# US 2014/0155939 A1 · Spine immobilization tool

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- Number: US 2014/0155939 A1
- Document ID: US20140155939A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/128,225
- Filed: 2012-06-20
- Published: 2014-06-05
- Earliest claimed: 2011-06-20
- Assignees: Akita University
- Inventors: Taku Sugawara
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140155939A1

## CPC

- A61B 17/7068: {Devices comprising separate rigid parts, assembled in situ, to bear on each side of spinous processes; Tools therefor}
- A61B 17/8085: {with pliable or malleable elements or having a mesh-like structure, e.g. small strips (A61B17/8071, A61B17/8076 take precedence)}
- A61B 2017/568: {produced with shape and dimensions specific for an individual patient}
- A61B 2034/108: {Computer aided selection or customisation of medical implants or cutting guides}
- A61F 2002/449: {comprising multiple spinal implants located in different intervertebral spaces or in different vertebrae}
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- 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)

## Abstract

To provide a spine immobilization tool that can control the movement of the spine with improved safety as a spine immobilization tool that includes a first covering portion, a second covering portion, and a joint portion. The first covering portion covers at least a part of a vertebral arch of a vertebra at a head-side among the adjacent vertebrae, and thus can be fixed to the vertebra. The second covering portion covers at least a part of a vertebral arch of a vertebra at a buttock side among the adjacent vertebrae, and thus can be fixed to the vertebra. The joint portion couples the first covering portion and the second covering portion together while allowing changing relative positions of the first covering portion and the second covering portion.

## Claims

### Claim at position 1

1-9. (canceled)

### Claim 10

A spine immobilization tool that can control movement of a spine by being mounted on a plurality of vertebrae, comprising:
a covering portion fixable to each of plurality of vertebrae by covering at least a part of a vertebral arch of the vertebra; and
a joint portion that couples the adjacent covering portions such that a relative position between the adjacent covering portions is allowed to be changed, wherein
the covering portion includes two or more members that each includes a close-contact surface,
the close-contact surface is a surface that has a shape in a male-female relationship with a surface shape of the vertebral arch, the close-contact surface being allowed to be in close contact with the vertebral arch, and
the joint portion is disposed between the adjacent covering portions.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The spine immobilization tool according to claim 10, wherein
the covering portion includes two members, and the covering portion is fixable to the vertebra by sandwiching the vertebral arch between the two members.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The spine immobilization tool according to claim 10, wherein
the covering portion at a head side of the adjacent covering portions includes: a first head-side member that covers a head side of the vertebral arch; and a first buttock-side member that covers a buttock side of the vertebral arch,
the covering portion at the buttock side of the adjacent covering portions includes: a second head-side member that covers the head side of the vertebral arch;
and a second buttock-side member that covers the buttock side of the vertebral arch, and
the first buttock-side member, the second head-side member, and the joint portion are integrated together, the joint portion coupling the first buttock-side member and the second head-side member together.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The spine immobilization tool according to claim 11, wherein
the covering portion at a head side of the adjacent covering portions includes: a first head-side member that covers a head side of the vertebral arch; and a first buttock-side member that covers a buttock side of the vertebral arch,
the covering portion at the buttock side of the adjacent covering portions includes: a second head-side member that covers the head side of the vertebral arch; and a second buttock-side member that covers the buttock side of the vertebral arch, and
the first buttock-side member, the second head-side member, and the joint portion are integrated together, the joint portion coupling the first buttock-side member and the second head-side member together.

### Claim 14 (depends on 10)

The spine immobilization tool according to claim 10, wherein
the covering portions each includes: a head-side member that covers the head side of the vertebral arch; and a buttock-side member that covers the buttock side of the vertebral arch,
assuming that a covering portion fixable to a vertebra closest to the head side among the vertebrae to which the covering portion is fixed is a first covering portion and a covering portion fixable to an n-th vertebra (here, n is a natural number equal to or more than 2) from the head side among the vertebra to which the covering portion is fixed is an n-th covering portion, the buttock-side member of an n′-th covering portion (here, n′ is a natural number from 1 to n−1), the head-side member of an (n′+1)-th covering portion, and the joint portion are integrated together, the joint portion coupling the buttock-side member of the n′-th covering portion and the head-side member of the (n′+1)-th covering portion together.

