Spinal surgery implants and delivery system

Abstract

A spinal surgery tool system including an elongated conduit and an implant is disclosed. The implant assumes a straight configuration within the elongated conduit and is deployable from the elongated conduit into a closed or nearly-closed loop configuration for deployment interposed between two tissue surfaces to define an enclosed volume. The conduit and the implant are configured such that, when the implant is deployed in the loop configuration, an opening formed in a proximal portion of the implant forms a contiguous channel with a passageway along the conduit so as to provide a continuous access channel along the elongated conduit into the enclosed volume.

1 . A surgical tool system comprising:
 an elongated guide;   a first device including a first elongated element configured for assuming a deflected state, said first elongated element being engageable with said elongated guide and configured to be limited by said elongated device to a substantially straightened state, said first elongated element and said elongated guide being configured to engage so as to define a first inflection point such that, as said first elongated element is advanced along said elongated guide, a portion of said elongated element proximal to said first inflection point assumes said substantially straightened state and a portion of said elongated element distal to said first inflection point assumes said deflected state by deflecting to a predetermined limit of deflection relative to a position of said elongated guide; and,   a second device including a second elongated element configured for assuming a deflected state, said second elongated element being engagable with said elongated guide and configured to be limited by said elongated device to a substantially straightened state, said second elongated element and said elongated guide being configured to engage so as to define a second inflection point such that, as said second elongated element is advanced along said elongated guide, a portion of said elongated element proximal to said second inflection point assumes said substantially straightened state and a portion of said elongated element distal to said second inflection point assumes said deflected state by deflecting to a predetermined limit of deflection relative to a position of said elongated guide.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said deflected state of said first elongated element is in accordance with a predefined first shape; and, said deflected state of said second elongated element is in accordance with a predefined second shape. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the predefined first shape and the predefined second shape are of different curvatures. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the predefined first shape and the predefined second shape are of the same curvatures. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein said first inflection point and said second inflection point are at different locations along said elongated guide. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein said elongated guide is implemented as a conduit, and wherein, said first inflection point is defined by a first opening in said conduit and said first elongated element extends distally in said deflected state beyond said first opening; and, said second inflection point is defined by a second opening in said conduit and said second elongated element extends distally in said deflected state beyond said second opening. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said engagement between at least one of said first and second elongated elements and said elongated guide is defined by a track. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said elongated guide and said first and second elongated elements are configured such that said first elongated element deflects along a substantially rounded first arc when extending distally beyond said elongated guide; and, said second elongated element deflects along a substantially rounded second arc when extending distally beyond said elongated guide. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said first device and said second device are two distinct devices selected from the group consisting of: tissue removal tools; spinal trial devices; and, spinal implants. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said first inflection point and said second inflection point are the same. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said first inflection point and said second inflection point are different. 
     
     
         12 . A surgical tool system comprising:
 an elongated guide defining at a first predefined path of motion for a first device and a second predefined path of motion for a second device, each of the first and second predefined paths of motion terminating in an opening in the guide;   the first device dimensioned for movement along the first predefined path within the elongated guide in a substantially straightened state, and for deflecting to a predetermined limit of deflection in a deflected state when outside of the elongated guide; and,   the second device dimensioned for movement along the second predefined path within the elongated guide in a substantially straightened state and for deflecting to a predetermined limit of deflection in a deflected state when outside of the elongated guide.   
     
     
         13 . The surgical tool system of  claim 12 , wherein the elongated guide includes a conduit, the conduit including a frontal side and lateral sides. 
     
     
         14 . The surgical tool system of  claim 13 , wherein the opening for the termination of the first predefined path of motion for the first device and the opening for the termination of the second predefined path of motion for the second device is the same opening in the frontal side of the conduit. 
     
     
         15 . The surgical tool system of  claim 12 , wherein the opening for the termination of the first predefined path of motion for the first device and the opening for the termination of the second predefined path of motion for the second device includes different openings in the frontal side of the conduit. 
     
     
         16 . The surgical tool system of  claim 13 , wherein the opening for the termination of the first predefined path of motion for the first device and the opening for the termination of the second predefined path of motion for the second device is the same opening in at least one lateral side of the conduit. 
     
     
         17 . The surgical tool system of  claim 13 , wherein the opening for the termination of the first predefined path of motion for the first device and the opening for the termination of the second predefined path of motion for the second device includes different openings in at least one lateral side of the conduit. 
     
     
         18 . The surgical tool system of  claim 13 , wherein the opening for the termination of the first predefined path of motion for the first device and the opening for the termination of the second predefined path of motion for the second device includes different openings, at least one opening in the frontal side of the conduit and at least one opening in a lateral side of the conduit. 
     
