Interspinous process spacer
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An interspinous spacer comprising:
- anchoring plates for securing the interspinous spacer to a vertebra;
a superior arch and an inferior arch connecting the anchoring plates and forming a central opening in the interspinous spacer;
a first saddle disposed on a superior side of the superior arch and centered along the superior arch to capture the spinous process of a superior vertebra;
a second saddle disposed on an inferior side of the inferior arch and centered along the inferior arch to capture the spinous process of an inferior vertebra; and
an aperture in each of the anchoring plates being sized to receive a pedicle screw for attaching the interspinous spacer to the pedicles of the vertebra, each of the apertures being laterally aligned with a central section of the central opening;
the first saddle extends farther in a superior direction than a remainder of the superior arch.
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Abstract
Embodiments of an interspinous spacer that maintains spacing between a superior vertebra and inferior vertebra following a laminectomy. The interspinous spacer may include a superior arch engaging the spinous process of a superior vertebra and an inferior arch engaging the spinous process of an inferior vertebra. The superior arch and inferior arch may define a central opening in the interspinous spacer.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. An interspinous spacer comprising:
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anchoring plates for securing the interspinous spacer to a vertebra; a superior arch and an inferior arch connecting the anchoring plates and forming a central opening in the interspinous spacer; a first saddle disposed on a superior side of the superior arch and centered along the superior arch to capture the spinous process of a superior vertebra; a second saddle disposed on an inferior side of the inferior arch and centered along the inferior arch to capture the spinous process of an inferior vertebra; and an aperture in each of the anchoring plates being sized to receive a pedicle screw for attaching the interspinous spacer to the pedicles of the vertebra, each of the apertures being laterally aligned with a central section of the central opening; the first saddle extends farther in a superior direction than a remainder of the superior arch. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An interspinous spacer comprising:
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anchoring plates for securing the interspinous spacer to a vertebra; a superior arch and an inferior arch forming a central opening in the interspinous spacer; a first saddle positioned at a central region of the superior arch to receive and contact against an inferior edge of the spinous process of a superior vertebra, an entrance into the first saddle positioned in a superior direction beyond the superior arch; a second saddle positioned at a central region of the inferior arch to receive and contact against a superior edge of the spinous process of an inferior vertebra, an entrance into the second saddle positioned in an inferior direction beyond the inferior arch; and wherein the spacer is made as a unitary one-piece body. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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12. An interspinous spacer comprising:
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anchoring plates each including an aperture to receive a screw to secure the interspinous spacer to a vertebra; a superior arch and an inferior arch forming a central opening in the interspinous spacer, the central opening being sized to create a window, the central opening including open space aligned directly between the apertures to allow visual observation of placement of the apertures relative to the vertebrae, the apertures being aligned with a central section of the central opening; each of the superior and inferior arches including a notch extending into a surface of the arches and including opposing sidewalls and a bottom wall sized to capture a superior and inferior spinous processes respectively; a first tether extending outward from the superior arch to extend around the superior spinous process that is engaged within the notch in the superior arch; a second tether extending outward from the inferior arch to extend around the inferior spinous process that is engaged within the notch in the inferior arch; and wherein the superior arch and inferior arch are engageable to the superior and inferior spinous processes respectively to maintain a desired spacing between the superior and inferior vertebrae; wherein, when the spacer is in a single given position the apertures are positionable on a first plane that is generally perpendicular to a sagittal plane that extends through the spinous processes and the notches are positionable on a second plane that is generally parallel to and offset in a posterior direction from the first plane. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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15. A method of stabilizing the spine following a laminectomy, comprising:
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positioning an interspinous spacer including a superior arch and an inferior arch defining a central opening between a superior vertebra and an inferior vertebra adjacent to a compromised vertebra, the central opening including open space aligned directly between attachment apertures; visually observing placement of the interspinous spacer and placement of the attachment apertures relative to the superior vertebra and the inferior vertebra through the central opening; introducing an inferior edge of a spinous process of the superior vertebra into an opening in a notch included with the superior arch and seating the inferior edge against a contact surface of the notch, the opening extending in a superior direction beyond a remainder of the superior arch to receive the spinous process of the superior vertebra; introducing a superior edge of a spinous process of the inferior vertebra into an opening in a notch included with the inferior arch and seating the superior edge against a contact surface of the notch, the opening extending in an inferior direction beyond a remainder of the inferior arch to receive the spinous process of the inferior vertebra; extending a first tether outward from the superior arch to extend around the superior spinous process that is engaged within the notch in the superior arch; extending a second tether outward from the inferior arch to extend around the inferior spinous process that is engaged within the notch in the inferior arch; and maintaining a desired spacing of the superior and inferior vertebrae. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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Specification