Spine distraction implant and method
First Claim
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1. An apparatus, comprising:
- a first end unit having a first saddle configured to receive a first spinous process from adjacent spinous processes and a threaded outer surface;
a second end unit having a second saddle configured to receive a second spinous process from the adjacent spinous processes and an unthreaded outer surface;
an interbody unit disposed between the first end unit and the second end unit, the interbody unit defining a distance between the first saddle and the second saddle and having a first longitudinal axis;
each saddle having a concave shape that has a lowest point and an opening, the openings facing in opposite directions and generally along a second axis defined by and extending through the lowest points of the two saddles;
the first longitudinal axis being substantially coaxial with the second axis;
the interbody unit comprising an inner surface defining a bore comprising a threaded portion and an unthreaded portion, the threaded outer surface engaging threads of the threaded portion and the unthreaded outer surface engaging the unthreaded portion;
the first saddle having only two upwardly extending fork members and the second saddle having only two downwardly extending fork members, wherein each of the fork members has a substantially dull tip;
wherein when the apparatus is disposed between the first and second spinous processes, each saddle extends through a sagittal plane defined by the first and second spinous processes;
wherein the first and second end units are separate and distinct from one another.
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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.
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Citations
53 Claims
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1. An apparatus, comprising:
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a first end unit having a first saddle configured to receive a first spinous process from adjacent spinous processes and a threaded outer surface; a second end unit having a second saddle configured to receive a second spinous process from the adjacent spinous processes and an unthreaded outer surface; an interbody unit disposed between the first end unit and the second end unit, the interbody unit defining a distance between the first saddle and the second saddle and having a first longitudinal axis; each saddle having a concave shape that has a lowest point and an opening, the openings facing in opposite directions and generally along a second axis defined by and extending through the lowest points of the two saddles; the first longitudinal axis being substantially coaxial with the second axis; the interbody unit comprising an inner surface defining a bore comprising a threaded portion and an unthreaded portion, the threaded outer surface engaging threads of the threaded portion and the unthreaded outer surface engaging the unthreaded portion; the first saddle having only two upwardly extending fork members and the second saddle having only two downwardly extending fork members, wherein each of the fork members has a substantially dull tip; wherein when the apparatus is disposed between the first and second spinous processes, each saddle extends through a sagittal plane defined by the first and second spinous processes; wherein the first and second end units are separate and distinct from one another. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 42, 44, 48, 52, 53)
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10. An apparatus, comprising:
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a first end unit having a first saddle configured to receive a first spinous process from adjacent spinous processes and an unthreaded outer surface, the saddle of the first end unit including a first fork member and a second fork member disposed apart from the first fork member, the first fork member and the second fork member disposed substantially symmetrically about a longitudinal axis of an interbody unit that is disposed between the first end unit and a second end unit; the second end unit having a second saddle configured to receive a second spinous process from the adjacent spinous processes and a threaded outer surface, the saddle of the second end unit including a first fork member and a second fork member disposed apart from the first fork member of the second end unit, the first fork member of the second end unit and the second fork member of the second end unit disposed substantially symmetrically about the longitudinal axis of the interbody unit; the first and second saddles having only two fork members, wherein each of the fork members has a substantially dull tip; the interbody unit comprising an inner surface defining a bore comprising a threaded portion and an unthreaded portion, the threaded outer surface engaging threads of the threaded portion and the first end unit being slidably disposed in the unthreaded portion such that the first saddle is moveable relative to the second saddle, the interbody unit defining a distance between the first saddle and the second saddle; wherein the first end unit is removably coupled relative to the second end unit. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 35, 36, 37, 38, 43, 45, 49)
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16. An apparatus, comprising:
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an implant configured to be disposed between adjacent spinous processes of a spinal column, the implant including; a first forked end unit comprising an unthreaded outer surface and defining a first saddle configured to receive a first spinous process from the adjacent spinous processes; a second forked end unit comprising a threaded outer surface and defining a second saddle configured to receive a second spinous process from the adjacent spinous processes; an interbody unit disposed between the first forked end unit and the second forked end unit, the interbody unit defining a distance between a portion of the first saddle and a portion of the second saddle; the first saddle defining an opening facing outwardly from the interbody unit in a first direction substantially parallel to a first longitudinal axis of the interbody unit, the second saddle defining an opening facing outwardly from the interbody unit in a second direction substantially parallel to the first longitudinal axis of the interbody unit, the second direction opposite the first direction; the first saddle including a first fork member and a second fork member spaced a width apart from the first fork member, the first fork member and the second fork member disposed substantially symmetrically about the first longitudinal axis, the first saddle having a thickness along a second axis substantially normal to the first longitudinal axis, the thickness greater than the width; the interbody unit comprising an inner surface defining a bore comprising a threaded portion and an unthreaded portion, the threaded outer surface engaging the threaded portion and the unthreaded outer surface being disposed in the unthreaded portion; wherein the first and second forked ends are separate and distinct from one another; the first saddle having only two fork members, wherein each of the fork members has a substantially dull tip. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 39, 40, 46, 50)
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24. An apparatus, comprising:
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a spacer having a first saddle configured to receive a first spinous process and having a second saddle configured to receive a second spinous process adjacent to the first spinous process, the first saddle comprising a threaded outer surface and the second saddle comprising an unthreaded outer surface, the first saddle having a substantially circular cross-section having an outer diameter and defining a first center line, the second saddle having a substantially circular cross-section having an outer diameter and defining a second center line, the outer diameter of the first saddle substantially equal to the outer diameter of the second saddle, the second center line substantially coaxial with the first center line; a central body disposed between the first saddle and the second saddle, the central body having a central longitudinal axis that extends through the first and second saddles; wherein the central body comprises an inner surface defining a bore comprising a threaded portion and an unthreaded portion, the threaded outer surface engaging the threaded portion and the unthreaded outer surface engaging the unthreaded portion; the first saddle having only two upwardly extending fork members and the second saddle having only two downwardly extending fork members, wherein each of the fork members has a substantially dull tip. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 41, 47, 51)
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Specification