Cervical distraction method
First Claim
1. A method for increasing foraminal height between first and second adjacent vertebrae of a patient under conscious sedation, the adjacent vertebrae having a facet joint comprising opposing articulating surfaces of adjacent vertebrae and a joint capsule that extends beyond the margin of the articulating surfaces, the opposing articulating surfaces having a shape and a relative orientation defining a geometry of a patient anatomy, the method comprising:
- determining the geometry of the patient anatomy;
selecting an implant from a plurality of inflatable implants, each implant comprised of an inelastic material, wherein a geometry of the selected implant corresponds to the geometry of the patient anatomy and an intended reversal of narrowing of a nerve root canal of the patient;
creating an access hole through the joint capsule with an introducer needle;
injecting dye through the introducer needle;
fluoroscopically confirming that the introducer needle is positioned in the facet joint;
inserting the selected implant through the needle and into the facet joint with a catheter, the selected implant being in a collapsed configuration and being connected to a distal end of the catheter;
positioning the selected implant such that the geometry of the selected implant corresponds to the geometry of the patient anatomy;
inflating the selected implant within the facet joint by advancing a bio-inert hydrogel through the catheter and into the selected implant with a catheter inflation syringe, the hydrogel including a contrast dye;
monitoring the inflating via a monitor positioned on the syringe;
fluoroscopically monitoring the inflating via the contrast dye in the hydrogel;
obtaining intra-operative patient feedback regarding symptom improvement;
iteratively adiustinq the inflating of the selected implant according to patient feedback.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A device and method for a minimally invasive surgical implantation to reduce radicular symptoms by inserting an expandable cervical distraction implant in the facet joint and distracting the adjacent cervical vertebrae to increase the foraminal dimension. The implant, when positioned in the cervical facet joint, expands via delivery of an inflation medium to increase the space between the vertebrae, thereby increasing the foraminal area or dimension, and reducing pressure on the nerves and blood vessels of the cervical spine.
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Citations
8 Claims
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1. A method for increasing foraminal height between first and second adjacent vertebrae of a patient under conscious sedation, the adjacent vertebrae having a facet joint comprising opposing articulating surfaces of adjacent vertebrae and a joint capsule that extends beyond the margin of the articulating surfaces, the opposing articulating surfaces having a shape and a relative orientation defining a geometry of a patient anatomy, the method comprising:
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determining the geometry of the patient anatomy; selecting an implant from a plurality of inflatable implants, each implant comprised of an inelastic material, wherein a geometry of the selected implant corresponds to the geometry of the patient anatomy and an intended reversal of narrowing of a nerve root canal of the patient; creating an access hole through the joint capsule with an introducer needle; injecting dye through the introducer needle; fluoroscopically confirming that the introducer needle is positioned in the facet joint; inserting the selected implant through the needle and into the facet joint with a catheter, the selected implant being in a collapsed configuration and being connected to a distal end of the catheter; positioning the selected implant such that the geometry of the selected implant corresponds to the geometry of the patient anatomy; inflating the selected implant within the facet joint by advancing a bio-inert hydrogel through the catheter and into the selected implant with a catheter inflation syringe, the hydrogel including a contrast dye; monitoring the inflating via a monitor positioned on the syringe; fluoroscopically monitoring the inflating via the contrast dye in the hydrogel; obtaining intra-operative patient feedback regarding symptom improvement; iteratively adiustinq the inflating of the selected implant according to patient feedback. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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Specification