US2008039859A1PendingUtilityA1

Spine distraction implant and method

55
Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: Jan 2, 1997Filed: May 31, 2007Published: Feb 14, 2008
Est. expiryJan 2, 2017(expired)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:James F. ZuchermanKen Y. HsuT. Wade FallinCharles J. WinslowHenry A. KlyceJohn J. Flynn
A61B 17/7047A61B 17/7068A61B 17/7065A61K 31/37A61B 17/7071A61B 17/66
55
PatentIndex Score
0
Cited by
0
References
0
Claims

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

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1 . A method, comprising: 
 inserting an implant in a first configuration along a curved path to a location that includes a space between adjacent spinous processes; and    changing, after the inserting, the implant from the first configuration to a second configuration, a shape of the implant in the second configuration being different from a shape of the implant in the first configuration.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a cross-sectional area of the implant in the first configuration substantially corresponding to a cross-section area of the curved path.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a cross-section area of a portion of the implant in the second configuration is greater than a cross-sectional area of the curved path.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a cross-section area of a portion of the implant in the second configuration is greater than a cross-sectional area of the portion of the implant in the first configuration.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the implant is disposed within the space between adjacent spinous processes after the inserting and after the changing.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a central portion of the implant is disposed between a distal end of the implant and a proximal end of the implant, the central portion of the implant is disposed within the space between adjacent spinous processes after the inserting and after the changing.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a distal end portion of the implant is disposed outside the space between adjacent spinous processes after the inserting and after the changing.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a portion of the implant in the second configuration has a size greater than a size of the portion of the implant in the first configuration along a dimension parallel to a midline of a patient's body after the inserting and after the changing.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 coupling, before the inserting, the implant while in the first configuration to an insertion tool having a predefined curved shape; and    distracting, after the coupling, the adjacent spinous processes.    
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 coupling, before the inserting, the implant while in the first configuration to an insertion tool having a predefined curved shape;    distracting, after the coupling, the adjacent spinous processes such that the adjacent spinous processes are separate by a distance,    a central portion of the implant in the second configuration has a dimension along a midline of a patient's body no greater than the distance.    
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 coupling, before the inserting, the implant while in the first configuration to an insertion tool having a predefined curved shape;    distracting, after the coupling and after the inserting, the adjacent spinous processes such that the adjacent spinous processes are separate by a distance,    a central portion of the implant in the second configuration having a dimension along a midline of the patient's body no greater than the distance.    
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the inserting includes inserting the implant via an insertion tool having a predefined curved shape, the curved path substantially corresponding to the predefined curved shape of the insertion tool.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the implant in the second configuration is configured to limit extension of a spinal column including the adjacent spinous processes and configured to allow flexion of the spinal column.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the inserting includes inserting the implant via an insertion tool having a predefined curved shape, a distal end portion of an insertion tool is coupled to the implant proximate of the distal end of the implant.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the inserting includes moving a first portion of the implant to the space between the adjacent spinous processes from a first side of the adjacent spinous processes and a second portion of the implant to a position adjacent a second side of the adjacent spinous processes, the second side of the adjacent spinous processes being opposite the first side of the adjacent spinous process.  
     
     
         16 . A method, comprising: 
 coupling an implant in a first configuration to an insertion tool;    inserting, after the coupling, the implant via the insertion tool through an incision of skin to a location that includes a space between adjacent spinous processes of a patient's body; and    changing, after the inserting, the implant from the first configuration to a second configuration, a portion of the implant in the second configuration having a dimension parallel to a midline of a patient's body greater than a dimension of the portion of the implant in the first configuration.    
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the insertion tool has a predefined curved shape.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising: 
 distracting, after the coupling, the adjacent spinous processes.    
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising: 
 distracting, after the coupling, the adjacent spinous processes such that the adjacent spinous processes are separate by a distance,    a central portion of the implant in the second configuration having a dimension along the midline no greater than the distance.    
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising: 
 distracting, after the coupling and after the inserting, the adjacent spinous processes such that the adjacent spinous processes are separate by a distance,    a central portion of the implant in the second configuration having a dimension along a midline of the patient's body no greater than the distance.    
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the inserting includes inserting the implant along a curved path substantially corresponding to a predefined curved shape of the insertion tool.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the implant in the second configuration is configured to limit extension of a spinal column including the adjacent spinous processes and configured to allow flexion of the spinal column.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein a distal end portion of the insertion tool is coupled to the implant proximate of the distal end of the implant.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the inserting includes moving a first portion of the implant to the space between the adjacent spinous processes from a first side of the adjacent spinous processes and a second portion of the implant to a position adjacent a second side of the adjacent spinous processes, the second side of the adjacent spinous processes being opposite the first side of the adjacent spinous process.  
     
     
         25 . A method, comprising: 
 inserting an implant in a first configuration along a curved path through an incision of skin to a location that includes a space between adjacent spinous processes of a patient's body; and    changing, after the inserting, the implant from the first configuration to a second configuration, a portion of the implant in the second configuration having a size greater than a size of the portion of the implant in the first configuration.    
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the portion of the implant is disposed within the space between adjacent spinous processes after the inserting and after the changing.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the portion of the implant is a central portion between a distal end of the implant and a proximal end of the implant, the central portion of the implant being disposed within the space between adjacent spinous processes after the inserting and after the changing.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the portion of the implant is a distal end portion of the implant disposed outside the space between adjacent spinous processes after the inserting and after the changing.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the size of the portion of the implant is along a dimension parallel to a midline of a patient's body.  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising: 
 coupling, before the inserting, the implant while in the first configuration to an insertion tool having a predefined curved shape; and    distracting, after the coupling, the adjacent spinous processes.    
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising: 
 coupling, before the inserting, the implant while in the first configuration to an insertion tool having a predefined curved shape;    distracting, after the coupling, the adjacent spinous processes such that the adjacent spinous processes are separate by a distance,    a central portion of the implant in the second configuration having a dimension along the midline no greater than the distance.    
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising: 
 coupling, before the inserting, the implant while in the first configuration to an insertion tool having a predefined curved shape;    distracting, after the coupling and after the inserting, the adjacent spinous processes such that the adjacent spinous processes are separate by a distance,    a central portion of the implant in the second configuration having a dimension along a midline of the patient's body no greater than the distance.    
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the inserting includes inserting the implant via an insertion tool having a predefined curved shape, the curved path substantially corresponding to the predefined curved shape of the insertion tool.  
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the implant in the second configuration is configured to limit extension of a spinal column including the adjacent spinous processes and configured to allow flexion of the spinal column.  
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the inserting includes inserting the implant via an insertion tool having a predefined curved shape, a distal end portion of an insertion tool is coupled to the implant proximate of the distal end of the implant.  
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the inserting includes moving a first portion of the implant to the space between the adjacent spinous processes from a first side of the adjacent spinous processes and a second portion of the implant to a position adjacent a second side of the adjacent spinous processes, the second side of the adjacent spinous processes being opposite the first side of the adjacent spinous process.  
     
     
         37 . A method, comprising: 
 inserting a first implant member into a patient's body to a space between a pair of adjacent spinous processes using a first insertion tool;    inserting a second implant member into the patient's body using a second insertion tool, the second insertion tool slidably coupled to the first insertion tool; and    coupling the second implant member to the first implant member using the second insertion tool.

Join the waitlist — get patent alerts

Track US2008039859A1 — get alerts on status changes and closely related new filings.

We store only your email — no account needed. See our privacy policy.