Cervical distraction/implant delivery device

• US 8,512,347 B2
• Filed: 09/14/2009
• Issued: 08/20/2013
• 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): WOODALL, NICHOLAS W
• Application Number:
  US12/559,193
• Publication Number:
  US 20100069912A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,436 Days
• Field of Search: 606/90
• US Class Current: 606/90
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/025 Joint distractors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/562 Implants for placement in joint gaps without restricting joint motion, e.g. to reduce arthritic pain
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7062 Devices acting on, attached to, or simulating the effect of, vertebral processes, vertebral facets or ribs rib fixation devices A61B17/8076; Tools for such devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7064 Devices acting on, attached to, or simulating the effect of, vertebral facets; Tools therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7065 Devices with changeable shape, e.g. collapsible or having retractable arms to aid implantation; Tools therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8014 the extension or compression force being caused by interaction of the plate hole and the screws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8085 with pliable or malleable elements or having a mesh-like structure, e.g. small strips A61B17/8071, A61B17/8076 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8095 Wedge osteotomy devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8822 characterised by means facilitating expulsion of fluid from the introducer, e.g. a screw pump plunger, hydraulic force transmissions, application of vibrations or a vacuum
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8855 inflatable, e.g. kyphoplasty balloons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00557 inflatable A61B2017/22051 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0256 for the spine
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/037 with a frangible part, e.g. by reduced diameter
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4405 for apophyseal or facet joints, i.e. between adjacent spinous or transverse processes devices implanted between spinous or transverse processes A61B17/7062
• 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 2/4455 for the fusion of spinal bodies, e.g. intervertebral fusion of adjacent spinal bodies, e.g. fusion cages intervertebral discs A61F2/442
• 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 2/447 substantially parallelepipedal, e.g. having a rectangular or trapezoidal cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4611 of spinal prostheses
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30205 conical
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30227 : arched, domed or vaulted
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3023 : wedge-shaped cylinders
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30266 : wedge-shaped parallelepipeds
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30281 : wedge-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30433 : using additional screws, bolts, dowels, rivets or washers e.g. connecting screws
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30579 : with mechanically expandable devices, e.g. fixation devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30622 : Implant for fusing a joint or bone material
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30841 : Sharp anchoring protrusions for impaction into the bone, e.g. sharp pins, spikes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30878 : with non-sharp protrusions, for instance contacting the bone for anchoring, e.g. keels, pegs, pins, posts, shanks, stems, struts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30879 : Ribs
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30884 : Fins or wings, e.g. longitudinal wings for preventing rotation within the bone cavity
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30892 : parallel
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30894 : inclined obliquely with respect to each other
• 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 2220/0041 : using additional screws, bolts, dowels or rivets, e.g. connecting screws

Abstract

Systems for distracting a facet joint and positioning a permanent implant in the joint are disclosed. The implants serve to retain a distracted position of the facet joint which is achieved with positioning of the leading end of a distraction tool in the facet joint and then distracting or enlarging the joint a desired amount. The permanent implant could be part of the distraction mechanism which can be separated from the delivery tool once the joint has been distracted or an auxiliary implant may be positioned before the distraction mechanism is removed from the distracted joint. The permanent implants can be solid, mechanical devices that may have fixation means thereon to hold them in place or injected fluids such as hydrogels or fluids confined within balloons.

Claims

1. A distraction mechanism for distracting a facet joint, the mechanism comprising:

an expandable receiving portion having upper and lower generally planar elements connected at an end with a living hinge; and

an actuation device adapted to be placed between the planar elements, wherein, the planar elements include malleable material that conforms to the facet joint upon implantation, wherein the expandable receiving portion is configured to transition from an insertion configuration to an expanded configuration by the actuation device being placed between the planar elements, and when the expandable receiving portion is in the insertion configuration, the expandable receiving portion is flatter than when the expandable receiving portion is in the expanded configuration.

2. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein the actuation device includes an elongated member.

3. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein the planar elements include tapered keels.

4. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein the planar elements include teeth.

5. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein the planar elements include threaded slots.

6. The mechanism of claim 5, wherein the actuation device includes an elongated threaded member, the threaded member including threads adapted to engage the threaded slots.

7. The mechanism of claim 6, wherein the threads protrude through the slots.

8. The mechanism of claim 6, wherein the threads protrude through the slots sufficiently to act against the mechanism backing out of the facet joint.

9. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein planar elements are configured to bend around the actuation device when the mechanism is implanted in the facet joint.

10. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein, when the expandable receiving portion is in the insertion configuration, the expandable receiving portion is capable of being flattened for insertion into the facet joint.

11. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein, when the expandable receiving portion is in the expanded configuration, the expandable receiving portion is wedge-shaped.

12. A distraction mechanism for distracting a facet joint including a facet surface, the mechanism comprising:

an expandable receiving portion comprising a leading end, a trailing end, a first element, a second element generally opposing the first element, a hinge joining the first element and second element near the leading end, the first element comprising a slot; and

an elongate member comprising a leading portion, a trailing portion opposite the leading portion, a thread extending along the elongate member between the leading portion and the trailing portion, and a longitudinal axis extending between the leading portion and the trailing portion,

wherein the expandable receiving portion is configured to transition from an insertion configuration to an expanded configuration via advancement of the elongate member between the first and second elements such that the longitudinal axis of the elongate member extends in a direction extending between the trailing end and the leading end of the expandable receiving portion, the advancement of the elongate member between the first and second elements being facilitated via the thread engaging the slot such that the thread protrudes through the slot,

wherein when the expandable receiving portion is in the insertion configuration, the expandable receiving portion is flatter than when the expandable receiving portion is in the expanded configuration.

13. The mechanism of claim 12, wherein, when the expandable receiving portion is in the insertion configuration, the expandable receiving portion is capable of being flattened for insertion into the facet joint.

14. The mechanism of claim 12, wherein, when the expandable receiving portion is in the expanded configuration, the expandable receiving portion is wedge-shaped.

15. The mechanism of claim 12, wherein the leading portion comprises a tapered tip configured to initiate advancement of the elongate member between the first and second elements.

16. The mechanism of claim 12, wherein the hinge comprises a living hinge.

17. The mechanism of claim 12, wherein the slot comprises multiple slots arranged in a thread-like arrangement.

18. The mechanism of claim 12, wherein at least one of the first element or second element is a planar element.

19. The mechanism of claim 12, wherein the thread protrudes through the slot sufficiently to contact the facet surface.

20. The mechanism of claim 12, wherein the expandable receiving portion is sufficiently malleable to conform to the facet surface.

21. The mechanism of claim 12, wherein at least one of the first element or second element of the expandable receiving portion is configured to bend around the elongated member when the mechanism is implanted in the facet joint.