Apparatus and method of spinal implant and fusion

• US 8,870,882 B2
• Filed: 01/30/2013
• Issued: 10/28/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jeffrey Kleiner
• Original Assignee: Jeffrey Kleiner
• Inventors: Kleiner, Jeffrey
• Primary Examiner(s): Cumberledge, Jerry
• Assistant Examiner(s): CARTER, TARA ROSE E
• Application Number:
  US13/754,042
• Publication Number:
  US 20130338720A1
• Time in Patent Office: 636 Days
• Field of Search: 606/99, 606/86.A, 606246-249, 606/279
• US Class Current: 606/86.A
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/025 Joint distractors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0642 for bones, e.g. for osteosynthesis or connecting tendon to bone
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1659 Surgical rasps, files, planes, or scrapers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1671 for the spine
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1757 for the spine
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3421 Cannulas
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7064 Devices acting on, attached to, or simulating the effect of, vertebral facets; Tools therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7076 for driving, positioning or assembling spinal clamps or bone anchors specially adapted for spinal fixation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7082 for driving, i.e. rotating, screws or screw parts specially adapted for spinal fixation, e.g. for driving polyaxial or tulip-headed screws driving other bone screws A61B17/8875
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/846 Nails or pins, i.e. anchors without movable parts, holding by friction only, with or without structured surface A61B17/72, A61B17/86 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/864 hollow, e.g. with socket or cannulated
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00004 (bio)absorbable, (bio)resorbable or resorptive
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0256 for the spine
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/3433 with different outer diameters of the cannula
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/922 Devices for impaction, impact element
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/30724 Spacers for centering an implant in a bone cavity, e.g. in a cement-receiving cavity
• 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 2/4455 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 2/4611 of spinal prostheses
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30622 Implant for fusing a joint or bone material
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30754 : Implants for interposition between two natural articular surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0016 : with sharp anchoring protrusions, e.g. barbs, pins, spikes
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 24/046 : obtained otherwise than by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds A61L24/043 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 24/12 : Ionomer cements, e.g. glass-ionomer cements A61L24/043 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2400/06 : Flowable or injectable implant compositions
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/54 : Biologically active materials, e.g. therapeutic substances A61L27/227 takes precedence

Abstract

An apparatus and method of performing a minimally invasive posterior spine fusion. More specifically an apparatus with a handle and a forked head on the distal end of the handle is used to grasp implant material and introduce the material to an implant site. The shaft of the apparatus is shaped so as to allow the affixation of a drill guide and drill while simultaneously holding the implant material in the implant site. After removal of the boring tools and assembly of the fusing element, the apparatus can be selectively removed from the implant site. A method of achieving facet joint fusion with near simultaneous fixation is also disclosed.

Claims

1. An apparatus for providing fixation of adjacent vertebral bodies comprising:

a handle;

an elongated shaft;

a head coupled to the elongated shaft;

wherein the head further comprises a forked end having two or more tines for grasping a bioactive implantable material which is adapted to be inserted into the joint space between two or more intervertebral bodies, wherein each of said two or more tines are free-standing with a first proximal end and a second distal end, wherein said second distal end is not connected to a distal end of another of said two or more tines; and

wherein the elongated shaft further comprises a generally cylindrical body having a continuous, hollow portion about a longitudinal axis of the generally cylindrical body, which is in communication with at least one aperture located at the distal end of the elongated shaft; and

wherein said head is composed of bioactive implant material.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the head is connected to the shaft of the apparatus by connecting means, the connecting means comprising means for selectively attaching and removing the head from the shaft.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the connecting means is comprised of a pinned connection.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said elongated shaft is angled at 45°

.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the implant material comprises a bioactive material in combination with a non-absorbable material.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said forked end has two tines.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said elongated shaft is comprised of a flexible shaft.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said head is made of a semi-flexible material.

9. An apparatus for providing fixation of adjacent vertebral bodies comprising:

a handle;

an elongated shaft;

a head coupled to the elongated shaft;

wherein the head further comprises a forked end having two or more tines for grasping a bioactive implantable material which is adapted to be inserted into the joint space between two or more intervertebral bodies, wherein each of said two or more tines are free-standing with a first proximal end and a second distal end, wherein said second distal end is not connected to a distal end of another of said two or more tines; and

wherein the elongated shaft further comprises a generally cylindrical body having a continuous, hollow portion about a longitudinal axis of the generally cylindrical body, which is in communication with at least one aperture located at the distal end of the elongated shaft;

wherein the head is connected to the shaft of the apparatus by connecting means, the connecting means comprising means for selectively attaching and removing the head from the shaft; and

wherein said connecting means comprises a vacuum or magnets.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said elongated shaft is angled at 45°

.

11. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the implantable material comprises a bioactive material in combination with a non-absorbable material.

12. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said forked end has two tines.

13. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said elongated shaft is comprised of a flexible shaft.

14. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said head is made of a semi-flexible material.