Devices for treating the spine

Abstract

Various features of spinal implants and systems and methods for implanting the same with or between tissue layers in the human body.

1 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A device for treating the spine, comprising:
 a generally elongated guide member adapted for insertion into spinal tissue, the guide member having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, said distal end portion of the guide member defining a generally helical configuration when inserted into the spinal tissue; and   a generally elongated implant having opposed top and bottom surfaces wherein one of the top surface and the bottom surface has a plurality of axially spaced apart projections extending from the surface and the other of the surfaces includes a plurality of axially spaced apart recesses, the implant being advanceable along the guide member for insertion into the spinal tissue and advanceable along and conforming to the generally helical configuration of the distal end portion of the guide member so that the elongated member defines a generally helical structure including a plurality of adjacent windings wherein windings are in contact with immediately adjacent windings and the projections of one of the top surface and the bottom surface of the elongated implant engage the recesses of the other surface.   
     
     
         22 . The device of  claim 21  in which the top and bottom surfaces of the implant include knurls that defined the projections and recesses. 
     
     
         23 . The device of  claim 21  in which the top surface includes the projections and the bottom surface includes the recesses. 
     
     
         24 . The device of  claim 21  in which the bottom surface includes the projections and the top surface includes the recesses. 
     
     
         25 . The device of  claim 21  in which the projections comprise a generally rectangular cross-section. 
     
     
         26 . The device of  claim 21  in which the distal end portion of the generally elongated guide member comprises a generally linearly configuration for insertion between the tissue layers and changes into the generally helical configuration between the tissue layers. 
     
     
         27 . The device of  claim 21  in which the engagement between the projections and recesses reduces dilation of windings relative to the immediately adjacent windings of the generally helical structure. 
     
     
         28 . The device of  claim 21  further including a retaining member configured to secure immediately adjacent windings of the helical structure to one another. 
     
     
         29 . The device of  claim 28  wherein the projections and portions of the implant between recesses include holes that align when the projections and recesses are engaged, and the retaining member is configured to be inserted through the holes. 
     
     
         30 . The device of  claim 21  in which the projections are movable relative to their respective surface between a first, unengaged position in which projections are unengaged with the recesses and a second, engaged position in which projections are engaged with the recesses. 
     
     
         31 . The device of  claim 30  in which the projections are biased toward the engaged position. 
     
     
         32 . The device of  claim 31  in which the projections are biased toward the engaged position by weighting of the projection or a spring. 
     
     
         33 . The device of  claim 31  in which the projections are configured to be maintained in the unengaged position until after the implant defines the helical structure. 
     
     
         34 . The device of  claim 31  in which the implant includes a passageway therethrough for receiving the guide member and advancement thereover, wherein portions of the projections extend into the passageway and the guide member contacts the portions of the projections to maintain the projections in the unengaged position, and when the guide member is removed from the passageway, the projections move to the engaged position. 
     
     
         35 . An implant for treating the spine, comprising:
 a generally elongated member being movable between a generally liner configuration for insertion between spinal tissue and a generally helical, implanted configuration including a plurality of adjacent windings wherein windings are in contact with immediately adjacent windings, the generally elongated member having opposed top and bottom surfaces wherein one of the top surface and the bottom surface includes a plurality of axially spaced apart recesses, and the other of the surfaces includes a plurality of axially spaced apart projections that are moveable relative to the other of the surfaces; and   when in the generally helical, implanted configuration, the projections being movable from an unengaged position to an engaged position wherein the projections engage the recesses.   
     
     
         36 . The implant of  claim 35  in which the projections are biased toward the engaged position. 
     
     
         37 . The implant of  claim 36  in which the projections are biased toward the engaged position by weighting of the projections or a spring. 
     
     
         38 . The implant of  claim 36  in which the projections are configured to be maintained in the unlocked position until after the elongated member forms the generally helical, implanted configuration. 
     
     
         39 . The implant of  claim 38  in which the elongated member includes a passageway extending therethrough for receiving a second elongated member therein, wherein portions of the projections extend into the passageway and the second elongated member contacts the portions of the projections to maintain the projections in the unengaged position until the second elongated member is removed from the passageway. 
     
     
         40 . The implant of  claim 35  in which the projections are at or below level with the other one of the surfaces when in the unengaged position.