US 2012/0116455 A1Published application

Craniospinal fusion method and apparatus

AssigneePolaris Biotechnology, Inc.

InventorsFraser Cummins Henderson, Sr., John W. Newman

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Abstract

A method for effecting reduction, stabilization and enhancement of fusion of the human cranio-cervical junction, which may be performed in order to relieve mechanical stresses imparted to the spinal cord and brainstem as a result of an abnormal clivo-axial angle, includes steps of achieving the correct craniocervical relationship, of effecting a fusion of a first portion of a bone forming material based structural member to a human cranium, and effecting fusion of a second portion of the bone forming material based structural member to a least one portion of a human cervical spine. Fusion of the bone forming material based structural member to the human cranium may be promoted through the use of plate member that is shaped to define a graft accommodation space between the plate member and the cranium.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A system for surgical fusion of a cranio-cervical junction, comprising:

an article for use in the surgical fusion of the cranio-cervical junction, wherein the article comprises:
a plate member having a contour adapted to conform to a portion of a cranium, wherein the plate member comprises:
an outer plate surface;
an inner plate surface that is adapted to be secured to the cranium;
and
a flange defined in and encompassed by the plate member, wherein the flange arises from a portion of the plate member and forms a concave enclosure within the plate member that defines a graft accommodation space between a concave inner flange surface and the cranium when the plate member is secured to the cranium, the graft accommodation space being defined in part by an outer flange edge that is elevated with respect to a portion of the inner plate surface that is contacting the cranium so that the graft accommodation space is open to a space outside of the graft accommodation space, wherein the concave enclosure of the flange laterally constrains a bone material based member within the graft accommodation space and positions the bone material based member in close union with the cranium so as to apply a sufficient amount of pressure to the bone material based member to facilitate morphogenesis, whereby the bone material based member may be positioned within the graft accommodation space so as to be fused to the cranium and to extend away from the plate member, and
wherein the pate member is capable of being attached to a spinal rod member to facilitate fusion of the cranio-cervical junction.

4 more elements

A method for using a cranio-cervical fusion system, wherein the method comprising steps of:

attaching a plate member of a cranio-cervical junction fusion system to a cranium, wherein the cranio-cervical junction fusion system comprises:
the plate member having a contour adapted to conform to a portion of the cranium, wherein the plate member comprises:
an outer plate surface;
an inner plate surface;
and
a flange defined in and encompassed by the plate member, wherein the flange arises from a portion of the plate member and forms a concave enclosure within the plate member that defines a graft accommodation space between a concave inner flange surface and the cranium when the plate member is secured to the cranium, the graft accommodation space being defined in part by an outer flange edge that is elevated with respect to a portion of the inner plate surface that is contacting the cranium so that the graft accommodation space is open to a space outside of the graft accommodation space, and wherein the concave enclosure of the flange is capable of receiving and laterally constraining a bone material based member within the graft accommodation space.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 13/335,248Filed 22 Dec 2011
Priority: 29 Jan 2007
Published: 10 May 2012
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification10 codes

A61B 17/8071
Specially adapted for particular bones: for the jaw
A61B 17/7055
Spinal positioners or stabilisers, e.g. stabilisers comprising fluid filler in an implant: connected to sacrum, pelvis or skull
A61B 17/80
Internal fixation devices , including fasteners and spinal fixators, even if a part thereof projects from the skin: cortical plates , i.e. bone…
A61B 17/8891
Holding the screw head: at its periphery

Family

Application60/887,022Us provisional application · filed 29 Jan 2007
Application11/832,646Continuation · filed 1 Aug 2007
Application13/335,248Continuation
US 2008/0234755 A1Published application
US 8,083,743 B2Related patent
US 9,107,717 B2Related patent
US 2012/0116455 A1This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.