Methods and instrumentation for disc replacement
AssigneeDePuy Spine, Inc.
InventorsErasmo Lopez, Jonathan Bellas, Amie Borgstrom, Douglas R. LaSota
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Various exemplary instruments for introducing an implant using a posterolateral approach are also provided, as well as various exemplary methods for using such instruments. In general, the instruments are configured to interconnect to an implant and/or to a guide member such that the components are all docked relative to one another. This allows the various components of a multi-piece implant to be mated intraoperatively within the disc space, and in particular to be guided into alignment with one another.
Claims19
A method for implanting a spinal implant, comprising:
- manipulating a first inserter tool to position a first component of a spinal disc implant within a disc space between adjacent vertebrae;
- advancing a second inserter tool along a guide that is coupled to at least one of the first inserter tool and the first component such that a second component mated to the second inserter tool is guided into mating alignment with the first component to thereby mate the second component to the first component;
- detaching and removing the first inserter tool from the first component, and subsequently advancing a third inserter tool along the guide such that a third component mated to the third inserter tool is guided into mating alignment with the first component to thereby mate the third component to the first component.
A method for implanting an artificial disc replacement, comprising:
- introducing a guidewire into a disc space and positioning the guidewire such that first and second ends of the guidewire are positioned outside of the disc space and a u-shaped portion is positioned in the disc space;
- advancing a central inserter tool along the first end of the guidewire into the disc space between adjacent vertebrae to position a central component mated to the central inserter tool within the disc space;
- advancing a first lateral inserter tool along the second end of the guidewire into the disc space to mate a first lateral component mated to the first lateral inserter tool to a first lateral side of the central component.
A spinal implant and instrumentation system, comprising:
- an implant configured to be positioned within a disc space between adjacent vertebrae and having a central component, a first lateral component that is removably matable to a first lateral side of the central component, and a second lateral component that is removably matable to a second lateral side of the central component;
- a central inserter tool configured to removably mate to the central component;
- a first lateral inserter tool configured to removably mate to the first lateral component;
- a second lateral inserter tool configured to removably mate a second lateral component to the central component;
- and
- a guide frame configured to removably interconnect the implant, the central inserter tool, the first lateral inserter tool, and the second lateral inserter tool to allow the first and second lateral components to be intraoperatively guided into alignment with and mated to the first and lateral sides of the central component, the guide frame having a first channel adapted to removably receive the central inserter tool, a second channel adapted to removably receive the first lateral inserter tool, and a third channel adapted to removably receive the second lateral inserter tool.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.