Apparatus for inserting spinal implants
OwnerGary Karlin Michelsoninventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Apparatus and a method of inserting spinal implants is disclosed in which an intervertebral space is first distracted, a hollow sleeve having teeth at one end is then driven into the vertebrae adjacent that disc space. A drill is then passed through the hollow sleeve removing disc and bone in preparation for receiving the spinal implant which is then inserted through the sleeve.
Claims219
A spinal distractor for use in spinal surgery for temporarily positioning two adjacent vertebrae in selected relationship to restore the height of the disc space therebetween prior to inserting an implant into the distracted disc space, said spinal distractor comprising:
- a body;
- and
- a disc penetrating extension extending from said body and configured to distract the adjacent vertebrae upon insertion into the disc space between the two adjacent vertebrae, said disc penetrating extension adapted to bear against adjacent endplates of the two adjacent vertebrae, said disc penetrating extension having a first portion for bearing against one of the adjacent endplates and a second portion for bearing against the other of the adjacent endplates, said disc penetrating extension having a height no greater than the restored height of the disc space.
A guard for use in performing surgery across a disc space between two adjacent vertebrae, said guard comprising an elongated body having a proximal end and an opposite distal end for placement against the adjacent vertebrae said guard having a first passage through said elongated body for providing protected access to the disc space and the adjacent vertebrae for forming therein a first bore having a radius, and a second passage through said elongated body for providing protected access to the disc space and the adjacent vertebrae for forming therein a second bore having a radius, each of said first and second passages having a central longitudinal axis, the longitudinal axes being spaced from each other greater than the sum of the radius of the first bore and the radius of the second bore, said first and second passages being configured to prevent the first and second bores from overlapping.
A device for removing an instrument inserted at least in part into a human spine, the instrument having a body with a central axis and a disc penetrating extension extending from the body for insertion into a disc space between two adjacent vertebrae, said removing device comprising:
- a shaft having an outer surface and a central axis adapted to be oriented parallel to the central axis of the body of the instrument, said shaft terminating at an end having a configuration for removable engagement to the body of the instrument;
- and
- a mass slideably engaging said outer surface of said shaft for providing linear movement of said removing device and instrument when said removing device is engaged to the instrument.
A combined distractor and bone removal device for use in performing spinal surgery for positioning two adjacent vertebrae in selected relationship to each other and forming an opening in the two adjacent vertebrae, said device comprising:
- a cutting portion for removing bone;
- and
- a disc penetrating extension extending from said cutting portion for insertion into the disc space between the two adjacent vertebrae and for bearing against adjacent endplates of the two adjacent vertebrae, said disc penetrating extension oriented to said cutting portion so as to advance into the spine ahead of said cutting portion.
Apparatus for use in spinal surgery for cutting bone, said apparatus comprising
- a shaft having a longitudinal central axis terminating in a cutting portion, said cutting portion extending from said shaft to form a sharp tip perpendicular to the longitudinal central axis of said shaft, said sharp tip adapted to make radial cuts in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal central axis of said shaft;
- and
- a handle attached to said shaft, said handle having a central longitudinal axis, the longitudinal central axis of said shaft being parallel and off-center from the central axis of said handle.
Apparatus for loading a spinal implant with fusion promoting material, said apparatus comprising:
- a fusion material holder;
- an implant holder for holding the implant;
- and
- a press for loading the fusion promoting material into the spinal implant, said press having a plunger for passing through said fusion material holder.
A bone removal device for use in performing spinal surgery for forming an opening in the spine, said bone removal device comprising a shaft having a longitudinal axis and terminating in a cutting end for removing bone, said cutting end being perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and having a center which does not extend further than the rest of said cutting end, said shaft having a proximal end opposite said cutting end, said cutting end and said shaft having flutes for guiding debris generated during operation of said bone removal device toward said proximal end of said shaft.
An interbody distractor comprising a body portion and a disc penetrating extension therefrom, said extension adapted to urge the adjacent vertebral bodies apart and align the vertebral bodies relative to each other, said extension having a width and a height through a plane perpendicular to said width, said height being greater than said width.
A spinal distractor for use in spinal surgery for positioning two adjacent vertebrae in selected relationship to each other, said spinal distractor comprising:
- a body;
- a disc penetrating extension extending from said body for insertion into the disc space between the two adjacent vertebrae and for bearing against adjacent endplates of the two adjacent vertebrae, said disc penetrating extension having a first portion for bearing against one of the adjacent endplates and a second portion for bearing against the other of the adjacent endplates;
- and
- means for limiting the penetration of said disc penetrating extension into the disc space.
A spinal distractor for use in spinal surgery for positioning two adjacent vertebrae in selected relationship to each other, said spinal distractor comprising:
- a body;
- a disc penetrating extension extending from said body for insertion into the disc space between the two adjacent vertebrae and for bearing against adjacent endplates of the two adjacent vertebrae, said disc penetrating extension having a first portion for bearing against one of the adjacent endplates and a second portion for bearing against the other of the adjacent endplates, said disc penetrating extension being removably attached to said body;
- and
- means for limiting the depth of insertion of said disc penetrating extension into the disc space.
A spinal distractor for use in spinal surgery for positioning two adjacent vertebrae in selected relationship to each other, said spinal distractor comprising:
- a body;
- a disc penetrating extension extending from said body for insertion into the disc space between the two adjacent vertebrae and for bearing against adjacent endplates of the two adjacent vertebrae, said disc penetrating extension having a first portion for bearing against one of the adjacent endplates and a second portion for bearing against the other of the adjacent endplates, said disc penetrating extension being removably attached to said body;
- and
- means for engaging at least one of the two adjacent vertebrae.
