Dilator
First Claim
1. A system comprising:
- a dilator comprising;
a proximal portion and a distal portion interconnected by an elongated body portion;
at least a part of the distal portion has a cross-sectional area decreasing with distance towards a distal end; and
two oppositely located channels formed in the body portion and extending longitudinally into the distal portion; and
an instrument configured to be delivered through a subject'"'"'s supraspinous ligament, the instrument including a tubular body and two oppositely located channels on an outer surface of the tubular body, each of the channels of the instrument defining two sidewalls and a solid base between, and directly connecting, the two sidewalls, and the tubular body having an inner surface defining a passageway configured to receive the dilator and being positioned directly between the passageway and the base of each of the channels of the instrument.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A dilator that facilitates implantation of an interspinous spacer is provided. The dilator includes a proximal portion and a tapered distal portion interconnected by an elongated body portion. The tapered distal portion is ideally suited for splitting ligamentous tissue for creating a posterior midline pathway through the supraspinous ligament as well as for distracting the adjacent spinous processes. Two oppositely located and longitudinally extending channels or grooves are formed in the outer surface of the dilator for stabilizing the dilator with respect to the spinous processes. An accompanying cannula together with the dilator form a system for the distraction of the adjacent spinous processes, stabilization of the spinous processes with respect to the system and creation of a working channel for the implantation of an interspinous spacer.
597 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A system comprising:
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a dilator comprising; a proximal portion and a distal portion interconnected by an elongated body portion;
at least a part of the distal portion has a cross-sectional area decreasing with distance towards a distal end; andtwo oppositely located channels formed in the body portion and extending longitudinally into the distal portion; and an instrument configured to be delivered through a subject'"'"'s supraspinous ligament, the instrument including a tubular body and two oppositely located channels on an outer surface of the tubular body, each of the channels of the instrument defining two sidewalls and a solid base between, and directly connecting, the two sidewalls, and the tubular body having an inner surface defining a passageway configured to receive the dilator and being positioned directly between the passageway and the base of each of the channels of the instrument. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A system comprising:
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a dilator including an elongate body with a first dilator channel and a second dilator channel, wherein the first and second dilator channels extend along a sidewall of the elongate body, wherein the first dilator channel is configured to be positioned to hold a first spinous process of a subject and the second dilator channel is configured to be positioned to hold a second spinous process of the subject; and an instrument including a tubular body, a passageway, a first instrument channel, and a second instrument channel, wherein the first instrument channel is configured to receive the first spinous process from the first dilator channel to the first instrument channel, wherein the second instrument channel is configured to receive the second spinous process from the second dilator channel, wherein the tubular body is directly between the passageway and each of the first and second instrument channels, each of the first and second instrument channels defining two sidewalls and a solid base between, and directly connecting, the two sidewalls. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A system comprising:
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a dilator configured to be delivered through a human subject'"'"'s supraspinous ligament and including a body, and a first dilator channel extending along the body and configured to receive a first spinous process of the human subject; and an instrument movable over the dilator and including an instrument body with a dilator-receiving passageway, and a first instrument channel configured to receive the first spinous process while the dilator is positioned in the dilator-receiving passageway, wherein the instrument body is positioned directly between the first instrument channel and the dilator-receiving passageway, the first instrument channel defining two sidewalls and a solid base between, and directly connecting, the two sidewalls. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification