US 7,300,440 B2Granted

Methods and instruments for interbody fusion

AssigneeWarsaw Orthopedic, Inc.

InventorsThomas Zdeblick, Lawrence M. Boyd, Eddie Ray, III

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A laparoscopic surgical technique is provided for preparing a site for implantation of a fusion device or implant. In accordance with one embodiment of the technique, a laparoscope is provided having an outer sleeve with distraction fingers at one end to distract the disc space. The laparoscope includes a laparoscopic port at its opposite end through which instruments and implants are inserted. The laparoscope provides a sealed working channel to the disc space, through which the disc space is distracted, the vertebral endplates and surrounding disc is reamed, and the fusion device inserted. The laparoscope is alternately engaged within bilateral locations in the disc space for insertion of a pair of fusion implants. A switching sleeve extends through the laparoscope to protect the tissue at the surgical site as the laparoscope is moved between the bilateral fusion locations.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A method for performing a spinal procedure, comprising:

making an incision in a patient's skin adjacent a vertebral disc space;
providing a laparoscope having a sleeve with oppositely disposed fingers extending from one end of the sleeve and a laparoscopic port positioned adjacent an opposite end of the sleeve, the fingers configured to maintain distraction of the vertebrae adjacent the vertebral disc space, the laparoscopic port including a number of seals;
providing an insertion member including a distal tip portion;
inserting the insertion member into the laparoscopic port and through the number of seals to provide sealing engagement between the insertion member and the sleeve with the distal tip portion extending beyond the distal end of the sleeve;
advancing the sleeve through the incision with the port positioned outside the patient;
engaging the distal tip portion of the insertion member with the vertebrae;
inserting the fingers into the vertebral disc space to define a protected channel between the vertebral disc space and the laparoscopic port;
inserting a surgical cutting instrument through the seals of the laparoscopic port and through the sleeve;
and
cutting into at least one of the vertebral disc material and one or both of the adjacent vertebrae with the surgical cutting instrument adjacent the vertebral disc space.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 10/442,822Filed 21 May 2003 · continuation
Priority: 27 Mar 1995
Published: US 2003/0195519 A116 Oct 2003
Granted: 27 Nov 2007
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification75 codes

A61B 1/3132
For introducing through surgical openings, e.g. laparoscopes: for laparoscopy
A61B 1/3135
For introducing through surgical openings, e.g. laparoscopes: for examination of the epidural or the spinal space
A61B 17/025
For holding wounds open, e.g. retractors; Tractors: joint distractors
A61B 17/1671
For particular parts of the body: for the spine

Family

Application08/411,017Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 27 Mar 1995
Application08/604,874Parent of this continuation · filed 22 Feb 1996
US 5,782,919 AParent of this continuation-in-part · filed 21 Jul 1998
Application09/176,972Parent of this continuation · filed 22 Oct 1998
Application09/265,179Parent of this continuation · filed 9 Mar 1999
Application09/746,300Parent of this continuation · filed 21 Dec 2000
US 6,245,072 B1Parent of this continuation · filed 12 Jun 2001
US 2003/0195519 A1Pre-grant publication · published 16 Oct 2003
US 6,595,995 B2Parent of this continuation
Application08/604,874Parent of this continuation-in-part
US 2002/0022845 A1Published application
US 7,300,440 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.