A spinal distractor for use in spinal surgery for positioning two adjacent vertebrae in selected relationship to each other, said spinal distractor comprising:
- a body;
- and
- a disc penetrating extension extending from said body for insertion into the disc space between the two adjacent vertebrae and for bearing against adjacent endplates of the two adjacent vertebrae, said disc penetrating extension having a first portion for bearing against one of the adjacent endplates and a second portion for bearing against the other of the adjacent endplates, said body having means for engaging an extraction device for extracting said disc penetrating extension from the disc space.
A spinal distractor for use in spinal surgery for positioning two adjacent vertebrae in selected relationship to each other, said spinal distractor comprising:
- a body;
- and
- a disc penetrating extension extending from said body for insertion into the disc space between the two adjacent vertebrae and for bearing against adjacent endplates of the two adjacent vertebrae, said disc penetrating extension having a first portion for bearing against one of the adjacent endplates and a second portion for bearing against the other of the adjacent endplates, said disc penetrating extension being removably attached to said body, said disc penetrating extension comprising means for engaging said body, said body having means for engaging an extraction device for extracting said disc penetrating extension from the disc space.
An apparatus for use in spinal surgery for positioning two adjacent vertebrae in selected relationship to each other, said apparatus comprising:
- a guard member having an opening for providing protected access to the disc space and the adjacent vertebrae;
- and
- a spinal distractor comprising:
- a body;
- and
- a disc penetrating extension extending from said body for insertion into the disc space between the two adjacent vertebrae and for bearing against adjacent endplates of the two adjacent vertebrae, said disc penetrating extension having a first portion for bearing against one of the adjacent endplates and a second portion for bearing against the other of the adjacent endplates, said spinal distractor capable of passing through said opening of said guard member.
A spinal distractor for use in spinal surgery for positioning two adjacent vertebrae in selected relationship to each other, said spinal distractor comprising:
- a body having flutes along an outer surface of said body;
- and
- a disc penetrating extension extending from said body for insertion into the disc space between the two adjacent vertebrae and for bearing against adjacent endplates of the two adjacent vertebrae, said disc penetrating extension having a first portion for bearing against one of the adjacent endplates and a second portion for bearing against the other of the adjacent endplates.
An apparatus for use in spinal surgery for positioning two adjacent vertebrae in selected relationship to each other, said apparatus comprising:
- spinal distractor comprising:
- a body;
- and
- a disc penetrating extension extending from said body for insertion into the disc space between the two adjacent vertebrae and for bearing against adjacent endplates of the two adjacent vertebrae, said disc penetrating extension having a first portion for bearing against one of the adjacent endplates and a second portion for bearing against the other of the adjacent endplates;
- and
- a trephine configured for passage over said spinal distractor.
A spinal distractor for use in spinal surgery for temporarily positioning two adjacent vertebrae in selected relationship to restore the height of the disc space therebetween prior to inserting an implant into the distracted disc space, said spinal distractor comprising:
- a body;
- and
- a disc penetrating extension extending from said body and configured to distract the adjacent vertebrae upon insertion into the disc space between the two adjacent vertebrae, said disc penetrating extension adapted to bear against adjacent endplates of the two adjacent vertebrae, said disc penetrating extension having a first portion for bearing against one of the adjacent endplates and a second portion for bearing against the other of the adjacent endplates, said disc penetrating extension having a height no greater than the restored height of the disc space and a width no greater than the height.
An apparatus for use in spinal surgery for positioning two adjacent vertebrae in selected relationship to restore the height of the disc space therebetween, said apparatus comprising:
- a guard member having an opening for providing protected access to the disc space and the adjacent vertebrae;
- and
- a distractor configured to distract the adjacent vertebrae upon insertion into the disc space between the two adjacent vertebrae, said distractor adapted to bear against adjacent endplates of the two adjacent vertebrae, said distractor having a first portion for bearing against one of the adjacent endplates and a second portion for bearing against the other of the adjacent endplates, said distractor capable of passing through said opening of said guard member.
An apparatus for use in spinal surgery for positioning two adjacent vertebrae in selected relationship to restore the height of the disc space therebetween, said apparatus comprising:
- a spinal implant having opposed surfaces adapted to be placed against the endplates of the adjacent vertebrae, said spinal implant having a length;
- and
- a distractor configured to distract the adjacent vertebrae upon insertion into the disc space between the two adjacent vertebrae, said distractor adapted to bear against adjacent endplates of the two adjacent vertebrae, said distractor having a first portion for bearing against one of the adjacent endplates and a second portion for bearing against the other of the adjacent endplates, said distractor having a height no greater than the restored height of the disc space, said distractor having a length less than the length of said spinal implant.
A spinal distractor for use in spinal surgery for positioning two adjacent vertebrae in selected relationship to each other, said spinal distractor comprising a first portion for bearing against one of the adjacent endplates and a second portion for bearing against the other of the adjacent endplates, said first and second portions being configured for insertion into the disc space between the two adjacent vertebrae and for bearing against adjacent endplates of the two adjacent vertebrae, said distractor having means for engaging an extraction device for extracting said distractor from the disc.
Apparatus for loading a spinal implant with fusion promoting material, said apparatus comprising:
- a spinal implant having a hollow interior and an access aperture for accessing said hollow interior;
- and
- a plunger having a portion configured to pass through said access aperture and into said hollow interior of said implant for compressively loading the fusion promoting material into said implant.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.