     
         19 . The surgical tool system of  claim 13 , wherein the opening for the termination of the first predefined path of motion for the first device and the opening for the termination of the second predefined path of motion for the second device includes different openings, at least one opening in a first lateral side of the conduit and at least one opening in a second lateral side of the conduit. 
     
     
         20 . The surgical tool system of  claim 12 , wherein the first predefined path of motion for the first device and the second predefined path of motion for the second device include tracks. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the deflecting of the first device is along a first substantially rounded arc; and, the deflecting of the second device is along a second substantially rounded arc. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the first substantially rounded arc and the second substantially rounded arc are of different curvatures. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the first substantially rounded arc and the second substantially rounded arc are of the same curvatures. 
     
     
         24 . The surgical tool system of  claim 12 , wherein the first device and the second device are two distinct devices selected from the group consisting of: tissue removal tools; spinal trial devices; and spinal implants. 
     
     
         25 . A method for accessing a location in a predetermined volume within the body comprising:
 obtaining a device comprising:
 an elongated guide; 
 a first device including a first elongated element configured for assuming a deflected state, said first elongated element being engageable with said elongated guide and configured to be limited by said elongated device to a substantially straightened state, said first elongated element and said elongated guide being configured to engage so as to define a first inflection point such that, as said first elongated element is advanced along said elongated guide, a portion of said elongated element proximal to said first inflection point assumes said substantially straightened state and a portion of said elongated element distal to said first inflection point assumes said deflected state by deflecting within to a predetermined limit of deflection relative to a position of said elongated guide; and, 
 a second device including a second elongated element configured for assuming a deflected state, said second elongated element being engagable with said elongated guide and configured to be limited by said elongated device to a substantially straightened state, said second elongated element and said elongated guide being configured to engage so as to define a second inflection point such that, as said second elongated element is advanced along said elongated guide, a portion of said elongated element proximal to said second inflection point assumes said substantially straightened state and a portion of said elongated element distal to said second inflection point assumes said deflected state by deflecting to a predetermined limit of deflection relative to a position of said elongated guide; 
   advancing said first device along said elongated guide distally for said first device to assume said deflected state within a first volume; and,   advancing said second device along said elongated guide distally for said first device to assume said deflected state within a second volume.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein said first volume and said second volume are at least partially overlapping. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein said first volume and said second volume are the same. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein said deflected state of said first elongated element is in accordance with a predefined first shape; and, said deflected state of said second elongated element is in accordance with a predefined second shape. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the predefined first shape and the predefined second shape are of different curvatures. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the predefined first shape and the predefined second shape are of the same curvatures. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein said first inflection point and said second inflection point are at different locations along said elongated guide. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein said elongated guide is implemented as a conduit, and wherein, said first inflection point is defined by a first opening in said conduit and said first elongated element extends distally in said deflected state beyond said first opening; and, said second inflection point is defined by a second opening in said conduit and said second elongated element extends distally in said deflected state beyond said second opening. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein said engagement between at least one of said first and second elongated elements and said elongated guide is defined by a track. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein said elongated guide and said first and second elongated elements are configured such that said first elongated element deflects along a substantially rounded first arc when extending distally beyond said elongated guide; and, said second elongated element deflects along a substantially rounded second arc when extending distally beyond said elongated guide. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein said first device and said second device are two distinct devices selected from the group consisting of: tissue removal tools; spinal trial devices; and, spinal implants. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein said first volume and said second volume are included in a spinal disc. 
     
     
         37 . A method for accessing a location in a predetermined volume within the body comprising:
 obtaining a surgical tool system comprising:
 an elongated guide defining at a first predefined path of motion for a first device and a second predefined path of motion for a second device, each of the first and second predefined paths of motion terminating in an opening in the guide; 
 the first device dimensioned for movement along the first predefined path within the elongated guide in a substantially straightened state, and for deflecting to a predetermined limit of deflection in a deflected state when outside of the elongated guide; and, 
 the second device dimensioned for movement along the second predefined path within the elongated guide in a substantially straightened state and for deflecting to a predetermined limit of deflection in a deflected state when outside of the elongated guide; 
   advancing said first device along said predefined first path to extend from the elongated guide to deflect within a first volume; and,   advancing said second device along said predefined second path to extend from the elongated guide to deflect within a second volume.   
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein said first volume and said second volume are at least partially overlapping. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein said first volume and said second volume are the same. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein said first device and said second device are two distinct devices selected from the group consisting of: tissue removal tools; spinal trial devices; and, spinal implants. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein said first volume and said second volume are included in a spinal disc.