Methods of distracting tissue layers of the human spine

• US 8,057,544 B2
• Filed: 08/15/2006
• Issued: 11/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IZI Medical Products LLC (Halma PLC)
• Original Assignee: Benvenue Medical, Inc. (Halma PLC)
• Inventors: Schaller, Laurent
• Primary Examiner(s): Barrett; Thomas C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BECCIA, CHRISTOPHER J
• Application Number:
  US11/464,807
• Publication Number:
  US 20070123986A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,918 Days
• Field of Search: 623 1711- 1716, 606/86.R, 606 90- 94, 606/105
• US Class Current: 623/17.11
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/70 Spinal positioners or stabilisers ; Bone stabilisers comprising fluid filler in an implant
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7097 Stabilisers comprising fluid filler in an implant, e.g. balloon; devices for inserting or filling such implants disc prostheses made of inflatable chambers or pockets filled with fluid A61F2/441; replacing the nucleus pulposus A61F2002/444
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8852 capable of being assembled or enlarged, or changing shape, inside the bone or disc
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00867 shape memory effect for prostheses A61F2210/0014
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0256 for the spine
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/44 for the spine, e.g. vertebrae, spinal discs
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/441 made of inflatable pockets or chambers filled with fluid, e.g. with hydrogel
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/442 Intervertebral or spinal discs, e.g. resilient non-disc-shaped intervertebral inflatable pockets A61F2/441; non-disc-shaped intervertebral fusion implants A61F2/4455
• 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 2002/2835 Bone graft implants for filling a bony defect or an endoprosthesis cavity, e.g. by synthetic material or biological material
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30092 using shape memory or superelastic materials, e.g. nitinol
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30153 rectangular
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30235 tubular, e.g. sleeves
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30263 cubical
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30289 helically-coiled
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30462 retained or tied with a rope, string, thread, wire or cable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3052 unrestrained in only one direction, e.g. moving unidirectionally
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30594 slotted, e.g. radial or meridian slot ending in a polar aperture, non-polar slots, horizontal or arcuate slots
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30601 telescopic
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30677 : Means for introducing or releasing pharmaceutical products, e.g. antibiotics, into the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30772 : Apertures or holes, e.g. of circular cross section
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4415 : elements of the prosthesis being arranged in a chain like manner
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/448 : comprising multiple adjacent spinal implants within the same intervertebral space or within the same vertebra, e.g. comprising two adjacent spinal implants
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4627 : with linear motion along or rotating motion about the instrument axis or the implantation direction, e.g. telescopic, along a guiding rod, screwing inside the instrument
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4635 : using minimally invasive surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4683 : by applying ultrasonic vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4688 : having operating or control means
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0014 : using shape memory or superelastic materials, e.g. nitinol
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0085 : hardenable in situ, e.g. epoxy resins
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0025 : Connections or couplings between prosthetic parts, e.g. between modular parts; Connecting elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0075 : sutured, ligatured or stitched, retained or tied with a rope, string, thread, wire or cable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0019 : rectangular
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0069 : cylindrical
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0084 : cubical
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0091 : helically-coiled or spirally-coiled, i.e. having a 2-D spiral cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0067 : Means for introducing or releasing pharmaceutical products into the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00293 : containing a phosphorus-containing compound, e.g. apatite

Abstract

The present invention relates to methods of separating, supporting or both separating and supporting layers of tissue in the human spine. Such methods generally comprise inserting at least one member between layers of tissue in the human spine and changing the configuration of the member to define a support structure between the tissue layers.

Claims

1. A method of treating a human vertebral body having an interior region defined by a superior endplate, an inferior endplate and a cortical rim, and containing cancellous bone therewithin, the method comprising:

inserting at least one generally elongated intravertebral implant in a pre-implanted configuration into the interior region of the vertebral body; and

changing the configuration of the elongated intravertebral implant to form a support structure that circumferentially surrounds a portion of cancellous bone within the interior region of the vertebral body, said support structure having a vertical extent that separates, supports or both separates and supports the superior and inferior endplates of the vertebral body; and

delivering a flowable material into the portion of cancellous bone surrounded by the support structure.

2. The method of claim 1 in which the inserting comprises inserting the intravertebral implant through a cannula into the interior region of the vertebral body.

3. The method of claim 1 in which the support structure comprises a plurality of windings.

4. The method of claim 1 in which the changing of configuration of the intravertebral implant results from a self-forming of the intravertebral implant.

5. The method of claim 1 in which the intravertebral implant is comprised of a shape memory material.

6. The method of claim 1 further including increasing the extent of the support structure as the intravertebral implant is inserted into the vertebral body.

7. The method of claim 1 in which the intravertebral implant is inserted into the vertebral body under the influence of ultrasonic vibrations.

13. The method of claim 1 in which delivering the flowable material into the cancellous bone comprises injecting the flowable material through a passageway of the elongated implant.

8. A method of treating a human vertebral body having an interior region defined by a superior endplate, an inferior endplate and a cortical rim, and containing cancellous bone therewithin, the method comprising:

inserting at least one elongated intravertebral implant in a pre-implanted configuration into the interior region of the vertebral body;

allowing the elongated member to self-form into a generally helical shaped, vertically extending support structure within the interior region of the vertebral body, the support structure including a plurality of windings circumferentially surrounding a portion of cancellous bone;

increasing the number of windings as the elongated intravertebral implant is inserted into the vertebral body, thereby increasing the vertical extent of the support structure and separating, supporting or both separating and supporting the endplates of the vertebral body; and

delivering flowable material into the portion of cancellous bone surrounded by the windings.

9. The method of claim 8 in which the inserting comprises inserting the intravertebral implant through a cannula into the vertebral body.

10. The method of claim 8 in which the intravertebral implant is comprised of a shape memory material.

11. The method of claim 8 further including removing cancellous bone from the vertebral body prior to inserting the intravertebral implant into the vertebral body.

12. The method of claim 8 in which the intravertebral implant is inserted into the vertebral body under the influence of ultrasonic vibrations.

14. The method of claim 8 in which delivering the flowable material into the cancellous bone comprises injecting the flowable material through a passageway of the elongated implant.