Facet joint implants and delivery tools

• US 8,267,966 B2
• Filed: 12/23/2008
• Issued: 09/18/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Providence Medical Technology, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Providence Medical Technology, Inc.
• Inventors: McCormack, Bruce M., Smith, Jeffrey D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramana, Anu
• Application Number:
  US12/317,682
• Publication Number:
  US 20090306671A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,365 Days
• Field of Search: 606247-249, 623 1711- 1716
• US Class Current: 606/247
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/025 Joint distractors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0642 for bones, e.g. for osteosynthesis or connecting tendon to bone
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1604 Chisels; Rongeurs; Punches; Stamps
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1659 Surgical rasps, files, planes, or scrapers
• 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 17/7044 also having plates, staples or washers bearing on the vertebrae
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7059 Cortical plates A61B17/7007, A61B17/7058 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7064 Devices acting on, attached to, or simulating the effect of, vertebral facets; Tools therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8004 with means for distracting or compressing the bone or bones
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8625 Shanks, i.e. parts contacting bone tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0256 for the spine
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/037 with a frangible part, e.g. by reduced diameter

Abstract

A spinal joint distraction system is disclosed and may include a driver assembly with a tubular shaft, a pair of implant holder arms, an implant distractor, an internal actuator, and a distractor knob, the system also including a delivery device with a tubular shaft, a receiving assembly, and a pair of forks, where the delivery device is adapted for slidable insertion of the driver assembly, the system also including an implant, a chisel, and an injector. Several embodiments of an implant are disclosed as well a method of placing an implant.

Claims

1. A spinal distraction implant comprising:

an upper member and a lower member, the upper member and lower member each being generally rectangular and each having a distal edge, a proximal edge, and two parallel lateral edges, the upper member and lower member positioned adjacent and substantially parallel to each other and having an inner surface and an outer surface, the distal edges of the upper member and lower member connected to each other by a U-shaped member positioned along the distal edge of each of the upper member and lower member and the proximal edges adapted to receive an implant distractor; and

teeth positioned along the lateral edges of at least one of the upper member or lower member and extending outwardly from the outer surface of the at least one of the upper member or lower member.

2. The implant of claim 1, further comprising a receiving feature on a lateral edge of the implant, the receiving feature adapted to receive an engagement feature of a driver assembly.

3. The implant of claim 2, further comprising a pair of distractor guide features, each positioned near the proximal edge of the upper member and lower member, the guide features adapted to guide an implant distractor between the upper member and lower member.

4. The implant of claim 3, wherein the upper member and lower member each include threaded slots for receiving threads of the implant distractor.

5. The implant of claim 4, wherein the distractor guide features form a segment of a cone.

6. The implant of claim 1, wherein a first surface of at least a portion of the teeth is defined by a curved portion of the inner surface of the upper member, wherein the curved portion of the inner surface includes a first radiused curve that curves away from the lower member.

7. The implant of claim 6, wherein a second surface of at least the portion of the teeth is defined by a curved portion of the outer surface of the upper member, wherein the curved portion of the outer member includes a second radiused curve offset from the first radiused curve.

8. The implant of claim 7, wherein the teeth have a sloping distal face and a proximal face orthogonal to the upper surface.

9. The implant of claim 8, wherein the teeth are equally spaced.

10. The implant of claim 9, wherein the distal edges are coupled together via a weld.

11. The implant of claim 1, wherein the U-shaped member is a relatively thin rectangular piece of material formed into the shape of a U.

12. The implant of claim 11, wherein the U-shaped member overlaps and is secured to the outer surface of the upper member and lower member.

13. The implant of claim 12, wherein the U-shaped member abuts and is secured to the distal edges of the upper member and lower members.