# US 10,117,752 B2 · Uncinate joint stabilizers and associated systems and methods

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- Number: US 10,117,752 B2
- Document ID: US10117752B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/553,556
- Filed: 2016-02-26
- Published: 2018-02-08
- Granted: 2018-11-06
- Earliest claimed: 2015-02-26
- Assignees: Uncinate Joint, LLC
- Applicants: Uncinate Joint, LLC
- Inventors: Jeffrey John Larson; Theodore P. Bertele
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10117752B2

## CPC

- A61F 2/4405: {for apophyseal or facet joints, i.e. between adjacent spinous or transverse processes (devices implanted between spinous or transverse processes A61B17/7062)}
- A61B 17/025: {Joint distractors}
- A61B 17/7058: {Plates mounted on top of bone anchor heads or shoulders}
- A61B 17/7062: {Devices acting on, attached to, or simulating the effect of, vertebral processes, vertebral facets or ribs (rib fixation devices A61B17/8076); Tools for such devices}
- A61B 17/8014: {the extension or compression force being caused by interaction of the plate hole and the screws}
- A61F 2/2846: {Support means for bone substitute or for bone graft implants, e.g. membranes or plates for covering bone defects (nets or sleeves applied to surface of endoprostheses A61F2/30907; bone plates A61B17/80; bone regeneration in dental surgery A61C8/0006)}
- A61F 2/4455: {for the fusion of spinal bodies, e.g. intervertebral fusion of adjacent spinal bodies, e.g. fusion cages (intervertebral discs A61F2/442)}
- A61F 2/446: {having a circular or elliptical cross-section substantially parallel to the axis of the spine, e.g. cylinders or frustocones}
- A61F 2/4611: {of spinal prostheses}
- A61B 17/0218: {for minimally invasive surgery (A61B17/0281, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence)}
- A61B 2017/0256: {for the spine}
- A61B 2017/564: {Methods for bone or joint treatment}
- A61B 2017/681: {Alignment, compression, or distraction mechanisms}
- A61F 2/4684: {Trial or dummy prostheses}
- A61F 2002/2835: {Bone graft implants for filling a bony defect or an endoprosthesis cavity, e.g. by synthetic material or biological material}
- A61F 2002/30062: {(bio)absorbable, biodegradable, bioerodable, (bio)resorbable, resorptive}
- A61F 2002/30433: {using additional screws, bolts, dowels, rivets or washers e.g. connecting screws}
- A61F 2002/3055: {for adjusting length}
- A61F 2002/30579: {with mechanically expandable devices, e.g. fixation devices}
- A61F 2002/30593: {hollow}
- A61F 2002/30624: {Hinged joint, e.g. with transverse axle restricting the movement}
- A61F 2002/30754: {Implants for interposition between two natural articular surfaces}
- A61F 2002/3085: {with a threaded, e.g. self-tapping, bone-engaging surface, e.g. external surface}
- A61F 2002/3093: {for promoting ingrowth of bone tissue}
- A61F 2002/30985: {using three dimensional printing [3DP]}
- A61F 2002/448: {comprising multiple adjacent spinal implants within the same intervertebral space or within the same vertebra, e.g. comprising two adjacent spinal implants}
- A61F 2002/4635: {using minimally invasive surgery}
- A61F 2310/00017: Iron- or Fe-based alloys, e.g. stainless steel
- A61F 2310/00023: Titanium or titanium-based alloys, e.g. Ti-Ni alloys
- A61F 2310/00029: Cobalt-based alloys, e.g. Co-Cr alloys or Vitallium
- A61F 2310/00059: Chromium or Cr-based alloys
- A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C)
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)

