Spinal fixation devices and methods of use
OwnerSamy Abdouinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Placement apparatus and methods of use for impanation of spacers within an inter-vertebral disc space. In one embodiment, the load-bearing superstructure of the implant is subdivided and the bone forming material is positioned within an internal space of the placement instrument but external to the load bearing elements themselves. At least a portion of the bone graft material is freely contained within the disc space. A method of using the device is also described. In one embodiment, the placement device is used to place the implantable spacers at opposing ends of the disc space using a directly lateral surgical approach.
Claims23
A method for implantation of an orthopedic assembly within a disc space positioned between a superior vertebral bone and an inferior vertebral bone, comprising:
- approaching a first lateral side surface of said disc space, said disc space further comprising an anterior surface, a posterior surface and an opposing second lateral side surface;
- advancing a first implantable spacer of said assembly through said first lateral side surface of said disc space, across a mid-sagittal plane, and onto a contralateral side of a superior apophyseal surface of said inferior vertebral bone;
- and
- advancing a second implantable spacer of said assembly through said first lateral side surface of said disc space, and onto an ipsilateral side of said superior apophyseal surface of said inferior vertebral bone, said first and said second implantable spacers being non-integrally formed;
- wherein said assembly is coupled to a non-implantable placement instrument which extends along a longitudinal axis from a proximal handle to a distal segment and comprises an intermediate segment therebetween, said coupling comprising:
- said first implantable spacer being coupled to said distal segment thereof;
- said second implantable spacer being coupled to said intermediate segment;
- and
- a first side of said first implantable spacer being aligned to face a first side of said second implantable spacer.
A method for implantation of an orthopedic assembly within a disc space positioned between a superior vertebral bone and an inferior vertebral bone, comprising:
- entering a first lateral side surface of said disc space through a corridor that traverses an adjacent psoas muscle;
- advancing a first implantable spacer of said assembly through said psoas muscle, and said first lateral side surface of said disc space, across a mid-sagittal plane, and onto a contralateral side of a superior apophyseal surface of said inferior vertebral bone;
- and
- advancing a second implantable spacer of said assembly through said psoas muscle, and said first lateral side surface of said disc space, and onto an ipsilateral lateral side of said superior apophyseal surface of said inferior vertebral bone, said second implantable spacer being non-integrally formed with said first implantable spacer;
- wherein each of said first and said second implantable spacers traverses said psoas muscle while in a first configuration;
- and
- wherein at least one of said first and second implantable spacers transitions to a second configuration after entering said disc space, said at least one implantable spacer comprising an anterior to posterior dimension that is greater in said second configuration than in said first configuration.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.