### Claim 15 (depends on 11)

The spine immobilization tool according to claim 11, wherein
the covering portions each includes: a head-side member that covers the head side of the vertebral arch; and a buttock-side member that covers the buttock side of the vertebral arch,
assuming that a covering portion fixable to a vertebra closest to the head side among the vertebrae to which the covering portion is fixed is a first covering portion and a covering portion fixable to an n-th vertebra (here, n is a natural number equal to or more than 2) from the head side among the vertebra to which the covering portion is fixed is an n-th covering portion, the buttock-side member of an n′-th covering portion (here, n′ is a natural number from 1 to n−1), the head-side member of an (n′+1)-th covering portion, and the joint portion are integrated together, the joint portion coupling the buttock-side member of the n′-th covering portion and the head-side member of the (n′+1)-th covering portion together.

### Claim 16 (depends on 12)

The spine immobilization tool according to claim 12, wherein
the covering portions each includes: a head-side member that covers the head side of the vertebral arch; and a buttock-side member that covers the buttock side of the vertebral arch,
assuming that a covering portion fixable to a vertebra closest to the head side among the vertebrae to which the covering portion is fixed is a first covering portion and a covering portion fixable to an n-th vertebra (here, n is a natural number equal to or more than 2) from the head side among the vertebra to which the covering portion is fixed is an n-th covering portion, the buttock-side member of an n′-th covering portion (here, n′ is a natural number from 1 to n−1), the head-side member of an (n′+1)-th covering portion, and the joint portion are integrated together, the joint portion coupling the buttock-side member of the n′-th covering portion and the head-side member of the (n′+1)-th covering portion together.

### Claim 17 (depends on 13)

The spine immobilization tool according to claim 13, wherein
the covering portions each includes: a head-side member that covers the head side of the vertebral arch; and a buttock-side member that covers the buttock side of the vertebral arch,
assuming that a covering portion fixable to a vertebra closest to the head side among the vertebrae to which the covering portion is fixed is a first covering portion and a covering portion fixable to an n-th vertebra (here, n is a natural number equal to or more than 2) from the head side among the vertebra to which the covering portion is fixed is an n-th covering portion, the buttock-side member of an n′-th covering portion (here, n′ is a natural number from 1 to n−1), the head-side member of an (n′+1)-th covering portion, and the joint portion are integrated together, the joint portion coupling the buttock-side member of the n′-th covering portion and the head-side member of the (n′+1)-th covering portion together.

### Claim 18 (depends on 10)

The spine immobilization tool according to claim 10, wherein
the covering portion and the joint portion are separately shaped, and the joint portion is removably attachable to the covering portion.

### Claim 19 (depends on 11)

The spine immobilization tool according to claim 11, wherein
the covering portion and the joint portion are separately shaped, and the joint portion is removably attachable to the covering portion.

### Claim 20 (depends on 10)

The spine immobilization tool according to claim 10, wherein
the covering portion includes a portion in a mesh-like or sponge-like shape in a portion including the close-contact surface.

### Claim 21 (depends on 20)

The spine immobilization tool according to claim 20, wherein
the covering portion employs osteoinductive matrix in the close-contact surface and the portion in the mesh-like or sponge-like shape.

### Claim 22 (depends on 10)

The spine immobilization tool according to claim 10, wherein
the covering portion is shaped by a selective laser sintering method.

### Claim 23 (depends on 20)

The spine immobilization tool according to claim 20, wherein
the covering portion is shaped by a selective laser sintering method.

### Claim 24 (depends on 21)

The spine immobilization tool according to claim 21, wherein
the covering portion is shaped by a selective laser sintering method.

### Claim 25 (depends on 10)

The spine immobilization tool according to claim 10, further comprising a fixing member to fix the covering portion to the vertebra.

### Claim 26 (depends on 20)

The spine immobilization tool according to claim 20, further comprising a fixing member to fix the covering portion to the vertebra.

### Claim 27 (depends on 21)

The spine immobilization tool according to claim 21, further comprising a fixing member to fix the covering portion to the vertebra.

### Claim 28 (depends on 22)

The spine immobilization tool according to claim 22, further comprising a fixing member to fix the covering portion to the vertebra.

### Claim 29 (depends on 23)

The spine immobilization tool according to claim 23, further comprising a fixing member to fix the covering portion to the vertebra.

### Claim 30 (depends on 24)

The spine immobilization tool according to claim 24, further comprising a fixing member to fix the covering portion to the vertebra.