Laminoplasty implants devices

Abstract

Laminoplasty plates are engageable to at least one portion of a divided lamina to maintain a desired spacing relative to the spinal canal. The laminoplasty plates include a spacer portion having a first end and a second end that spans a gap formed by at least one of a divided lamina portion. The laminoplasty plates can include a lamina engagement portion at one end for engagement with the divided lamina portion.

1 - 87 . (canceled) 
     
     
         88 . A surgical method comprising:
 removing a spinous process of a vertebra such that first and second laminae of the vertebra each include an inner surface, an outer surface and a cut surface extending from the inner surface to the outer surface; and   coupling a plate to the vertebra such that the cut surface of the first lamina is held apart a predetermined distance from the cut surface of the second lamina by a spacer portion of the plate.   
     
     
         89 . The surgical method recited in  claim 88 , further comprising:
 cutting a first relief into the vertebra between the cut surface of the first lamina and a first pedicle of the vertebra to form a first hinge;   cutting a second relief into the vertebra between the cut surface of the second lamina and a second pedicle of the vertebra to form a second hinge; and   moving the cut surface of the first lamina relative to the cut surface of the second lamina.   
     
     
         90 . The surgical method recited in  claim 89 , wherein the first relief is cut into a medial cortical layer of the first lamina and the second relief is cut into a medial cortical layer of the second lamina. 
     
     
         91 . The surgical method recited in  claim 89 , wherein at least one of the reliefs has a depth of approximately 3 to 4 millimeters and a width of approximately 3 millimeters. 
     
     
         92 . The surgical method recited in  claim 88 , wherein the plate includes a first lamina engaging portion extending from a first end of the spacer portion and a second lamina engaging portion extending from an opposite second end of the spacer portion, the second lamina engaging portion being symmetrical to the first lamina engaging portion. 
     
     
         93 . The surgical method recited in  claim 88 , wherein the plate includes a first lamina engaging portion extending from a first end of the spacer portion and a second lamina engaging portion extending from an opposite second end of the spacer portion, the first lamina engaging portion including a first flange that directly engages the outer surface of the first lamina and a second flange that directly engages the inner surface of the first lamina, the second lamina engaging portion including a first flange that directly engages the outer surface of the second lamina and a second flange that directly engages the inner surface of the second lamina. 
     
     
         94 . The surgical method recited in  claim 93 , wherein the first flange of the first lamina engaging portion faces the second flange of the first lamina engaging portion and the first flange of the second lamina engaging portion faces the second flange of the second lamina engaging portion. 
     
     
         95 . The surgical method recited in  claim 88 , wherein the plate includes a first lamina engaging portion extending from a first end of the spacer portion and a second lamina engaging portion extending from an opposite second end of the spacer portion, the first lamina engaging portion including a first wall, a second wall and a third wall, the second wall extending from the first wall and a third wall extending from the second wall, an inner surface of the first wall facing the outer surface of the first lamina, an inner surface of the second wall facing the cut surface of the first lamina, an inner surface of the third wall facing the inner surface of the first lamina. 
     
     
         96 . A surgical method comprising:
 removing a spinous process of a vertebra to provide the vertebra with a first divided lamina portion and a second divided lamina portion; and   coupling a plate to the vertebra such that the first divided lamina portion is held apart a predetermined distance from the second divided lamina portion by a spacer portion of the plate.   
     
     
         97 . The surgical method recited in  claim 96 , wherein the plate includes a first lamina engaging portion extending from a first end of the spacer portion and a second lamina engaging portion extending from an opposite second end of the spacer portion, the first lamina engaging portion including a first lateral flange that contacts a laterally facing outer surface of the first divided lamina portion, the first lamina engaging portion including a first medial flange that contacts a medially facing inner surface of the first divided lamina portion. 
     
     
         98 . The surgical method recited in  claim 97 , further comprising crimping the flanges together with the first divided lamina portion therebetween. 
     
     
         99 . The surgical method recited in  claim 97 , wherein the second lamina engaging portion includes a second lateral flange that contacts a laterally facing outer surface of the second divided lamina portion, the second lamina engaging portion including a second medial flange that contacts a medially facing inner surface of the second divided lamina portion. 
     
     
         100 . The surgical method recited in  claim 99 , wherein the first lateral flange includes a bone engagement mechanism that faces the first medial flange and the second lateral flange includes a bone engagement mechanism that faces the second medial flange. 
     
     
         101 . The surgical method recited in  claim 99 , wherein the first medial flange includes a bone engagement mechanism that faces the first lateral flange and the second medial flange includes a bone engagement mechanism that faces the second lateral flange. 
     
     
         102 . The surgical method recited in  claim 99 , wherein the first lateral flange extends at an acute angle relative to the second lateral flange. 
     
     
         103 . The surgical method recited in  claim 99 , wherein the first medial flange extends parallel to the second medial flange. 
     
     
         104 . The surgical method recited in  claim 99 , wherein the medial flanges each include a connecting portion having a first end that directly engages the spacer portion and an opposite second end, an end portion extending from the second end, the end portion extending at an obtuse angle relative to the connecting portion. 
     
     
         105 . The surgical method recited in  claim 96 , wherein the plate includes a first lamina engaging portion extending from a first end of the spacer portion and a second lamina engaging portion extending from an opposite second end of the spacer portion, the first lamina engaging portion including a first lateral flange that contacts a posteriorly facing outer surface of the first divided lamina portion, the first lamina engaging portion including a first medial flange that contacts an anteriorly facing inner surface of the first divided lamina portion. 
     
     
         106 . The surgical method recited in  claim 105 , wherein the second lamina engaging portion includes a second lateral flange that contacts a posteriorly facing outer surface of the second divided lamina portion, the second lamina engaging portion including a second medial flange that contacts an anteriorly facing inner surface of the second divided lamina portion. 
     
     
         107 . A surgical method comprising:
 removing a spinous process of a vertebra to provide the vertebra with a first divided lamina portion and a second divided lamina portion; and   coupling a plate to the vertebra such that the first divided lamina portion is held apart a predetermined distance from the second divided lamina portion by a spacer portion of the plate,   wherein the plate includes a first lamina engaging portion extending from a first end of the spacer portion and a second lamina engaging portion extending from an opposite second end of the spacer portion,   wherein the first lamina engaging portion includes a first lateral flange that contacts a laterally facing outer surface of the first divided lamina portion, the first lamina engaging portion including a first medial flange that contacts a medially facing inner surface of the first divided lamina portion, the first lateral flange including a bone engagement mechanism that faces the first medial flange, the first medial flange including a bone engagement mechanism that faces the first lateral flange,   wherein the second lamina engaging portion includes a second lateral flange that contacts a laterally facing outer surface of the second divided lamina portion, the second lamina engaging portion including a second medial flange that contacts a medially facing inner surface of the second divided lamina portion, the second lateral flange including a bone engagement mechanism that faces the second medial flange, the second medial flange including a bone engagement mechanism that faces the second lateral flange,   wherein the first lateral flange extends at an acute angle relative to the second lateral flange,   wherein the first medial flange extends parallel to the second medial flange,   wherein the flanges of the first lamina engaging portion are crimped together with the first divided lamina portion therebetween, and   wherein the flanges of the second lamina engaging portion are crimped together with the second divided lamina portion therebetween.