Spinal motion measurement device

• US 20120123301A1
• Filed: 11/12/2010
• Published: 05/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hart Gamer, Robert A. Connor
• Original Assignee: Hart Gamer, Robert A. Connor
• Inventors: Connor, Robert A., Gamer, Hart
• Granted Patent: US 8,721,566 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/594
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/70 Spinal positioners or stabilisers ; Bone stabilisers comprising fluid filler in an implant
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1121 Determining geometric values, e.g. centre of rotation or angular range of movement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4528 Joints A61B5/4533, A61B5/4538 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6878 Bone

Abstract

This invention is a minimally-invasive device, including bone-moving members and motion-measuring members, that can help surgeons to obtain objective, quantitative information concerning spinal flexion, extension, lateral bending, decompression, compression and torsion in order to select the best therapy for each patient. The prior art does not offer surgeons the opportunity to objectively and independently measure each of these movements. As a result, currently there is tremendous variation concerning which therapies are selected for which conditions. It is very unlikely that quality is being optimized and costs are being best managed with such high variation in practice patterns. This variation may be greatly reduced by the availability of objective information concerning spinal motion from this device. In this manner, this device can help surgeons to select the optimal therapy, to improve the quality of care, and to reduce the risk and expense of unnecessary spinal procedures and hardware.

Claims

1. A device for causing and measuring movement of spinal vertebrae in order to help select a therapy, comprising:

one or more bone moving members that cause movement of spinal vertebrae relative to each other;

wherein this movement is selected from one, or a combination, of the movements in the group consisting of flexion, extension, lateral bending, decompression, compression, and torsion; and

wherein the amount of flexion or extension can be adjusted independently of the amount of decompression or compression;

one or more bone movement measuring members that measure movement of spinal vertebrae relative to each other; and

one or more movement analyzing members that analyze movement of the spinal vertebrae relative to each other, wherein the results of this analysis are used to help select a therapy.

2. The amounts of flexion, extension, or lateral bending in claim 1 wherein these amounts are defined as follows:

the amount of flexion is the degree of a linear angle formed by the intersection of the lateral cross-sectional planes of two vertebrae, wherein the vertex of this angle is anterior to the center of the vertebrae;

the amount of extension is the degree of a linear angle formed by the intersection of the lateral cross-sectional planes of two vertebrae, wherein the vertex of this angle is posterior to the center of the vertebrae; and

the amount of lateral bending is the degree of a linear angle formed by the intersection of the lateral cross-sectional planes of two vertebrae, wherein the vertex of this angle is to the right or left of the center of the vertebrae.

3. The amounts of decompression or compression in claim 1 wherein these amounts are defined as follows:

decompression is movement that increases the average distance between all points in the lateral cross-sections of two vertebrae; and

compression is movement that decreases the average distance between all points in the lateral cross-sections of two vertebrae.

4. The bone moving members in claim 1 wherein these members can cause spinal vertebrae to move in flexion, extension, lateral bending, decompression, compression, or torsion.

5. The bone moving members in claim 1 wherein these members can cause spinal vertebrae to move by a means selected from the group consisting of:

movement of one or more members inserted into one or more vertebrae;

movement of one or more members adhered to the surface of one or more vertebrae;

movement of one or more members compressively or elastically attached to the surface of one or more vertebrae; and

movement of one or more members pressing against the surface of one or more vertebrae.

6. The bone moving members in claim 1 wherein movement is caused by a means selected from the group consisting of:

electric motor;

hydraulic pressure;

pneumatic pressure;

vacuum;

rotation of a threaded member; and

manually-performed human force.

7. The bone moving members and bone movement measuring members in claim 1 wherein the same members perform both functions.

8. The movement analyzing members in claim 1 wherein analysis of flexion, extension, lateral bending, decompression, compression, and/or torsion is used to determine the extent to which vertebrae should be stabilized by application of stabilization procedures and/or devices.

