Spine distraction implant and method

• US 6,379,355 B1
• Filed: 07/27/1999
• Issued: 04/30/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/02/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kyphon SARL (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: St. Francis Medical Technologies, Inc. (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Klyce, Henry A., Zucherman, James F., Fallin, T. Wade, Hsu, Ken Y.
• Primary Examiner(s): REIP, DAVID OWEN
• Application Number:
  US09/361,510
• Time in Patent Office: 1,008 Days
• Field of Search: 606/53, 606/60, 606/61, 623/17.11
• US Class Current: 606/249
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/66 Alignment, compression or distraction mechanisms
• 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 17/7068 Devices comprising separate rigid parts, assembled in situ, to bear on each side of spinous processes; Tools therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7071 Implants for expanding or repairing the vertebral arch or wedged between laminae or pedicles; Tools therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0256 for the spine
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/37 Coumarins, e.g. psoralen

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.

Claims

1. An improved apparatus that stabilizes a spinous process relative to another spinous process without restricting spinal flexion, said apparatus being of the type that is adapted to be implanted between said first spinous process and said another spinous process, wherein said improvement comprises:

the apparatus includes a plurality of first members, one of which is selectable to fit the size of at least one of the spinous process and said another spinous process without altering the first spinous process and the another spinous process; and

said apparatus includes a second member to which the selected first member is mated so as not to restrict spinal flexion.

2. The improved apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

one of the first members is selectable in order to select the length of the first members in order for the first members to be adapted to accommodate the size of the spinous process and the another spinous process.

3. An improved apparatus that stabilizes a spinous process relative to another spinous process without restricting spinal flexion, said apparatus being of the type that is adapted to be implanted between said first spinous process and said another spinous process, wherein said improvement comprises:

the apparatus includes a first member and a second member; and

one of said first member and said second member is selectable from a plurality of differently sized first members and second members that are adapted to accommodate variously sized spinous processes, without altering the first spinous process and the another spinous process; and

wherein the first member mates to the second member so as not to restrict spinal flexion.

4. An improved apparatus that stabilizes a spinous process relative to another spinous process without restricting spinal flexion, said apparatus being of the type that is adapted to be implanted between said first spinous process and said another spinous process, wherein said improvement comprises:

the apparatus includes a first member and a second member which said first member and said second member do not restrict spinal flexion; and

said second member is selectable from a plurality of differently sized second members that are adapted to accommodate variously sized spinous processes, without altering the first spinous process and the another spinous process.

5. An improved apparatus that stabilizes a spinous process relative to another spinous process, said apparatus being of the type that is adapted to be implanted between said first spinous process and said another spinous process, wherein said improvement comprises:

the apparatus includes a plurality of first members, one of which is selectable to fit the size of at least one of the spinous process and said another spinous process without altering the first spinous process and the another spinous process; and

said apparatus includes a rigid second member to which the selected first member is mated.

6. The improved apparatus of claim 5 wherein:

one of the first members is selectable in order to select the length of the first members in order for the first members to be adapted to accommodate the size of the spinous process and the another spinous process.

7. An improved apparatus that stabilizes a spinous process relative to another spinous process, said apparatus being of the type that is adapted to be implanted between said first spinous process and said another spinous process, wherein said improvement comprises:

the apparatus includes a first member and a second member; and

one of said first member and said second member is selectable from a plurality of differently sized first members and second members that are adapted to accommodate variously sized spinous processes, without altering the first spinous process and the another spinous process; and

wherein the other of first member and the second member is rigid; and

wherein the first member mates to the second member.

8. An improved apparatus that stabilizes a spinous process relative to another spinous process, said apparatus being of the type that is adapted to be implanted between said first spinous process and said another spinous process, wherein said improvement comprises:

the apparatus includes a rigid first member and a second member; and

said second member is selectable from a plurality of differently sized second members that are adapted to accommodate variously sized spinous processes, without altering the first spinous process and the another spinous process.