Facet joint implants and delivery tools

• US 8,361,152 B2
• Filed: 06/05/2009
• Issued: 01/29/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Providence Medical Technology, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Providence Medical Technology, Inc.
• Inventors: McCormack, Bruce M., Smith, Jeffrey D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sweet, Thomas J
• Assistant Examiner(s): WOLF, MEGAN YARNALL
• Application Number:
  US12/455,814
• Publication Number:
  US 20090312763A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,334 Days
• Field of Search: 623/17.15, 623/17.16, 606/90, 606/247
• US Class Current: 623/17.15
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/025 Joint distractors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0642 for bones, e.g. for osteosynthesis or connecting tendon to bone
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1604 Chisels; Rongeurs; Punches; Stamps
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1659 Surgical rasps, files, planes, or scrapers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1671 for the spine
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1735 for rasps or chisels
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1757 for the spine
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7064 Devices acting on, attached to, or simulating the effect of, vertebral facets; Tools therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7074 Tools specially adapted for spinal fixation operations other than for bone removal or filler handling A61B17/7062, A61B17/808, A61B17/8858 take precedence; for spinal image producing devices A61B90/36, A61B34/20; markers A61B90/39
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/863 with thread interrupted or changing its form along shank, other than constant taper
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8811 characterised by the introducer tip, i.e. the part inserted into or onto the bone
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8819 characterised by the introducer proximal part, e.g. cannula handle, or by parts which are inserted inside each other, e.g. stylet and cannula A61B17/8825 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8822 characterised by means facilitating expulsion of fluid from the introducer, e.g. a screw pump plunger, hydraulic force transmissions, application of vibrations or a vacuum
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00424 ergonomic, e.g. fitting in fist
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00429 with a roughened portion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0256 for the spine
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320028 with reciprocating movements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/031 torque limiting
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/034 abutting on parts of the device itself
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/037 with a frangible part, e.g. by reduced diameter
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4405 : for apophyseal or facet joints, i.e. between adjacent spinous or transverse processes devices implanted between spinous or transverse processes A61B17/7062
• 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 2/447 : substantially parallelepipedal, e.g. having a rectangular or trapezoidal cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4611 : of spinal prostheses
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30131 : horseshoe- or crescent- or C-shaped or U-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30168 : L-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30176 : V-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30266 : wedge-shaped parallelepipeds
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30289 : helically-coiled
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30378 : Spherically-shaped protrusion and recess
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30405 : made by screwing complementary threads machined on the parts themselves
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30451 : soldered or brazed or welded
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30471 : connected by a hinged linkage mechanism, e.g. of the single-bar or multi-bar linkage type
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30484 : Mechanically expandable devices located on the first prosthetic part for locking into or onto the second prosthetic part
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30507 : using a threaded locking member, e.g. a locking screw or a set screw
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3052 : unrestrained in only one direction, e.g. moving unidirectionally
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30523 : by means of meshing gear teeth
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30538 : for adjusting angular orientation
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30556 : for adjusting thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30599 : stackable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30733 : Inserts placed into an endoprosthetic cavity, e.g. for modifying a material property
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30841 : Sharp anchoring protrusions for impaction into the bone, e.g. sharp pins, spikes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3085 : with a threaded, e.g. self-tapping, bone-engaging surface, e.g. external surface
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30904 : serrated profile, i.e. saw-toothed
• 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: H04L 45/00 : Routing or path finding of packets in data switching networks routing or path finding in wireless networks H04W40/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/02 : Topology update or discovery
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/22 : Alternate routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/28 : using route fault recovery
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/04 : Error control

Abstract

A spinal joint distraction system is disclosed and may include a delivery device, a driver assembly, and an internal actuator, where the driver assembly is adapted to be hold an implant and be sleevably inserted into the delivery device and the internal actuator is adapted to advance an implant distractor to distract the implant, the system also including an implant, a chisel, an injector, a gripping tool, and a dilator set. Several embodiments of an implant are disclosed as well a method of placing an implant.

Claims

1. A spinal distraction implant comprising:

an upper member and a lower member each with a distal end, the distal end of the lower member coupled to the distal end of the upper member through an interlocking scissor feature positioned at the distal end of each member, an inner surface, an outer surface and a threaded slot passing through each member from the inner surface to the outer surface; and

an implant distractor comprising a coil shaped thread feature, the implant distractor adapted to be advanced between the upper and lower member and separate the upper and lower members causing the upper and lower member to pivot relative to one another about their respective distal ends, wherein the threaded slots of the upper member and the lower member are adapted to receive the coil shaped thread feature; and

wherein the upper and lower member each further comprise a truncated threaded slot and the implant distractor comprises a cross-cut thread for engaging the truncated threaded slot and preventing the implant from backing out.

2. The implant of claim 1, wherein the upper member and the lower member each comprise two lateral edges and a plurality of teeth spaced along the two lateral edges.

3. The implant of claim 1, wherein the upper member and the lower member each comprise a guide feature for receiving and guiding the implant distractor.

4. A spinal distraction implant comprising:

an upper member and a lower member each comprising;

a distal edge, a proximal edge, and two parallel lateral edges, the edges defining a generally rectangular shape;

an inner surface;

an outer surface;

a threaded slot passing through the member from the inner surface to the outer surface;

a truncated threaded slot passing through the member from the inner surface to the outer surface;

a plurality of teeth spaced along the two parallel lateral edges;

a guide feature positioned on the proximal edge; and

an interlocking scissor feature positioned on the distal edge; and

an implant distractor comprising;

a cylindrical body tapering to a point at a distal end;

a coil shaped thread feature having an abrupt proximal end and being interrupted by at least one cross-cut; and

an annular stop ring;

wherein the upper and lower members are pivotally coupled to one another via their respective interlocking scissor features;

the respective guide features on the upper member and the lower member oppose one another and are adapted to receive and guide the distal end of the implant distractor between the upper and lower members;

the respective threaded slots on the upper and lower member are adapted to receive the coil shaped thread feature; and

the respective truncated threaded slots are adapted to engage the abrupt proximal end or the at least one cross-cut of the coil shaped thread feature.

5. The implant of claim 4, wherein the plurality of teeth have a linearly sloped distal face and a proximal face positioned orthogonally to the respective upper or lower member.

6. The implant of claim 5, wherein the lateral edges of the upper and lower members follow a first radiused curve from the inner surface to the outer surface, wherein the extension of the first radiused curve beyond the outer surface of the upper or lower member defines an outside face of the teeth.

7. The implant of claim 6, wherein an inside face of the teeth is defined by a second radiused curve offset from the first radiused curve such that the plurality of teeth have a substantially constant thickness.

8. The implant of claim 7, wherein the teeth are equally spaced.

9. The implant of claim 4, wherein the implant distractor includes a square proximal end adapted to be received by a collet.

10. The implant of claim 9, wherein the square proximal end further comprises a circumferential groove.

11. The implant of claim 4, wherein the respective guide features each comprise a half-conical feature.

12. The implant of claim 4, wherein the distal edges are further coupled together via a weld.