9. A device for causing and measuring movement of spinal vertebrae in order to help select a therapy, comprising:

one or more bone moving members that cause movement of spinal vertebrae relative to each other;

wherein this movement is selected from one, or a combination, of the movements in the group consisting of flexion, extension, lateral bending, decompression, compression, and torsion;

wherein the amount of flexion, extension, or lateral bending can be adjusted independently of the amount of decompression or compression; and

wherein these amounts are defined as follows;

the amount of flexion is the degree of a linear angle formed by the intersection of the lateral cross-sectional planes of two vertebrae, wherein the vertex of this angle is anterior to the center of the vertebrae;

the amount of extension is the degree of a linear angle formed by the intersection of the lateral cross-sectional planes of two vertebrae, wherein the vertex of this angle is posterior to the center of the vertebrae;

the amount of lateral bending is the degree of a linear angle formed by the intersection of the lateral cross-sectional planes of two vertebrae, wherein the vertex of this angle is to the right or left of the center of the vertebrae;

decompression is movement that increases the average distance between all points in the lateral cross-sections of two vertebrae; and

compression is movement that decreases the average distance between all points in the lateral cross-sections of two vertebrae;

one or more bone movement measuring members that measure movement of spinal vertebrae relative to each other; and

one or more movement analyzing members that analyze movement of the spinal vertebrae relative to each other, wherein the results of this analysis are used to help select a therapy.

10. The bone moving members in claim 9 wherein these members can cause spinal vertebrae to move in flexion, extension, lateral bending, decompression, compression, or torsion.

11. The bone moving members in claim 9 wherein these members can cause spinal vertebrae to move by a means selected from the group consisting of:

movement of one or more members inserted into one or more vertebrae;

movement of one or more members adhered to the surface of one or more vertebrae;

movement of one or more members compressively or elastically attached to the surface of one or more vertebrae; and

movement of one or more members pressing against the surface of one or more vertebrae.

12. The bone moving members in claim 9 wherein movement is caused by a means selected from the group consisting of:

electric motor;

hydraulic pressure;

pneumatic pressure;

vacuum;

rotation of a threaded member; and

manually-performed human force.

13. The bone moving members and bone movement measuring members in claim 9 wherein the same members perform both functions.

14. The movement analyzing members in claim 9 wherein analysis of flexion, extension, lateral bending, decompression, compression, and/or torsion is used to determine the extent to which vertebrae should be stabilized by application of stabilization procedures and/or devices.

15. A device for causing and measuring movement of spinal vertebrae in order to help select a therapy, comprising:

one or more bone moving members that cause movement of spinal vertebrae relative to each other;

wherein this movement can be selected from any of the movements in the group consisting of flexion, extension, lateral bending, decompression, compression, and torsion; and

wherein the amount of each type of movement can be independently controlled;

one or more bone movement measuring members that measure movement of spinal vertebrae relative to each other; and

one or more movement analyzing members that analyze movement of the spinal vertebrae relative to each other, wherein the results of this analysis are used to help select a therapy.

16. The amounts of flexion, extension, or lateral bending in claim 15 wherein these amounts are defined as follows:

the amount of flexion is the degree of a linear angle formed by the intersection of the lateral cross-sectional planes of two vertebrae, wherein the vertex of this angle is anterior to the center of the vertebrae;

the amount of extension is the degree of a linear angle formed by the intersection of the lateral cross-sectional planes of two vertebrae, wherein the vertex of this angle is posterior to the center of the vertebrae; and

the amount of lateral bending is the degree of a linear angle formed by the intersection of the lateral cross-sectional planes of two vertebrae, wherein the vertex of this angle is to the right or left of the center of the vertebrae.

17. The amounts of decompression or compression in claim 15 wherein these amounts

are defined as follows:

decompression is movement that increases the average distance between all points in the lateral cross-sections of two vertebrae; and

compression is movement that decreases the average distance between all points in the lateral cross-sections of two vertebrae.

18. The bone moving members in claim 15 wherein these members can cause spinal vertebrae to move by a means selected from the group consisting of:

movement of one or more members inserted into one or more vertebrae;

movement of one or more members adhered to the surface of one or more vertebrae;

movement of one or more members compressively or elastically attached to the surface of one or more vertebrae; and

movement of one or more members pressing against the surface of one or more vertebrae.

19. The bone moving members in claim 15 wherein movement is caused by a means selected from the group consisting of:

electric motor;

hydraulic pressure;

pneumatic pressure;

vacuum;

rotation of a threaded member; and

manually-performed human force.

20. The bone moving members and bone movement measuring members in claim 15 wherein the same members perform both functions.