Spine distraction implant and method
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An apparatus, comprising:
- an implant member having a cylindrical portion and a saddle portion, at least a portion of the cylindrical portion configured to be disposed between a pair of adjacent spinous processes, the cylindrical portion having a longitudinal length at a first time and a longitudinal length at a second time when the portion of the cylindrical portion is disposed between the pair of adjacent spinous processes, the longitudinal length at the second time being different than the longitudinal length at the first time, the saddle portion configured to receive a first spinous process from the pair of adjacent spinous processes;
wherein the saddle portion comprises an concave surface facing outwardly away from the cylindrical portion generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the cylindrical portion and disposed between first and second arms of the saddle;
the first arm having a first passage defined therein extending through the first arm and fully circumscribed thereby;
the second arm having a second passage therein extending through the second arm and fully circumscribed thereby;
the first and second passages disposed transverse to the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical portion;
a tether configured to couple the implant member to the first spinous process;
the tether extending through at least one of the first and second passages;
the cylindrical portion having a longitudinally extending spiral groove disposed along an exterior of the cylindrical portion.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A spine distraction implant alleviates pain associated with spinal stenosis and facet arthropathy by expanding the volume in the spine canal and/or neural foramen. The implant provides a spinal extension stop while allowing freedom of spinal flexion.
395 Citations
25 Claims
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1. An apparatus, comprising:
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an implant member having a cylindrical portion and a saddle portion, at least a portion of the cylindrical portion configured to be disposed between a pair of adjacent spinous processes, the cylindrical portion having a longitudinal length at a first time and a longitudinal length at a second time when the portion of the cylindrical portion is disposed between the pair of adjacent spinous processes, the longitudinal length at the second time being different than the longitudinal length at the first time, the saddle portion configured to receive a first spinous process from the pair of adjacent spinous processes; wherein the saddle portion comprises an concave surface facing outwardly away from the cylindrical portion generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the cylindrical portion and disposed between first and second arms of the saddle;
the first arm having a first passage defined therein extending through the first arm and fully circumscribed thereby;
the second arm having a second passage therein extending through the second arm and fully circumscribed thereby;
the first and second passages disposed transverse to the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical portion;a tether configured to couple the implant member to the first spinous process; the tether extending through at least one of the first and second passages; the cylindrical portion having a longitudinally extending spiral groove disposed along an exterior of the cylindrical portion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An apparatus, comprising:
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a spacer having a cylindrical portion, a first end portion and a second end portion, the cylindrical portion configured to be disposed between a pair of adjacent spinous processes, the first end portion configured to limit lateral motion of the cylindrical portion relative to a first spinous process from the pair of adjacent spinous processes, the second end portion configured to limit lateral motion of the cylindrical portion relative to a second spinous process from the pair of adjacent spinous processes, an outer surface of the cylindrical portion defining an opening configured to enhance a flexibility of the cylindrical portion; wherein the first end portion comprises first and second arms;
the first arm having a first passage defined therein extending through the first arm and fully circumscribed thereby;
the second arm haying a second passage therein extending through the second arm and fully circumscribed thereby;wherein the second end portion comprises third and fourth arms;
the third arm haying a third passage therein extending through the third arm and fully circumscribed thereby;
the fourth arm having a fourth passage therein extending through the fourth arm and fully circumscribed thereby;a first tether extending through the at least one of first and second passages and configured to couple the spacer to the first spinous process; a second tether extending through the at least one of third and fourth passages and configured to couple the spacer to the second spinous process; wherein the first and second arms form a first generally U-shaped saddle opening in a first direction generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the cylindrical portion;
wherein the third and fourth arms form a second generally U-shaped saddle opening in a second direction generally parallel to the longitudinal axis;
wherein the second direction is generally opposite the first direction. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17)
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15. An apparatus, comprising:
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a spacer having a cylindrical portion, a first end portion and a second end portion, the cylindrical portion configured to be disposed between a pair of adjacent spinous processes, the first end portion configured to limit lateral motion of the cylindrical portion relative to a first spinous process from the pair of adjacent spinous processes, the second end portion configured to limit lateral motion of the cylindrical portion relative to a second spinous process from the pair of adjacent spinous processes, an outer surface of the cylindrical portion defining an opening configured to enhance a flexibility of the cylindrical portion; first and second pairs of apertures extending through lateral surfaces of the first and second end portions, respectively;
the first and second pairs of apertures extending transverse to a sagittal plane defined by the spinous processes when the cylindrical portion is disposed between the pair of spinous processes;a first tether extending through the first pair of apertures and configured to couple the spacer to the first spinous process; a second tether extending through the second pair of apertures and configured to couple the spacer to the second spinous process; wherein the first tether is configured to substantially surround the first spinous process.
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18. An apparatus, comprising:
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a spacer having a cylindrical portion, a first end portion and a second end portion, the cylindrical portion configured to be disposed between a pair of adjacent spinous processes, the first end portion having a first arm and a second side forming a saddle configured to receive a first spinous process from the pair of adjacent spinous processes, the second end portion having a first arm and a second arm forming a saddle configured to receive a second spinous process from the pair of adjacent spinous processes; the first arm of the first end portion having a first passage defined therein extending through the first arm and fully circumscribed thereby;
the second arm of the first end portion having a second passage therein extending through the second arm and fully circumscribed thereby;the first arm of the second end portion having a third passage therein extending therethrough and fully circumscribed thereby;
the second arm of the second end portion having a fourth passage therein extending therethrough and fully circumscribed thereby;a first tether having a first end and a second end;
the first end of the first tether anchored to the first end portion at the first passage;
the second end of the first tether anchored to the first end portion at the second passage;
the first tether configured to couple the spacer to the first spinous process when the spacer is disposed between the pair of adjacent spinous processes;a second tether having a first end and a second end;
the first end of the second tether anchored to the second end portion at the third passage;
the second end of the second tether anchored to the second end portion at the fourth passage;
the second tether configured to couple the spacer to the second spinous process when the spacer is disposed between the pair of adjacent spinous processes;the cylindrical portion having longitudinally extending spiral groove disposed along an exterior of the cylindrical portion. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. An implant for spacing apart adjacent first and second spinous processes, comprising:
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a first end portion defining first saddle oriented in a first direction and adapted to receive the first spinous process; a second end portion defining a second saddle adapted to receive the second spinous process;
the second saddle oriented in a second direction generally opposite the first direction;an intermediate portion variable in length along a longitudinal axis, the intermediate portion disposed between the first and second end portions along the longitudinal axis; the first saddle having first and second arms each projecting in the first direction generally parallel to the longitudinal axis;
the first saddle further comprising a first concave surface disposed between the first and second arms;the second saddle having third and fourth arms each projecting in the second direction generally parallel to the longitudinal axis;
the second saddle further comprising a second concave surface disposed between the third and fourth arms;the intermediate portion having a generally cylindrical cross-section normal to the axis with an internal longitudinal bore defined along the axis within the cross-section; the intermediate portion having a lateral opening extending from the bore generally radially outwardly to an exterior surface of the intermediate portion for increasing flexibility of the intermediate portion. - View Dependent Claims (25)
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Specification