Spinous process stabilization devices and methods
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A spinal implant comprising:
- a first plate having a medial face configured to confront adjacent spinous processes;
a second plate having a medial face configured to confront the adjacent spinous processes;
said second plate disposed in spaced relation to said first plate;
a post connecting the second plate to the first plate and extending along a longitudinal post axis oriented transverse to the medial face of the second plate;
the second plate having a first bore passing through the medial face of the second plate generally normal thereto;
the post extending from the medial face of the first plate such that the post longitudinal axis is aligned to extend through the first bore;
wherein the medial faces of each of the plates extend from the post in opposite directions therefrom between a cephalad end of the respective plate that is positionable along a cephaladly located spinous process and a caudal end of the respective plate positionable along a caudally located spinous process;
wherein the medial face of the first plate comprises a first plurality of inwardly projecting projections that extend generally toward the second plate in both a cephalad section thereof and a caudal section thereof;
wherein the medial face of the second plate comprises a second plurality of inwardly projecting projections that extend generally toward the first plate in both a cephalad section thereof and a caudal section thereof;
wherein the first plate is curvedly configured such that a first theoretical line connecting a first side-edge of the first plate in the cephalad end of the first plate and the first side-edge of the first plate in the caudal end is spaced outwardly from the first side-edge of the first plate proximate the post;
wherein the second plate is curvedly configured such that a second theoretical line connecting a second side-edge of the second plate in the cephalad end of the second plate and the second side-edge of the second plate in the caudal end is spaced outwardly from the second side-edge of the second plate proximate the post;
a resiliently deformable spacer having a longitudinal spacer axis and a passage extending along the longitudinal spacer axis;
the spacer positioned about the post and disposed between the first and second plates with the post extending through the passage;
the spacer distinct from both the first and second plates;
a locking mechanism distinct from the spacer and operative to secure the second plate in position relative to the post;
wherein the second plate is moveable along the post toward the first plate and lockable at an infinite number of positions relative thereto via engagement of the locking mechanism with the post.
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Abstract
Devices and methods for supporting adjacent spinous processes include opposing plates movable toward one another along a cross post to contact opposite sides of each of the spinous processes, and a spacer member about the cross post contacting the adjacent surfaces of the spinous processes to resist movement of the spinous processes toward one another under spinal extension motion.
370 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A spinal implant comprising:
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a first plate having a medial face configured to confront adjacent spinous processes; a second plate having a medial face configured to confront the adjacent spinous processes;
said second plate disposed in spaced relation to said first plate;a post connecting the second plate to the first plate and extending along a longitudinal post axis oriented transverse to the medial face of the second plate; the second plate having a first bore passing through the medial face of the second plate generally normal thereto;
the post extending from the medial face of the first plate such that the post longitudinal axis is aligned to extend through the first bore;wherein the medial faces of each of the plates extend from the post in opposite directions therefrom between a cephalad end of the respective plate that is positionable along a cephaladly located spinous process and a caudal end of the respective plate positionable along a caudally located spinous process; wherein the medial face of the first plate comprises a first plurality of inwardly projecting projections that extend generally toward the second plate in both a cephalad section thereof and a caudal section thereof; wherein the medial face of the second plate comprises a second plurality of inwardly projecting projections that extend generally toward the first plate in both a cephalad section thereof and a caudal section thereof; wherein the first plate is curvedly configured such that a first theoretical line connecting a first side-edge of the first plate in the cephalad end of the first plate and the first side-edge of the first plate in the caudal end is spaced outwardly from the first side-edge of the first plate proximate the post; wherein the second plate is curvedly configured such that a second theoretical line connecting a second side-edge of the second plate in the cephalad end of the second plate and the second side-edge of the second plate in the caudal end is spaced outwardly from the second side-edge of the second plate proximate the post; a resiliently deformable spacer having a longitudinal spacer axis and a passage extending along the longitudinal spacer axis;
the spacer positioned about the post and disposed between the first and second plates with the post extending through the passage;
the spacer distinct from both the first and second plates;a locking mechanism distinct from the spacer and operative to secure the second plate in position relative to the post; wherein the second plate is moveable along the post toward the first plate and lockable at an infinite number of positions relative thereto via engagement of the locking mechanism with the post. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A spinal implant comprising:
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a first plate having a medial face configured to confront adjacent spinous processes; a second plate having a medial face configured to confront the adjacent spinous processes;
said second plate disposed in spaced relation to said first plate;a post connecting the second plate to the first plate and extending along a longitudinal post axis oriented transverse to the medial face of the second plate; the second plate having a first bore passing through the medial face of the second plate generally normal thereto;
the post extending from the medial face of the first plate such that the post longitudinal axis is aligned to extend through the first bore;wherein the medial faces of each of the plates extend from the post in opposite directions therefrom between a cephalad end of the respective plate that is positionable along a cephaladly located spinous process and a caudal end of the respective plate positionable along a caudally located spinous process; wherein the medial face of the first plate comprises a first plurality of inwardly projecting projections that extend generally toward the second plate in both a cephalad section thereof and a caudal section thereof; wherein the medial face of the second plate comprises a second plurality of inwardly projecting projections that extend generally toward the first plate in both a cephalad section thereof and a caudal section thereof; a spacer having a longitudinal spacer axis and a bore extending along the longitudinal spacer axis;
the spacer rotatably positioned about the post and disposed between the first and second plates with the post extending through the bore;
the spacer distinct from both the first and second plates;
the spacer having an external surface;a locking mechanism distinct from the spacer and operative to secure the second plate in position relative to the post; wherein the second plate is moveable along the post toward the first plate and lockable at an infinite number of positions relative thereto via engagement of the locking mechanism with the post; wherein the spacer external surface is configured to abut the spinous processes when the implant is disposed between the spinous processes with the medial faces of the first and second plates confronting the spinous processes and the post extending through a sagittal plane defined by the spinous processes. - View Dependent Claims (13)
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Specification