# US 2018/0021031 A1 · Systems for distraction of uncinate joints

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- Number: US 2018/0021031 A1
- Document ID: US20180021031A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/695,375
- Filed: 2017-09-05
- Published: 2018-01-25
- 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/US20180021031A1

## CPC

- 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)}
- A61B 17/0206: {with antagonistic arms as supports for retractor elements}
- A61B 17/025: {Joint distractors}
- A61B 17/7053: {with parts attached to bones or to each other by flexible wires, straps, sutures or cables}
- A61B 17/7059: {Cortical plates (A61B17/7007, A61B17/7058 take precedence)}
- 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}
- 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)}
- A61F 2/447: {substantially parallelepipedal, e.g. having a rectangular or trapezoidal cross-section}
- A61F 2/4611: {of spinal prostheses}
- A61F 2/4684: {Trial or dummy prostheses}
- A61B 17/00234: {for minimally invasive surgery (A61B17/0218, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence)}
- A61B 17/0218: {for minimally invasive surgery (A61B17/0281, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence)}
- A61B 2017/00261: {Discectomy}
- A61B 2017/00477: {Coupling (A61B2017/0046 takes precedence)}
- A61B 2017/0256: {for the spine}
- A61B 2017/564: {Methods for bone or joint treatment}
- A61B 2017/681: {Alignment, compression, or distraction mechanisms}
- A61B 2090/061: {for measuring dimensions, e.g. length}
- A61B 2090/0807: {Indication means}
- A61F 2002/30538: {for adjusting angular orientation}
- A61F 2002/3055: {for adjusting length}
- A61F 2002/30579: {with mechanically expandable devices, e.g. fixation devices}
- A61F 2002/30593: {hollow}
- 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 tool for distracting uncinate joints of a cervical spine segment includes two connector arms configured to access the cervical spine segment through soft tissue anterior to the cervical spine segment. The connector arms form respective receptacles for holding extensions coupled to respective distractor tips so as to position the distractor tips at distal ends of the connector arms and in the cervical spine segment. The tool further includes a control coupled to proximate ends of the connector arms and configured to adjust distance between the connector arms, at least at the distal ends, to distract the uncinate joints with the distractor tips. A system for distracting uncinate joints of a cervical spine segment includes a pair of distractor tips for insertion into the uncinate joints, respectively, along a medial-to-lateral direction from intervertebral disc space of the cervical spine segment, to distract the uncinate joints.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A tool for distracting uncinate joints of a cervical spine segment, comprising:
two connector arms configured to access the cervical spine segment through soft tissue anterior to the cervical spine segment, the connector arms forming respective receptacles for holding extensions coupled to respective distractor tips so as to position the distractor tips at distal ends of the connector arms and in the cervical spine segment; and
a control coupled to proximate ends of the connector arms and configured to adjust distance between the connector arms, at least at the distal ends, to distract the uncinate joints with the distractor tips.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The tool of claim 1, each of the receptacles being a channel in a respective one of the connector arms.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The tool of claim 2, each of the receptacles cooperating with shape of the extensions to restrict rotation of the distractor tips about axis between the distal and proximate ends of the respective one of the connector arms.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The tool of claim 2, each of the receptacles cooperating with shape of the extensions to allow rotation of the distractor tips about axis between the distal and proximate ends of the respective one of the connector arms.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The tool of claim 1, each of the connector arms having width sufficient to retract the soft tissue, when the distal ends of the connector arms are positioned at the cervical spine segment.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The tool of claim 5, the width being at least one centimeter.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The tool of claim 5, the connector arms including retractor blades having the width sufficient to retract the soft tissue.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The tool of claim 1, further comprising, for each of the connector arms, a fastener for locking position of a respective one of the distractor tips relative to the connector arm.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The tool of claim 1, further comprising a dial indicating a measure of distance between the distractor tips.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The tool of claim 1, further comprising the distractor tips.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The tool of claim 1, further comprising retractor blades coupled to the connector arms for retraction of the soft tissue.

