Monorail system

• US 7,615,079 B2
• Filed: 04/20/2006
• Issued: 11/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: K2M, Inc (Stryker Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Meditech Advisors, LLC
• Inventors: Flickinger, Eric, Smithweck, Tom
• Primary Examiner(s): Robert; Eduardo C
• Assistant Examiner(s): FISHER, ELANA BETH
• Application Number:
  US11/407,585
• Publication Number:
  US 20070270873A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,300 Days
• Field of Search: 606/90, 606/107, 623 1711- 1716
• US Class Current: 623/17.16
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/025 Joint distractors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1604 Chisels; Rongeurs; Punches; Stamps
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1671 for the spine
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1735 for rasps or chisels
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1757 for the spine
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0256 for the spine
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/446 having a circular or elliptical cross-section substantially parallel to the axis of the spine, e.g. cylinders or frustocones
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4611 of spinal prostheses
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30593 hollow
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30604 modular
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30617 Visible markings for adjusting, locating or measuring
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30785 parallel
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30841 Sharp anchoring protrusions for impaction into the bone, e.g. sharp pins, spikes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/448 comprising multiple adjacent spinal implants within the same intervertebral space or within the same vertebra, e.g. comprising two adjacent spinal implants
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4627 with linear motion along or rotating motion about the instrument axis or the implantation direction, e.g. telescopic, along a guiding rod, screwing inside the instrument
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4629 connected to the endoprosthesis or implant via a threaded connection
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0063 Nested prosthetic parts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0097 Visible markings, e.g. indicia

Abstract

Systems providing improved methods of performing a spinal fusion procedure and including a monorail instrument that protects the medial neural structures, includes a sliding platform for additional instrumentation and allows controlled delivery of various instruments for disc preparation and implant insertion. The monorail instrument engages other instruments, including various instruments utilized to prepare the disc space as well as spinal fusion implants, for guided and controlled insertion into the disc space. The monorail instrument may be a distractor, and may include flutes for preparation of the disc space.

Claims

1. A method of performing a spinal fusion procedure, comprising:

(a) inserting a distractor into the disc space of a patient, the distractor having a monorail on a lateral side, the monorail comprising a single, elongated member;

(b) rotating the distractor 90 degrees to distract the disc space;

(c) engaging a channel of a disc space preparation instrument with the single, elongated member of the monorail of the distractor so that the disc preparation instrument and the distractor are slidable relative to one another in a longitudinal direction, but not in a lateral direction;

(d) sliding the disc space preparation instrument down the monorail and into the disc space;

(e) cleaning and preparing the disc space using the disc space preparation instrument;

(f) removing the disc space preparation instrument;

(g) threading an implant to an insertion tool having a channel;

(h) joining the insertion tool with the monorail of the distractor; and

(i) pushing the implant down the monorail of the distractor and into the disc space using the insertion tool.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of joining the insertion tool with the monorail of the distractor comprises:

engaging the channel of the insertion tool with the single, elongated member of the monorail of the distractor so that the insertion tool and the distractor are slidable relative to one another in a longitudinal direction, but not in a lateral direction.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

(j) disengaging the implant from the insertion tool; and

(k) removing the insertion tool and the distractor instrument from the disc space.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the disc preparation instrument is a chisel.

5. A method of performing a spinal fusion procedure, comprising:

(a) inserting a distractor into the disc space of a patient, the distractor having a monorail on a lateral side, the monorail comprising a single, elongated member;

(b) rotating the distractor 90 degrees to distract the disc space;

(c) engaging a channel of a disc space preparation instrument with the single, elongated member of the monorail of the distractor so that the disc preparation instrument and the distractor are slidable relative to one another in a longitudinal direction, but not in a lateral direction;

(d) sliding the disc space preparation instrument down the monorail and into the disc space;

(e) cleaning and preparing the disc space using the disc space preparation instrument;

(f) removing the disc space preparation instrument;

(g) threading an implant having a channel to an insertion tool;

(h) joining the implant with the monorail of the distractor; and

(i) pushing the implant down the monorail of the distractor and into the disc space using the insertion tool.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the step of joining the implant with the monorail of the distractor comprises:

engaging the channel of the implant with the single, elongated member of the monorail of the distractor so that the implant and the distractor are slidable relative to one another in a longitudinal direction, but not in a lateral direction.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

(j) disengaging the implant from the insertion tool; and

(k) removing the insertion tool and the distractor instrument from the disc space.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the disc preparation instrument is a chisel.