## Abstract

A method for stabilizing a cervical spine segment includes implanting a respective uncinate joint stabilizer into each uncinate joint of the cervical spine segment to stabilize the uncinate joints and thereby stabilize the cervical spine segment, wherein each uncinate joint stabilizer has threads and the step of implanting includes threading each uncinate joint stabilizer into the respective uncinate joint along an anterior-to-posterior direction using the threads.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for stabilizing a cervical spine segment, comprising:
for each uncinate joint of the cervical spine segment, threading an uncinate joint stabilizer into the uncinate joint along an anterior-to-posterior direction to implant the uncinate joint stabilizer in the uncinate joint between an inferior surface of superior vertebra of the cervical spine segment and a superior surface of inferior vertebra of the cervical spine segment, so as to stabilize the uncinate joint.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, in the step of threading, the uncinate joint stabilizer being configured to preserve motion of the uncinate joint.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, the uncinate joint stabilizer being composed of biodegradable material to temporarily stabilize the uncinate joint.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, the uncinate joint stabilizer being composed of a non-fusing material.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, the uncinate joint stabilizers, when implanted into the respective uncinate joints of the cervical spine segment in the step of threading, being configured to bear at least a portion of cervical spine segment load to maintain spacing between the superior vertebra and the inferior vertebra.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, the step of threading including inserting the uncinate joint stabilizer into the uncinate joint along the anterior-to-posterior direction while leaving intervertebral disc of the cervical spine segment undisturbed.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, the step of threading comprising inserting the uncinated joint stabilizer into the uncinated joint percutaneously.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7, the step of inserting comprising inserting the uncinate joint stabilizer through a cannula.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising, during the step of threading:
monitoring, using imaging guidance, locations of (a) the uncinate joint stabilizer and (b) instrumentation used to implant the uncinate joint stabilizer.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising, for each uncinate joint prior to the step of threading:
distracting the uncinate joint using a distraction tool; and
removing the distraction tool from the uncinate joint.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, the step of threading including:
distracting the uncinate joint with the uncinate joint stabilizer as the uncinate joint stabilizer is threaded along the anterior-to-posterior direction.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
in the step of threading, threading the uncinate joint stabilizer into the uncinate joint such that threads of the uncinate joint stabilizer contact uncinate joint surfaces only of a selected one of the superior vertebra and the inferior vertebra; and
securing each uncinate joint stabilizer to only the selected one of the superior vertebra and the inferior vertebra to preserve motion of the cervical spine segment.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, the step of securing comprising utilizing a tension band formed by at least one ligament of the cervical spine segment.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, the step of securing comprising, for each uncinate joint stabilizer, affixing mounting hardware to the uncinate joint stabilizer and a vertebral body associated with the selected one of the superior vertebra and the inferior vertebra.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, the step of threading comprising contacting threads of the uncinate joint stabilizer to both the superior surface and the inferior surface.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, the uncinate joint stabilizer including bone graft material to promote fusion of the uncinate joint.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, the step of threading comprising threading the uncinate joint stabilizer along the anterior-to-posterior direction to final location and orientation of the uncinate joint stabilizer in the uncinate joint.

### Claim 18

A method for stabilizing a cervical spine segment, comprising:
for each uncinate joint of the cervical spine segment, implanting an uncinate joint stabilizer into the uncinate joint between an inferior surface of superior vertebra of the cervical spine segment and a superior surface of inferior vertebra of the cervical spine segment to stabilize and promote fusion of the uncinate joint.

### Claim 19

A method for stabilizing a cervical spine segment, comprising:
for each uncinate joint of the cervical spine segment, implanting a cannulated uncinate joint stabilizer into the uncinate joint to stabilize the uncinate joint, said implanting including inserting the cannulated uncinate joint stabilizer, over a guide wire along an anterior-to-posterior direction, into the uncinate joint between an inferior surface of superior vertebra of the cervical spine segment and a superior surface of inferior vertebra of the cervical spine segment.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The method of claim 19, the step of inserting the cannulated uncinate joint stabilizer comprising inserting the guide wire under imaging guidance.

### Claim 21 (depends on 19)

The method of claim 19, the step of inserting comprising inserting the cannulated uncinate joint stabilizer over the guide wire along the anterior-to-posterior direction to final location and orientation of the uncinate joint stabilizer in the uncinate joint.