Devices For Treating The Spine

Abstract

Method and apparatus are disclosed for distracting tissue and particularly spinal tissue. The device and method may include insertion of at least one elongated member and an augmenting member to form a structure between the tissues to be distraction, such that a dimensional aspect of the structure is augmented upon movement of the augmenting structure.

1 - 86 . (canceled) 
     
     
         87 . A tissue distraction device comprising a plurality of elongated members insertable between adjacent tissue layers of a spine, wherein
 one of the plurality of elongated members is configured to engage an upper tissue layer,   another one of the plurality of elongated members is configured to engage a lower tissue layer, and   at least one of the plurality of elongated members is comprised of
 a body formed of a first material and 
 a second material overlaying at least a portion of the body. 
   
     
     
         88 . The tissue distraction device of  claim 87 , wherein one of the first and second materials comprises a metallic material and the other one of the first and second materials comprises a polymeric material. 
     
     
         89 . The tissue distraction device of  claim 88 , wherein the first material comprises a polyether ether ketone material. 
     
     
         90 . The tissue distraction device of  claim 87 , wherein said one of the plurality of elongated members and said another one of the plurality of elongated members are each comprised of a body formed of the first material, with the second material overlaying at least a portion of the body. 
     
     
         91 . The tissue distraction device of  claim 87 , further comprising an augmenting elongated member configured to be at least partially positioned between said one of the plurality of elongated members and said another one of the plurality of elongated members. 
     
     
         92 . The tissue distraction device of  claim 91 , wherein the augmenting elongated member is configured to be at least partially insertable between and in contact with said one of the plurality of elongated members and said another one of the plurality of elongated members to spread said one of the plurality of elongated members and said another one of the plurality of elongated members apart to increase the dimensional aspect of at least a portion of the tissue distraction device in situ. 
     
     
         93 . The tissue distraction device of  claim 87 , wherein each of the plurality of elongated members is sufficiently flexible to change from a generally linear configuration to a generally less linear configuration. 
     
     
         94 . The tissue distraction device of  claim 93 , wherein said generally less linear configuration comprises an arcuate configuration. 
     
     
         95 . The tissue distraction device of  claim 93 , wherein said unconstrained, generally less linear configuration comprises an annular configuration. 
     
     
         96 . A method of manufacturing a tissue distraction device configured to be positioned between adjacent tissue layers of a spine, the method comprising:
 forming a first body of a first material;   forming a second body of the first material;   applying a second material over at least a portion of the first body to define a first elongated member configured to engage an upper tissue layer; and   applying the second material over at least a portion of the second body to define a second elongated member configured to engage a lower tissue layer.   
     
     
         97 . The method of  claim 96 , wherein one of the first and second materials comprises a metallic material and the other one of the first and second materials comprises a polymeric material. 
     
     
         98 . The method of  claim 97 , wherein the first material comprises a polyether ether ketone material. 
     
     
         99 . The method of  claim 96 , further comprising forming an augmenting elongated member configured to be at least partially positioned between the first and second elongated members. 
     
     
         100 . The method of  claim 99 , wherein the augmenting elongated member is configured to be at least partially insertable between and in contact with the first and second elongated members to spread the first and second elongated members apart to increase the dimensional aspect of at least a portion of the tissue distraction device in situ. 
     
     
         101 . The method of  claim 96 , wherein the first and second elongated members are sufficiently flexible to change from a generally linear configuration to a generally less linear configuration. 
     
     
         102 . The method of  claim 101 , wherein the generally less linear configuration comprises an arcuate configuration. 
     
     
         103 . The method of  claim 101 , wherein the generally less linear configuration comprises an annular configuration. 
     
     
         104 . A tissue distraction device comprising:
 first and second elongated members insertable between adjacent vertebrae of a spine having a general longitudinal axis and adapted to define a structure in situ having a dimensional aspect in a direction extending between the vertebrae; and   an augmenting elongated member at least partially insertable between and in contact with said first and second elongated members to spread the first and second elongated members apart to increase the dimensional aspect of at least a portion of the structure in situ, wherein
 the elongated members are sufficiently flexible to change from a generally linear configuration to a generally less linear configuration, and 
 at least one of the elongated members is comprised of
 a body formed of a polyether ether ketone material and 
 a metallic material overlaying at least a portion of the body. 
 
   
     
     
         105 . The tissue distraction device of  claim 104 , wherein the generally less linear configuration comprises an arcuate configuration. 
     
     
         106 . The tissue distraction device of  claim 104 , wherein the generally less linear configuration comprises an annular configuration.