Hard tissue anchors and delivery devices

Abstract

The present invention provides devices, systems and methods for anchoring medical devices to hard tissues, such as bones or bony structures, particularly vertebrae. By anchoring these medical devices directly to the surrounding hard tissue, the devices are anchored closer to the source of treatment. This provides additional stability and reduces migration of the device at the treatment site. Also, by attaching to hard tissue rather than soft tissue, a stronger attachment is often able to be made.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . An applicator for delivering a hard tissue anchor, the applicator comprising:
 an elongate body having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the distal end is configured to receive a head of the hard tissue anchor; and   a handle attached to the proximal end of the elongate body so that a force applied to the handle is translatable to the head of the hard tissue anchor.   
     
     
         3 . The applicator of  claim 2 , wherein the elongate body is shaped for passage through a percutaneous access opening. 
     
     
         4 . The applicator of  claim 2 , further comprising a release button for releasing the hard tissue anchor from the distal end of the elongate body. 
     
     
         5 . The applicator of  claim 2 , wherein the distal end includes a recess for receiving the head. 
     
     
         6 . The applicator of  claim 2 , wherein the force comprises longitudinal force which is translatable to a downward force on the head of the hard tissue anchor. 
     
     
         7 . The applicator of  claim 2 , wherein force comprises rotational force which is translatable to rotation of the head of the hard tissue anchor. 
     
     
         8 . The applicator of  claim 2 , wherein the distal end comprises a rotatable member joinable with the head, wherein the rotation force rotates the rotatable member. 
     
     
         9 . The applicator of  claim 5  wherein the depth of the recess is selected so that when the elongate body is removed after the force is applied to a target hard tissue implant location the head of the hard tissue anchor extends beyond the surface of the target hard tissue implant location. 
     
     
         10 . The applicator of  claim 5  wherein the depth of the recess is selected so that a portion of the distal end configured to receive the head of the hard tissue anchor contacts a portion of the target hard tissue implant location after the force is applied to a the head of the hard tissue anchor. 
     
     
         11 . The applicator of  claim 2  the head of the hard tissue anchor further comprising an aperture wherein when the elongate body is removed from the hard tissue anchor after applying the force the aperture remains open. 
     
     
         12 . The applicator of  claim 2  the head of the hard tissue anchor further comprising an aperture and a channel through a portion of the head in communication with the aperture wherein when the elongate body is removed from the hard tissue anchor after applying the force the aperture and the channel both remain open. 
     
     
         13 . The applicator of  claim 11  further comprising an opening in the sidewalls of the distal end of the elongate body adapted and configured to permit passage of an element positioned within the aperture. 
     
     
         14 . The applicator of  claim 12  further comprising an opening in the sidewalls of the distal end of the elongate body adapted and configured to permit passage of an element positioned within a grommet disposed within the aperture. 
     
     
         15 . The applicator of  claim 2  further comprising an opening in the sidewalls of the distal end of the elongate body adapted and configured to permit passage of an element within the head of the hard tissue anchor disposed within the elongate body distal end. 
     
     
         16 . The applicator of  claim 15  wherein the element is generally transverse to the elongate body distal end and disposed within an aperture of the hard tissue anchor or a grommet. 
     
     
         17 . The applicator of  claim 16  wherein the element is an implantable lead. 
     
     
         18 . The applicator of  claim 2  wherein the hard tissue anchor has a distal penetrating end. 
     
     
         19 . The applicator of  claim 18  wherein the distal penetrating end has a tapered, conical, notched, barbed or serrated shape. 
     
     
         20 . An applicator for percutaneous delivery of a hard tissue anchor to a portion of a bony structure, the applicator comprising:
 an elongate body having a proximal end and a distal end;   a recess within the distal end adapted and configured to receive a head of the hard tissue anchor;   a first opening in a sidewall of the elongate body distal end adjacent to the recess and a second opening in a sidewall of the elongate body distal end adjacent to the recess wherein an element positioned in an aperture of the head of the hard tissue anchor passes through the first opening and the second opening when the head of the hard tissue anchor is within the recess;   a handle attached to the proximal end of the elongate body so that a force applied to the handle is translatable to the head of the hard tissue anchor.   
     
     
         21 . The applicator of  claim 20 , wherein the elongate body is shaped for passage through a percutaneous access opening from a position outside of the body to a bony structure on a portion of a spinal vertebra. 
     
     
         22 . The applicator of  claim 21  wherein the element is a lead and the bony structure on the portion of the spinal vertebra is adjacent to a dorsal root ganglion. 
     
     
         23 . The applicator of  claim 20  further comprising a grommet adapted and configured to be positioned within the aperture of the head and to receive the element. 
     
     
         24 . The applicator of  claim 23  wherein the grommet forms a friction fit with a portion of the elongate body when the head is within the recess. 
     
     
         25 . The applicator of  claim 23  wherein the grommet and base may be aligned to provide a channel shaped to accommodate the lead. 
     
     
         26 . The applicator of  claim 23  wherein when a force is applied to the handle until the distal end of the elongate body contacts the portion of the bony structure and thereafter the applicator is removed, only the head of the hard tissue anchor protrudes from the portion of the bony structure. 
     
     
         27 . The applicator of  claim 26  wherein the head of the hard tissue anchor extends about 0.009″ above the surface of the bony structure. 
     
     
         28 . The applicator of  claim 26  wherein the portion of the distal end of the hard tissue anchor extends about 0.025″ into the bony structure. 
     
     
         29 . The applicator of  claim 20  wherein the handle is configured for use with a hard tissue anchor distal end adapted for being tapped into engagement with a portion of the bony structure comprising a portion of a vertebral foramen. 
     
     
         30 . The applicator of  claim 20  wherein the handle is configured for use with a hard tissue anchor distal end adapted for being rotated into engagement with a portion of the bony structure comprising a vertebral foramen. 
     
     
         31 . The applicator of  claim 20  wherein the hard tissue anchor distal end adapted for being tapped into engagement with the bony structure. 
     
     
         32 . The applicator of  claim 20  wherein the hard tissue anchor distal end adapted for being rotated into engagement with the bony structure. 
     
     
         33 . The applicator of  claim 20  wherein the hard tissue anchor has a distal penetrating end. 
     
     
         34 . The applicator of  claim 33  wherein the distal penetrating end has a tapered, conical, notched, barbed or serrated shape.