Posterior spinal device and method

• US 8,734,519 B2
• Filed: 04/12/2007
• Issued: 05/27/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2006
• Status: Expired

• Current Assignee: Simplify Medical Pty. Ltd. (Nuvasive Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: SpinalMotion, Inc.
• Inventors: de Villiers, Malan, Hovda, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Schaper, Michael T
• Application Number:
  US11/787,110
• Publication Number:
  US 20070282449A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,602 Days
• Field of Search: 623 1711- 1716
• US Class Current: 623/17.16
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7001 Screws or hooks combined with longitudinal elements which do not contact vertebrae A61B17/7058 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/86 Pins or screws or threaded wires; nuts therefor A61B17/72 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/44 for the spine, e.g. vertebrae, spinal discs
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4425 made of articulated components
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4611 of spinal prostheses
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3008 radio-opaque, e.g. radio-opaque markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/302 toroidal, e.g. rings
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30331 made by longitudinally pushing a protrusion into a complementarily-shaped recess, e.g. held by friction fit
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30365 with additional means for limiting said rotation
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30387 Dovetail connection
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30462 retained or tied with a rope, string, thread, wire or cable
• 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 2002/30523 by means of meshing gear teeth
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30576 with extending fixation tabs
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30579 with mechanically expandable devices, e.g. fixation devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30601 telescopic
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30649 Ball-and-socket joints
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30662 with rotation-limiting means
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30841 Sharp anchoring protrusions for impaction into the bone, e.g. sharp pins, spikes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30884 Fins or wings, e.g. longitudinal wings for preventing rotation within the bone cavity
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30937 : with cut-outs
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/443 : having two transversal endplates and at least one intermediate component
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4619 : for extraction
• 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 2220/0025 : Connections or couplings between prosthetic parts, e.g. between modular parts; Connecting elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0033 : made by longitudinally pushing a protrusion into a complementary-shaped recess, e.g. held by friction fit
• 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 2220/0091 : connected by a hinged linkage mechanism, e.g. of the single-bar or multi-bar linkage type
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0065 : toroidal, e.g. ring-shaped, doughnut-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0098 : radio-opaque, e.g. radio-opaque markers

Abstract

An intervertebral joint assembly includes an upper support and a lower support, each of which has two or more components. The upper and lower support components are arranged in situ to form the upper and lower supports, respectively. By arranging the supports in situ, the supports can be introduced from the back of the patient, for example with an arthroscope. Each of the upper and lower supports has a surface adapted to engage a vertebra and a surface adapted to engage the other support or an intermediate member to form an articulate joint which articulates the joint assembly. In some embodiments, the components of the upper and lower supports are assembled in situ, for example with pivoting, telescoping or bending, to form the upper and lower supports, respectively. The supports can be attached to vertebrae with pedicles screws, and/or other anchors attached to the supports.

Claims

1. A method for introducing a joint assembly to an intervertebral space between a pair of vertebral bodies of a patient, said method comprising:

introducing upper support components interconnected by pivot joints into a surgical site;

arranging the upper support components interconnected by the pivot joints in situ into an upper support;

introducing lower support components into the surgical site; and

arranging the lower support components in situ into a lower support, wherein the support components are introduced from a posterior approach of the patient and distal components are pivoted about the pivot joints toward proximal components to form the supports and wherein the upper support and the lower support are arranged to articulate with respect to one another, wherein the distal components are inserted at least partially into the intervertebral space before the proximal components, and wherein the upper and lower components each comprise a middle component folded under the proximal component and wherein the distal components are pivoted toward the proximal components before the middle components are unfolded from the proximal components.

2. The method as in claim 1, further comprising attaching the upper support or the lower support to bone anchors.

3. The method as in claim 1, wherein the components of the upper and lower supports are introduced and arranged together.

4. The method as in claim 1, wherein the components of each support are arranged by pivoting one or more elongate components of each support from a first elongate narrow profile configuration to a second wide profile configuration to assemble each support.

5. The method as in claim 4 wherein at least one gear on each support is rotated to pivot the one or more components on each support.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the lower support components are connected with joints and wherein the lower support components are arranged in situ to form the lower support by articulating the upper support components about the joints.

7. A method for introducing a joint assembly to an intervertebral space between a pair of vertebral bodies of a patient, said method comprising:

introducing upper support components into a surgical site;

arranging the upper support components in situ into an upper support;

introducing lower support components into the surgical site;

arranging the lower support components in situ into a lower support, wherein the

support components are introduced from a posterior approach of the patient and distal components are pivoted toward proximal components to form the supports and wherein the upper support and the lower support are arranged to articulate with respect to one another, wherein the upper support components are connected with joints, wherein the upper support components are arranged in situ to form the upper support by articulating the upper support components about the joints, wherein the distal components are inserted at least partially into the intervertebral space before the proximal components, and wherein the upper and lower components each comprise a middle component folded under the proximal component and wherein the distal components are pivoted toward the proximal components before the middle components are unfolded from the proximal components.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the upper support components are connected to one another by pivot joints prior to introduction into the intervertebral space.