Percutaneous posterior implant slide
AssigneeSpineology Inc.
InventorsAdam SHINBROT, Dan MCPHILLIPS
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An implant insertion instrument provides a guide through tissue (skin, fascia, musculature) and into a vertebral space after a discectomy. The instrument slides onto a guide wire and defines a path for the implant to be delivered to the vertebral space. The guide expands laterally as required to accommodate the implant as the implant slides through a channel defined in the guide, which allows distraction of the vertebral bodies while maintaining a small incision in the patient.
Claims9
An implant insertion system, comprising:
- an insertion instrument;
- and
- a guide instrument that mates with the insertion instrument,
- wherein the guide instrument comprises:
- an elongated body that defines a center channel extending longitudinally through the body;
- and
- a flexible slide that encloses an open side of the center channel.
An implant guide instrument, comprising:
- an elongated body that defines a center channel extending longitudinally through the body;
- and
- a flexible slide that encloses an open side of the center channel,
- wherein the flexible slide includes a tongue extending from an edge thereof,
- wherein the body includes a groove defined in a sidewall thereof that extends along the channel, and
- wherein the tongue is located such that it can engage the groove to permit movement of the slide in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the channel while maintaining a longitudinal location with respect to the slide.
A method of inserting a spinal implant through a patient's tissues to deliver the implant to a vertebral space, the method comprising:
- mating an insertion instrument with a guide instrument, wherein a distal end of the insertion instrument is tapered and shaped to facilitate movement through the patient's tissues, and wherein the guide instrument defines a channel extending longitudinally through the guide instrument;
- inserting the guide instrument through the patient's tissues so that a distal end of the guide instrument can communicate with vertebral space;
- removing the insertion instrument from the guide instrument while leaving the guide instrument inserted through the patient's tissues;
- mating an implant inserter with a proximal end of the guide instrument;
- moving the implant through the guide instrument towards the distal end thereof;
- providing a slide to the channel to enclose an open side of the channel;
- and
- while the implant is moving through the guide instrument, the implant flexing a slide disposed in the channel in a direction perpendicular to an axis of the channel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.