Surgical instrument for distracting a spinal disc space

• US 8,353,909 B2
• Filed: 04/25/2006
• Issued: 01/15/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Warsaw Orthopedic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Warsaw Orthopedic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Michelson, Gary Karlin
• Primary Examiner(s): Brown, Michael A.
• Application Number:
  US11/410,609
• Publication Number:
  US 20060200138A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,457 Days
• Field of Search: 606 60- 61, 606/53, 606246-248, 623/17.1, 623/17.3
• US Class Current: 606/53
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/025 Joint distractors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1655 for tapping
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1671 for the spine
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1757 for the spine
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/32 Surgical cutting instruments A61B18/042 takes precedence; suture cutters A61B17/0467; instruments for ligaturing or cutting A61B17/128; instruments for rupturing the amniotic membrane A61B17/4208; specially adapted knives for eye surgery A61F9/0133
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3468 for implanting or removing devices, e.g. prostheses, implants, seeds, wires devices for implanting seeds A61M37/0069
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8877 characterised by the cross-section of the driver bit
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8888 at its central region
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0256 for the spine
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/922 Devices for impaction, impact element
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/036 abutting on tissue or skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/30744 End caps, e.g. for closing an endoprosthetic cavity
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/442 Intervertebral or spinal discs, e.g. resilient non-disc-shaped intervertebral inflatable pockets A61F2/441; non-disc-shaped intervertebral fusion implants A61F2/4455
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/446 having a circular or elliptical cross-section substantially parallel to the axis of the spine, e.g. cylinders or frustocones
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4603 for insertion or extraction of endoprosthetic joints or of accessories thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4611 of spinal prostheses
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/2835 Bone graft implants for filling a bony defect or an endoprosthesis cavity, e.g. by synthetic material or biological material
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30143 hexagonal
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30224 cylindrical
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30235 tubular, e.g. sleeves
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30405 : made by screwing complementary threads machined on the parts themselves
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30426 : Bayonet coupling
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30593 : hollow
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30774 : internally-threaded
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30785 : parallel
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30787 : inclined obliquely with respect to each other
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30797 : internally-threaded
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30836 : knurled
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3085 : with a threaded, e.g. self-tapping, bone-engaging surface, e.g. external surface
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30904 : serrated profile, i.e. saw-toothed
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/448 : comprising multiple adjacent spinal implants within the same intervertebral space or within the same vertebra, e.g. comprising two adjacent spinal implants
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4619 : for extraction
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4627 : with linear motion along or rotating motion about the instrument axis or the implantation direction, e.g. telescopic, along a guiding rod, screwing inside the instrument
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4629 : connected to the endoprosthesis or implant via a threaded connection
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4649 : Bone graft or bone dowel harvest sites
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4681 : by applying mechanical shocks, e.g. by hammering
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4687 : Mechanical guides for implantation instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0025 : Connections or couplings between prosthetic parts, e.g. between modular parts; Connecting elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0017 : Angular shapes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0069 : cylindrical

Abstract

Apparatus and a method of inserting spinal implants is disclosed in which an intervertebral space is first distracted, a hollow sleeve having teeth at one end is then driven into the vertebrae adjacent that disc space. A drill is then passed through the hollow sleeve removing disc and bone in preparation for receiving the spinal implant which is then inserted through the sleeve. Apparatus and a method of inserting spinal implants is disclosed in which an intervertebral space is first distracted to restore the normal angular relationship of the vertebrae adjacent to that disc space. An extended outer sleeve having extended portions capable of maintaining the vertebrae distracted in their normal angular relationship is then driven into the vertebrae adjacent that disc space. A drill is then passed through the hollow sleeve removing disc and bone in preparation for receiving the spinal implant which is then inserted through the sleeve.

Claims

1. A surgical instrument for distracting a spinal disc space, comprising:

a distractor having a length and including;

a shaft and a first distractor tip connected to an end of said shaft, including;

a first surface and an opposite second surface defining a distraction height; and

a recessed area extending between said first and second surfaces along at least a portion of said length, wherein said shaft includes a first passage and a second passage extending therethrough along a substantial portion of said length of said distractor, said distractor tip extending outwardly from said shaft from between said first and second passages.

2. The instrument of claim 1, wherein said first surface and said second surface are substantially parallel.

3. The instrument of claim 2, wherein said first surface and said second surface are each substantially planar.

4. The instrument of claim 1, wherein said distractor tip is integrally formed with said shaft.

5. The instrument of claim 1, wherein said recessed area is a concave surface extending between said first and second surfaces.

6. A surgical instrument for distracting a spinal disc space, comprising:

a distractor having a length and a longitudinal axis extending along the length, and including;

a shaft and a first distractor tip connected to an end of said shaft, including;

a first surface and an opposite second surface defining a distraction height; and

opposed recessed surfaces extending between said first and second surfaces along at least a portion of said length, said opposed recessed surfaces being spaced apart from one another in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of said distractor, and said opposed recessed surfaces being parallel to one another along at least a portion of the length of said distractor.

7. The instrument of claim 6, wherein edges are formed at intersections of said opposed recessed surfaces with said first and second surfaces, said edges being aligned with the longitudinal axis of said distractor.

8. The instrument of claim 6, wherein said opposed recessed surfaces each include a maximum length aligned with the longitudinal axis of said distractor.

9. The instrument of claim 6, wherein said opposed recessed surfaces have concave curvatures.

10. The instrument of claim 9, wherein said concave curvatures of portions of said opposed recessed surfaces have identical radius of curvatures.

11. The instrument of claim 6, wherein said opposed recessed surfaces are each curved in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said distractor.

12. The instrument of claim 11, wherein said opposed recessed surfaces have identical radius of curvatures in the perpendicular plane.

13. The instrument of claim 6, wherein said first surface and said second surface are substantially parallel.

14. The instrument of claim 13, wherein said first surface and said second surface are each substantially planar.

15. A surgical instrument for distracting a spinal disc space, comprising:

a distractor having a length and a longitudinal axis extending along the length, and including;

a shaft and a first distractor tip connected to an end of said shaft, including;

a first surface and an opposite second surface defining a distraction height; and

opposed recessed surfaces extending between said first and second surfaces along at least a portion of said length, portions of each of said opposed recessed surfaces being at least in part concave, said opposed recessed surfaces each including a maximum length aligned with the longitudinal axis of said distractor, the maximum lengths of said opposed recessed surfaces being aligned with one another.

16. The instrument of claim 15, wherein said concave portions of said opposed recessed surfaces having identical radius of curvatures.

17. The instrument of claim 15, wherein said first surface and said second surface are substantially parallel.

18. The instrument of claim 17, wherein said first surface and said second surface are each substantially planar.