and anterior faces;
superior and inferior faces for contacting upper and lower vertebral endplates, the superior and inferior surfaces defining a thickness of the implant; and
first and second non-threaded, horizontal channels configured and adapted for engagement by the insertion tool, the first channel disposed along at least a portion of the curved posterior face and the second channel disposed along at least a portion of the curved anterior face;
wherein the superior and inferior faces are convex and include a plurality of undulating surfaces thereon. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for implanting an intervertebral implant into a disc space of a patient comprising:
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distracting adjacent vertebra; removing an inferior facet of the cranial vertebrae and a superior facet of the caudal vertebrae to create a transforaminal window from a posterior side of the patient'"'"'s spine; removing substantially all of the disc material between the adjacent vertebra; removing the superficial layers of the vertebra endplates to expose bleeding bone; inserting and removing at least one trial fit spacer until a desired implant thickness is determined; inserting an implant into the intervertebral disc space via the transforaminal window; and guiding the implant through the transforaminal window into a desired position within the disc space wherein the implant has a curved, concave posterior face and a curved, convex anterior face, both curved posterior and anterior faces extending along a longitudinal axis of the implant;
a pair of convex narrow ends separating the posterior and anterior faces;
superior and inferior faces for contacting upper and lower vertebral endplates, the superior and inferior surfaces defining a thickness of the implant; and
first and second non-threaded, horizontal channels configured and adapted for engagement by an implant insertion tool, the first channel disposed along at least a portion of the curved posterior face and the second channel disposed along at least a portion of the curved anterior face;
wherein the implant is formed of a plurality of interconnecting bodies assembled to form a single unit.
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13. A method for implanting an intervertebral implant into a disc space of a patient comprising:
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distracting a pair of adjacent vertebra using at least one instrument selected from the group consisting of a lam ma spreader and a lateral distractor; removing an inferior facet of a cranial vertebrae and a superior facet of a caudal vertebrae using an osteotome to create a transforaminal window from the posterior side of the spine; removing substantially all of the disc material between the adjacent vertebra using a curette; removing the superficial layers of the vertebra endplates using a bone rasp to expose bleeding bone; inserting a trial fit spacer until a desired implant thickness is determined; and inserting an implant into the intervertebral disc space via the transforaminal window using an insertion tool wherein the implant has a curved, concave posterior face and a curved, convex anterior face, both curved posterior and anterior faces extending along a longitudinal axis of the implant;
a pair of convex narrow ends separating the posterior and anterior faces;
superior and inferior faces for contacting upper and lower vertebral endplates, the superior and inferior surfaces defining a thickness of the implant; and
first and second non-threaded, horizontal channels configured and adapted for engagement by the insertion tool, the first channel disposed along at least a portion of the curved posterior face and the second channel disposed along at least a portion of the curved anterior face;
wherein the superior and inferior faces are convex and include a plurality of undulating surfaces thereon. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method for implanting an intervertebral implant into a disc space of a patient comprising:
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distracting a pair of adjacent vertebra using at least one instrument selected from the group consisting of a lamina spreader and a lateral distractor; removing an inferior facet of a cranial vertebrae and a superior facet of a caudal vertebrae using an osteotome to create a transforaminal window from the posterior side of the spine; removing substantially all of the disc material between the adjacent vertebra using a curette; removing the superficial layers of the vertebra endplates using a bone rasp to expose bleeding bone; inserting a trial fit spacer until a desired implant thickness is determined; and inserting an implant into the intervertebral disc space via the transforaminal window using an insertion tool, wherein the implant has a curved, concave posterior face and a curved, convex anterior face, both curved posterior and anterior faces extending along a longitudinal axis of the implant;
a pair of convex narrow ends separating the posterior and anterior faces;
superior and inferior faces for contacting upper and lower vertebral endplates, the superior and inferior surfaces defining a thickness of the implant; and
first and second non-threaded, horizontal channels configured and adapted for engagement by an implant insertion tool, the first channel disposed along at least a portion of the curved posterior face and the second channel disposed along at least a portion of the curved anterior face;
wherein the implant is formed of a plurality of interconnecting bodies assembled to form a single unit.
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25. A method for implanting an intervertebral implant into a disc space of a patient around the patient'"'"'s dura comprising:
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creating a transforaminal window from a posterior side of the spine; inserting bone graft material into the disc space; providing an implant having a body with curved, substantially parallel posterior and anterior faces separated by two narrow implant ends, superior and inferior faces having a plurality of projections for contacting upper and lower vertebral endplates; inserting the implant into the affected disc space via the transforaminal window with an insertion tool; guiding the implant around the dura through the transforaminal window using the insertion tool wherein the implant has a curved, concave posterior face and a curved, convex anterior face, both curved posterior and anterior faces extending along a longitudinal axis of the implant;
a pair of convex narrow ends separating the posterior and anterior faces;
superior and inferior faces for contacting upper and lower vertebral endplates, the superior and inferior surfaces defining a thickness of the implant; and
first and second non-threaded, horizontal channels configured and adapted for engagement by the insertion tool, the first channel disposed along at least a portion of the curved posterior face and the second channel disposed along at least a portion of the curved anterior face. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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Specification