Method and implant system for sacroiliac joint fixation and fusion

Abstract

An improved method of fusing the sacroiliac joint and tools for accomplishing the same is disclosed. In one embodiment, the present invention is a method that uses an intra-articular joint fusion device for connecting the sacrum and ilium that includes creating a first incision in the patient's skin proximal to the patient's sacroiliac joint, inserting a surgical channel tool into the incision from the patient's posterior, creating a void in the sacroiliac joint, inserting a fusion implant into the void, the fusion implant having at least one fixation element for engagement with bone tissue in the articular surfaces of the sacrum and the ilium, and driving the fusion implant into the void such that the at least one fixation element engages with bone tissue in an articular surface of at least one of the sacrum and ilium, and the fusion implant fixes relative positions of the sacrum and ilium.

1 - 31 . (canceled) 
     
     
         32 . A kit for repairing a sacroiliac joint of a patient, comprising:
 a. a cannula having a working channel and at least one tang on a distal end thereof operable to be inserted between a sacrum and an ilium of said sacroiliac joint   b. a fusion implant having at least one protrusion for engagement with bone tissue in an articular surface of at least one of an ilium and a sacrum in said sacroiliac joint and is operable to prevent dislodgement of said fusion implant.   
     
     
         33 . (canceled) 
     
     
         34 . (canceled) 
     
     
         35 . The kit of  claim 32 , further comprising an impactor operable to be passed through said working channel, wherein said impactor is operable to drive said fusion implant into said sacroiliac joint such that said at least one protrusion engages with tissue of at least one of said ilium and said sacrum. 
     
     
         36 . The kit of  claim 32 , wherein said fusion implant has a central body and said at least one protrusion extends from said central body and is operable to fix relative positions of said ilium and sacrum with engagement of said at least one protrusion with said ilium and sacrum when said fusion implant is inserted between said ilium and said sacrum. 
     
     
         37 . The kit of  claim 36 , wherein said cannula includes a guidance slot within the working channel that does not traverse the outer diameter of said hollow barrel for controlling the advancement of surgical tools passed through said working channel. 
     
     
         38 . (canceled) 
     
     
         39 . (canceled) 
     
     
         40 . The kit of  claim 32 , wherein said fusion implant contacts the ilium and the sacrum and compresses the articular surfaces of the ilium and the sacrum together, and thereby securing said implant in said sacroiliac joint. 
     
     
         41 . (canceled) 
     
     
         42 . (canceled) 
     
     
         43 . The kit of  claim 32 , wherein said fusion implant comprises a cavity for holding a fusion-promoting material, said cavity comprising at least one gap or hole therein for allowing the growth of bone tissue into said cavity. 
     
     
         44 . (canceled) 
     
     
         45 . (canceled) 
     
     
         46 . (canceled) 
     
     
         47 . The kit of  claim 37 , further comprising
 a fusion implant inserter, wherein the inserter has a distal end configured to attach to lateral grooves in said fusion implant and includes a portion operable to   engage with said guidance slot within said working channel.   
     
     
         48 . (canceled) 
     
     
         49 . A system for repairing a sacroiliac joint of a patient, comprising:
 a. a cannula having a working channel operable to be inserted into an incision proximal to a patient's sacroiliac joint;   b. a guidance slot within the working channel for controlling the advancement of surgical tools passed through said working channel; and   c. a fusion implant having at least one protrusion for engaging with bone tissue within said sacroiliac joint and said fusion implant is operable to fix relative positions of said sacrum and said ilium when inserted into said sacroiliac joint.   
     
     
         50 . (canceled) 
     
     
         51 . (canceled) 
     
     
         52 . (canceled) 
     
     
         53 . (canceled) 
     
     
         54 . (canceled) 
     
     
         55 . (canceled) 
     
     
         56 . The system of  claim 49 , wherein a proximal end of an elongate body of said fusion implant includes at least one groove in a surface thereof for engagement with an inserter tool for positioning said fusion implant into said sacroiliac joint. 
     
     
         57 . (canceled) 
     
     
         58 . (canceled) 
     
     
         59 . (canceled) 
     
     
         60 . (canceled) 
     
     
         61 . (canceled) 
     
     
         62 . (canceled) 
     
     
         63 . (canceled) 
     
     
         64 . (canceled) 
     
     
         65 . (canceled) 
     
     
         66 . (canceled) 
     
     
         67 . The system of  claim 56 , wherein
 a. the inserter tool has a distal end configured to attach to the groove of said fusion implant; and   b. said inserter has a guidance protrusion operable to be inserted into a stop slot within said working channel,
 wherein said stop slot controls the advancement of the inserter through said working channel. 
   
     
     
         68 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein driving said fusion implant into said void comprises rotating said fusion implant or a portion thereof having said at least one fixation element thereon. 
     
     
         69 . (canceled) 
     
     
         70 . (canceled) 
     
     
         71 . (canceled) 
     
     
         72 . (canceled) 
     
     
         73 . (canceled) 
     
     
         74 . (canceled) 
     
     
         75 . (canceled) 
     
     
         76 . (canceled) 
     
     
         77 . The kit of  claim 32 , further comprising a fusion implant inserter having a plurality of implant engagement arms operable to engage with slots on sides of said fusion implant. 
     
     
         78 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein said cannula includes at least one tang protruding from a distal end thereof for securing a position of said cannula in said sacroiliac joint. 
     
     
         79 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein said at least one protrusion is a helical anchor operable to penetrate bone tissue in said sacroiliac joint. 
     
     
         80 . A kit for repairing a sacroiliac joint of a patient, comprising:
 a. a cannula having working channel including at least one tang protruding from a distal end of the working channel for securing a position of said cannula in said sacroiliac joint;   b. a fusion implant having a plurality of fixation elements for engagement with bone tissue of an articular surface of at least one of the sacrum and the ilium of said sacroiliac joint, said fusion implant being operable to fix relative positions of said sacrum and said ilium.   
     
     
         81 . The method of  claim 80 , wherein said at least one fixation element comprises a helical anchor having a sharp end for piercing said bone tissue, and said helical anchor first penetrates said articular surface of said at least one of said sacrum and said ilium. 
     
     
         82 . The kit of  claim 81 , wherein said at least one fixation element is operable to penetrate bone tissue in said articular surface of at least one of said ilium and said sacrum when said fusion implant is rotated. 
     
     
         83 . The kit of  claim 80 , further comprising:
 a. a fusion implant inserter, wherein the inserter has a distal end configured to attach to at least one groove in the fusion implant; and   b. a guidance slot within said working channel for controlling the advancement of surgical tools through said working channel, wherein said inserter includes a protrusion operable to be inserted in said guidance slot when the inserter is introduced into said working channel.   
     
     
         84 . The kit of  claim 80 , wherein said fusion implant is operable to immobilize and fuse said sacroiliac joint without further implants or fusion devices introduced into the sacroiliac joint or surrounding tissues. 
     
     
         85 . The kit of  claim 81 , wherein said fusion implant contacts the ilium and the sacrum and compresses the articular surfaces of said sacroiliac joint together, and thereby securing said fusion implant in said sacroiliac joint. 
     
     
         86 . The kit of  claim 80 , wherein said working channel includes a plurality of tangs protruding from a distal end of the working channel for securing a position of said working channel in said sacroiliac joint.