Methods and instrumentation for distraction of a disc space
AssigneeSDGI Holdings, Inc.
InventorsKevin T. Foley, Mingyan Liu
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods and instrumentation for surgical procedures relating to preparation of vertebral bodies and a disc space for insertion of spinal implants is disclosed. One instrument is a shim having a blade and a shaft having a first end connected with the blade. The blade is inserted into a distracted disc space to maintain distraction during subsequent procedures. Another instrument is a driver for driving the blade of the shim into the distracted disc space. Various methods contemplate the use of these instruments to maintain disc space distraction during disc space preparation for receiving an implant.
Claims28
A shim assembly for maintaining distraction of a disc space, the assembly comprising:
- a shaft having a first end a second end;
- a blade connected to said first end of said shaft, said blade having a length extending between a leading end and a trailing end, a height extending between a top surface and a bottom surface, and a thickness extending between a first side surface and a second side surface, and a pair of shoulders at said trailing end extending from said shaft to a respective one of said top and bottom surfaces;
- and
- a driver having a distal end, a proximal end, and a handle extending therebetween, said driver including a channel at its distal end slidably disposed about said shaft, whereby said channel has a driving end to impact said shoulders upon manipulation of said driver to insert said blade a desired depth into the disc space.
A shim assembly for maintaining distraction of a disc space, the assembly comprising:
- a shaft having a first end a second end;
- a blade connected to said first end of said shaft, said blade having a length extending between a leading end and a trailing end, a height extending between a top surface and a bottom surface, and a thickness extending between a first side surface and a second side surface, and a pair of shoulders at said trailing end extending from said shaft to a respective one of said top and bottom surfaces;
- and
- a driver having a distal end, a proximal end, and a handle extending therebetween, said driver including a channel at its distal end slidably disposed about said shaft, wherein said channel is open along a side thereof to receive said shaft and said channel includes a driving end to impact said shoulders upon manipulation of said driver to insert said blade into the disc space.
A shim assembly for maintaining distraction of a disc space, the assembly comprising:
- a shaft having a first end a second end;
- a blade connected to said first end of said shaft, said blade having a length extending between a leading end and a trailing end, a height extending between a top surface and a bottom surface, and a thickness extending between a first side surface and a second side surface, and a pair of shoulders at said trailing end extending from said shaft to a respective one of said top and bottom surfaces;
- and
- a driver having a distal end, a proximal end, and a handle extending therebetween, said driver including a channel at its distal end slidably disposed about said shaft, wherein said channel includes a driving end to impact said shoulders upon manipulation of said driver to insert said blade into the disc space and said shaft is bendable upon removal of said driver for connecting said second end to a table-based arm.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.