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US 12,622,788 B1Granted
Surgically implantable joint spacer and method of use
OwnerGuillermo Molinainventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method of seating a surgically implantable spacer including an upper and lower saddle member. The upper and lower saddles each having a first end and a second end. First and second expansion forces are applied to the first and second ends respectively causing equal separation until the first end encounters a resistive force, wherein a rate of separation between the first ends is reduced compared to rate of separation of the second ends. Vertebral contacting surfaces of the upper and lower saddle member can be arched, textured, or include any other feature to enhance an interface between the contacting surfaces and the vertebra.
Claims20
A method of implanting a surgically implantable spacer, the method comprising steps of:
- obtaining a surgically implantable spacer, wherein the surgically implantable spacer comprises a longitudinal axis, a proximal end, a distal end, a lower surface contacting member, an upper surface contacting member, a lower proximal expansion control arm member, an upper proximal expansion control arm member, a lower distal expansion control arm member, an upper distal expansion control arm member, a proximal control arm rotational pivot shaft member, a distal control arm rotational pivot shaft member, and a threaded control member,
- wherein the lower surface contacting member and the upper surface contacting member are contracted with each at a minimal distance from the longitudinal axis extending centrally between the lower surface contacting member and the upper surface contacting member;
- inserting the surgically implantable spacer into a biological joint;
- applying a first end separating force to a first end of the lower surface contacting member of the surgically implantable spacer and a same first end of the upper surface contacting member of the surgically implantable spacer;
- applying a second end separating force to a second, opposite end of the lower surface contacting member of the surgically implantable spacer and a same second, opposite end of the upper surface contacting member of the surgically implantable spacer;
- wherein separation between the first end of the lower surface contacting member of the surgically implantable spacer and the same first end of the upper surface contacting member of the surgically implantable spacer occurs at an equal rate as separation between the second end of the lower surface contacting member of the surgically implantable spacer and the same second end of the upper surface contacting member of the surgically implantable spacer until a first end resistance force is applied to the first end of the lower surface contacting member of the surgically implantable spacer and the same first end of the upper surface contacting member of the surgically implantable spacer, wherein the first end resistance force is greater than a second end resistance force at the second, opposite end of the lower surface contacting member of the surgically implantable spacer and the same second, opposite end of the upper surface contacting member of the surgically implantable spacer such that a distance between the first ends of the lower surface contacting member and the upper surface contacting member and a distance between the second, opposite ends of the lower surface contacting member and the upper surface contacting member can vary respective to one another,
- wherein each of the lower surface contacting member and the upper surface contacting member separate from the longitudinal axis during separation,
- wherein, upon the increase of the first end resistance force at the first end, the first end of the lower surface contacting member of the surgically implantable spacer and the same first end of the upper surface contacting member of the surgically implantable spacer expand at a reduced rate while the second, opposite end of the lower surface contacting member of the surgically implantable spacer and the same second, opposite end of the upper surface contacting member of the surgically implantable spacer continue to separate from one another at approximately an original rate until at least one of:
- (a) the second end resistance force applied at the second, opposite end of the lower surface contacting member of the surgically implantable spacer and the same second, opposite end of the upper surface contacting member of the surgically implantable spacer equals the first end resistance force, and
- (b) the first end separating force and the second end separating force cease causing separation of the respective ends of the upper and lower surface contacting members.
7 more elements
A method of implanting a surgically implantable spacer, the method comprising steps of:
- obtaining a surgically implantable spacer, wherein the surgically implantable spacer comprises a longitudinal axis, a lower surface contacting member, an upper surface contacting member, a lower proximal expansion control arm member, an upper proximal expansion control arm member, a lower distal expansion control arm member, an upper distal expansion control arm member, a proximal control arm rotational pivot shaft member, a distal control arm rotational pivot shaft member, and a threaded control member,
- wherein the lower surface contacting member and the upper surface contacting member are contracted with each at a minimal distance from the longitudinal axis extending centrally between the lower surface contacting member and the upper surface contacting member;
- inserting the surgically implantable spacer into a biological joint;
- applying a first end separating force to a first end of the lower surface contacting member of the surgically implantable spacer and a same first end of the upper surface contacting member of the surgically implantable spacer;
- applying a second end separating force to a second, opposite end of the lower surface contacting member of the surgically implantable spacer and a same second, opposite end of the upper surface contacting member of the surgically implantable spacer;
- wherein the lower surface contacting member of the surgically implantable spacer and the upper surface contacting member of the surgically implantable spacer move outward from one another in a parallel motion until a first end resistance force is applied to the first end of the lower surface contacting member of the surgically implantable spacer and the same first end of the upper surface contacting member of the surgically implantable spacer, wherein the first end resistance force is greater than a second end resistance force at the second, opposite end of the lower surface contacting member of the surgically implantable spacer and the same second, opposite end of the upper surface contacting member of the surgically implantable spacer such that a distance between the first ends of the lower surface contacting member and the upper surface contacting member and a distance between the second, opposite ends of the lower surface contacting member and the upper surface contacting member can vary respective to one another,
- wherein each of the lower surface contacting member and the upper surface contacting member separate from the longitudinal axis during separation,
- wherein, upon the increase of the first end resistance force at the first end, the first end of the lower surface contacting member of the surgically implantable spacer and the same first end of the upper surface contacting member of the surgically implantable spacer expand at a reduced rate while the second, opposite end of the lower surface contacting member of the surgically implantable spacer and the same second, opposite end of the upper surface contacting member of the surgically implantable spacer continue to separate from one another at approximately an original rate until at least one of:
- (a) the second end resistance force applied at the second, opposite end of the lower surface contacting member of the surgically implantable spacer and the same second, opposite end of the upper surface contacting member of the surgically implantable spacer equals the first end resistance force, and
- (b) the first end separating force and the second end separating force cease causing separation of the respective ends of the upper and lower surface contacting members.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.