Spine distraction implant and method
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method, comprising:
- longitudinally displacing an inner second shaft of an insertion tool relative to an outer first shaft of the insertion tool to retract a distal tip of the second shaft proximally toward a handle of the insertion tool;
the first and second shafts extending distally from the handle section;
the second shaft slidably disposed in the first shaft;
the first shaft extending along a first longitudinal axis and having a first pin oriented generally perpendicular to the first axis;
the distal tip of the second shaft extending parallel to the first axis;
while the distal tip is retracted, aligning the first pin of an insertion tool to an interspinous-process implant relative to the insertion tool and displacing the first pin toward the implant in a direction generally perpendicular to the first axis of the tool to couple, at the first pin, the tool with the implant for both distal and proximal movement in a direction parallel to the first axis of the tool;
thereafter, rotatably engaging the distal tip of the insertion tool to the interspinous-process implant by rotating the second shaft relative to the first shaft;
thereafter, inserting the interspinous-process implant into a body while the first pin is aligned with the interspinous-process implant and while the distal tip is rotatably engaged with the interspinous-process implant.
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Abstract
A method of inserting an interspinous-process implant includes using an insertion tool. The insertion tool includes an inner shaft disposed at least partially within an outer shaft. The inner shaft is longitudinally displaceable relative to the outer shaft and rotatably engagable with the implant. The implant is alignable with a first engagement portion on the tool, advantageously when a second engagement portion associated with the inner shaft is retracted.
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Citations
8 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
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longitudinally displacing an inner second shaft of an insertion tool relative to an outer first shaft of the insertion tool to retract a distal tip of the second shaft proximally toward a handle of the insertion tool;
the first and second shafts extending distally from the handle section;
the second shaft slidably disposed in the first shaft;
the first shaft extending along a first longitudinal axis and having a first pin oriented generally perpendicular to the first axis;
the distal tip of the second shaft extending parallel to the first axis;while the distal tip is retracted, aligning the first pin of an insertion tool to an interspinous-process implant relative to the insertion tool and displacing the first pin toward the implant in a direction generally perpendicular to the first axis of the tool to couple, at the first pin, the tool with the implant for both distal and proximal movement in a direction parallel to the first axis of the tool; thereafter, rotatably engaging the distal tip of the insertion tool to the interspinous-process implant by rotating the second shaft relative to the first shaft; thereafter, inserting the interspinous-process implant into a body while the first pin is aligned with the interspinous-process implant and while the distal tip is rotatably engaged with the interspinous-process implant. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method, comprising:
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aligning a first engagement portion of an insertion tool to an interspinous-process implant relative to the insertion tool;
the insertion tool having first and second shafts extending along a first longitudinal axis distally from a handle section;thereafter, rotatably engaging a second engagement portion of the insertion tool to the interspinous-process implant;
the second engagement portion being a distal portion of the second shaft;inserting the interspinous-process implant into a body after the aligning the first engagement portion of the insertion tool to the interspinous-process implant and after the rotatably engaging the second engagement portion of the insertion tool to the interspinous-process implant; wherein the aligning includes removably engaging the first engagement portion to the interspinous-process implant from a first direction that is substantially perpendicular to the first axis so as to couple the first engagement portion to the implant for both distal and proximal movement in a direction parallel to the first axis; wherein the rotatably engaging includes simultaneously; rotatably engaging the second engagement portion to the interspinous-process implant from a second direction substantially parallel to the first axis; and slidingly displacing the second shaft distally in and relative to the first shaft. - View Dependent Claims (8)
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Specification