### Claim 12

A system for distracting uncinate joints of a cervical spine segment, comprising:
a pair of distractor tips for insertion into the uncinate joints, respectively, along a medial-to-lateral direction from intervertebral disc space of the cervical spine segment, to distract the uncinate joints, each of the distractor tips having a lateral side and a medial side respectively facing and facing away from a respective one of the uncinate joints during said insertion, height of each distractor tip gradually increasing from the lateral side at least partway toward the medial side to ease said insertion.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The system of claim 12, further comprising a pair of extensions coupled with the distractor tips, each of the extensions being configured for mounting in a respective receptacle of an actuator for adjusting distance between the distractor tips.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The system of claim 13, each extension being integrally formed with a respective one of the distractor tips.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The system of claim 13, each distractor tip and respective extension being removably coupled to each other such that the distractor tips may be disconnected from the extensions and left in the uncinate joints.

### Claim 16 (depends on 13)

The system of claim 13, each extension including an elongated rod.

### Claim 17 (depends on 12)

The system of claim 12, each of the distractor tips characterized by rotational symmetry about lengthwise axis of the distractor tip, the lengthwise axis being oriented along a predominantly anterior-to-posterior direction when the distractor tip is positioned in a respective one of the uncinate joints.

### Claim 18 (depends on 12)

The system of claim 12, each of the distractor tips being larger in a first dimension orthogonal to a lengthwise axis of the distractor tip than in a second dimension orthogonal to both the first dimension and the lengthwise axis, the lengthwise axis being oriented along a predominantly anterior-to-posterior direction when the distractor tip is positioned in a respective one of the uncinate joints.

### Claim 19 (depends on 12)

The system of claim 12, each of the distractor tips including a tapered portion that is (a) elongated along a lengthwise dimension and (b) configured for insertion into the uncinate joint from intervertebral disc space of the cervical spine segment with the lengthwise dimension oriented along a predominantly anterior-to-posterior direction, the tapered portion having height in a heightwise dimension orthogonal to the lengthwise dimension, the height having a gradient along a widthwise dimension orthogonal to the lengthwise dimension and the heightwise dimension to define tapering of the tapered portion to facilitate said insertion.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The system of claim 19, the tapered portion having taper angle in range between 5° and 60°.

### Claim 21 (depends on 19)

The system of claim 19, the tapered portion having taper angle in range between 10° and 45°.

### Claim 22 (depends on 19)

The system of claim 19, minimum height of the tapered portion being less than 2 millimeters.

### Claim 23 (depends on 22)

The system of claim 22, maximum height of the tapered portion being between 4 and 10 millimeters.

### Claim 24 (depends on 19)

The system of claim 19, the tapered portion having generally triangular cross section in plane orthogonal to the lengthwise dimension.

### Claim 25 (depends on 24)

The system of claim 24, corner of the triangular cross section associated with leading edge of the tapered element, during said insertion, being blunt.

### Claim 26 (depends on 19)

The system of claim 19, the distractor tips being disposable.

### Claim 27 (depends on 19)

The system of claim 19, the distractor tips being composed of metal.

### Claim 28 (depends on 19)

The system of claim 19, the distractor tips being composed of polymer.

### Claim 29 (depends on 12)

The system of claim 12, the distractor tips being configured to be coupled to respective connector arms of an actuator for adjusting distance between the distractor tips by adjusting distance between the connector arms, the system further comprising a pair of retractor blades to be mounted on the connector arms, respectively, for retraction of soft tissue anterior to the cervical spine segment.

### Claim 30 (depends on 29)

The system of claim 29, the retractor blades being disposable.

### Claim 31 (depends on 29)

The system of claim 29, the retractor blades being composed of metal.

### Claim 32 (depends on 29)

The system of claim 29, the retractor blades being composed of polymer.