Systems and methods for in situ assembly of an interspinous process distraction implant
First Claim
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1. An implant to be assembled in situ for maintaining a space between adjacent spinous processes, the implant comprising:
- a first wing attached to a shaft;
a first spacer which can slide onto the shaft after the shaft has been positioned between adjacent spinous processes wherein the first spacer comprises a first tissue expander which can distract the adjacent spinous processes when the first spacer is slid onto the shaft;
a second wing; and
a fastening device which engages the shaft and the second wing to secure the second wing to the shaft, the fastening device includes a locking ring and one or more flexible fingers configured to engage a locking groove disposed on the shaft.
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Abstract
An implant system for implantation between adjacent spinous processes for the relief of pain associated with the spine. The implant has a series of spacers which may be inserted over a shaft located between adjacent spinous processes thus allowing the implant to be assembled in situ. The spacers may rotate on the shaft relative to the wings. To minimize trauma to the patient, each spacer has a tapered tissue expander to distract the opening between the spinous processes during assembly. The shaft is connected to a wing, and a second wing or deployable wing may be inserted over the shaft and locked into place.
388 Citations
17 Claims
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1. An implant to be assembled in situ for maintaining a space between adjacent spinous processes, the implant comprising:
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a first wing attached to a shaft; a first spacer which can slide onto the shaft after the shaft has been positioned between adjacent spinous processes wherein the first spacer comprises a first tissue expander which can distract the adjacent spinous processes when the first spacer is slid onto the shaft; a second wing; and a fastening device which engages the shaft and the second wing to secure the second wing to the shaft, the fastening device includes a locking ring and one or more flexible fingers configured to engage a locking groove disposed on the shaft. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for in situ assembly of an implant for maintaining a space between adjacent spinous processes for a therapeutic purpose, wherein the implant comprises a shaft, a first wing, a second wing and at least one spacer and wherein the method comprises:
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A) positioning the shaft between adjacent spinous processes; B) distracting the adjacent spinous processes by positioning a first spacer over the shaft while the shaft is positioned between adjacent spinous processes; C) fastening with a fastening adevice the second wing onto the shaft after the first spacer has been positioned over the shaft and while the shaft and first spacer are positioned between adjacent spinous processes thereby retaining the first spacer over the shaft and between the spinous processes, wherein the fastening device includes a locking ring and one or more flexible fingers configured to engage a locking groove disposed on the shaft. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An implant to be assembled in situ for maintaining a space between adjacent spinous processes, the implant comprising:
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a shaft insertable laterally between the spinous processes along an axis of the shaft; a first wing attached to the shaft, the first wing extending from the shaft so as to inhibit movement of the shaft from the between the spinous processes; a first spacer having an opening, the opening slidable onto and over the shaft after the shaft has been positioned between the adjacent spinous processes, the first spacer having a first tissue expander extending from a spacer body, the tissue expander tapering axially so as to distract the adjacent spinous processes when the first spacer is slid onto the shaft, the spacer body configured to maintain distraction of the adjacent spinous processes; a second, third, fourth and fifth spacer configured for incremental distraction of the adjacent spinous processes by sequentially inserting the first, second, third, fourth and fifth spacers over the shaft and all previously inserted spacers; a second wing securable to the shaft so as to restrain the spacer between the wings while the wings inhibit movement of the shaft from between the spinous processes. the wings inhibit movement of the shaft from between the spinous processes.
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Specification