Interspinous process spacer instrument system with deployment indicator

• US 20090222043A1
• Filed: 03/09/2009
• Published: 09/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Vertiflex, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Kim, Daniel H., Altarac, Moti, Tebbe, Shawn
• Granted Patent: US 8,945,183 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/249
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7062 Devices acting on, attached to, or simulating the effect of, vertebral processes, vertebral facets or ribs rib fixation devices A61B17/8076; Tools for such devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7065 Devices with changeable shape, e.g. collapsible or having retractable arms to aid implantation; Tools therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/861 specially shaped for gripping driver
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8877 characterised by the cross-section of the driver bit
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8888 at its central region

Abstract

A percutaneous and minimally invasive instrument system for implanting an interspinous process spacer into a patient is disclosed. The insertion instrument system includes an inserter and a driver. The inserter is configured to releasably clamp to an interspinous process spacer for its delivery, implantation and deployment. The driver is configured for removable insertion into a proximal end of a passageway of the inserter. The driver has a distal spacer engaging portion configured to engage that part of the spacer requiring activation for the deployment of the spacer from at least one undeployed configuration to at least one deployed configuration and vice versa. As the spacer goes from the undeployed to the deployed configuration and vice versa, the system advantageously provides a degree of deployment information to the user via at least one deployment indicator.

Claims

1. A instrument system comprising:

a spacer configured to be arranged from at least one undeployed configuration to at least one deployed configuration;

an inserter connectable to the spacer;

a driver configured to arrange the spacer from at least one undeployed configuration to at least one deployed configuration; and

a deployment indicator.

2. The instrument system of claim 1 wherein the deployment indicator is configured to provide at least one information pertaining to the degree of deployment of the spacer that is connected to the inserter.

3. The instrument system of claim 1 wherein the driver is insertable into a passageway of the inserter and configured at one end to engage a spacer that is connected to the inserter.

4. The instrument system of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the deployment indicator is configured to be resident outside the patient.

6. The instrument system of claim 1 wherein when one end of the inserter is connected to the spacer and said end is inserted into a patient, the instrument is configured such that the deployment indicator is resident outside the patient.

7. The instrument system of claim 1 wherein the deployment indicator is connectable to the spacer.

8. The instrument system of claim 1 wherein the deployment indicator is connected to the driver.

9. The instrument system of claim 1 wherein the deployment indicator is connected to the inserter.

10. The instrument system of claim 1 wherein the deployment indicator includes a sensor connected to a movable portion of the spacer, said sensor providing at least one information pertaining to the degree of deployment of the spacer.

11. The instrument system of claim 1 wherein the deployment indicator includes:

a spring loaded shaft biased against a movable portion of the spacer at one end;

wherein movement of the said movable portion of the spacer moves the shaft;

said movement of said shaft being visible at a second end to provide at least one information pertaining to the degree of deployment of the spacer.

12. The instrument system of claim 11 wherein the shaft includes an indicator line that is configured to indicate at least one deployed configuration of the spacer.

13. The instrument system of claim 12 wherein the indicator line is configured to be visible through a window;

the system further including at least one alignment line adjacent to said window and configured such that alignment of the indicator line with the alignment line indicates a fully deployed configuration of the spacer.

14. The instrument system of claim 11 wherein the shaft has a first position to indicate a first deployment information and has a second position to indicate a second deployment information.

15. The instrument system of claim 14 wherein the first position is characterized by the inner shaft projecting at the second end and the second position characterized by the inner shaft being substantially flush with respect to at least one surface.

16. An instrument for implanting a deployable interspinous process spacer into a patient, comprising:

a first end connectable to an interspinous process spacer;

a second end configured to arrange a connected spacer between at least a first configuration and at least a second configuration; and

a sensor configured to measure the arrangement of a connected spacer and provide a signal regarding the arrangement of a connected spacer to the user.

17. The instrument of claim 16 wherein the sensor is configured to provide a signal that is visible to the user.

18. The instrument of claim 16 wherein the signal indicates full deployment of a connected spacer.

19. The instrument of claim 16 wherein the signal is transmitted to a receiver located proximate to the second end of the instrument relative to the first end of the instrument.

20. The instrument of claim 16 wherein the signal is transmitted to a location remote of the instrument.