Apparatus and method of spinal implant and fusion
OwnerJeffrey B. Kleinerinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus and method of performing a minimally invasive posterior spine fusion. More specifically an apparatus with a handle and a forked head on the distal end of the handle is used to grasp implant material and introduce the material to an implant site. The shaft of the apparatus is shaped so as to allow the affixation of a drill guide and drill while simultaneously holding the implant material in the implant site. After removal of the boring tools and assembly of the fusing element, the apparatus can be selectively removed from the implant site. A method of achieving facet joint fusion with near simultaneous fixation is also disclosed.
Claims20
A system for minimally invasively accessing a spinal facet joint space to deliver an implant to the spinal facet joint space, the system comprising:
- a tool comprising a proximal portion including a handle, a distal portion generally opposite the proximal portion comprising an elongated shaft having a first end connected to the handle and a distal end, said elongated shaft having a generally cylindrical body and having a hollow portion about a longitudinal axis of the generally cylindrical body that is in communication with at least one aperture located at the distal end of the elongated shaft, said shaft having a forked end with a first tine having a free standing distal end, and a second tine having a free standing distal end, wherein the distal end of the first tine and the distal end of the second tine are not connected, said forked end adapted for grasping an implantable material;
- and wherein the first tine and the second tine each have a proximal-distal length adapted to extend substantially across the spinal facet joint space when the first tine and the second tine are positioned in the spinal facet joint space;
- and
- a plunger distally displaceable within a channel extending within said elongated shaft, wherein the system is configured such that distal displacement of the plunger along a longitudinal axis of the elongated shaft causes the implantable material implant to distally displace between the at least two tines for implantation of the implantable material into the spinal facet joint space.
A system for treating a spinal facet joint, the system comprising:
- a) a spinal facet implant configured for minimally invasive insertion into the spinal facet joint;
- and b) a delivery assembly comprising:
- i) a tool configured for minimally invasively accessing the spinal facet joint comprising an elongated shaft having a distal end and having a generally cylindrical body and having a hollow portion about a longitudinal axis of the generally cylindrical body that is in communication with at least one aperture located at the distal end of the elongated shaft, said shaft having a forked end adapted for grasping said spinal facet implant, said first tine having a free standing distal end, and a second tine having a free standing distal end, wherein the distal end of the first tine and the distal end of the second tine are not connected, and collectively define a distal tip of the tool;
- ii) a plunger distally displaceable within a channel and along a longitudinal axis of the tool, wherein the system is configured such that distal displacement of the plunger along the longitudinal axis causes the spinal facet implant to distally displace between the at least two tines for implantation of the spinal facet implant into the spinal facet joint.
A system for minimally invasively accessing a spinal facet joint space to deliver an implant to the spinal facet joint space, the system comprising:
- a tool comprising a proximal portion including a handle, a distal portion generally opposite the proximal portion comprising an elongated shaft having a first end connected to the handle and a distal end, said elongated shaft having a generally cylindrical body and having a hollow portion about a longitudinal axis of the generally cylindrical body that is in communication with at least one aperture located at the distal end of the elongated shaft, said shaft having a forked end with a first tine having a free standing distal end, and a second tine having a free standing distal end, wherein the distal end of the first tine and the distal end of the second tine are not connected, said forked end adapted for grasping an implantable material;
- and wherein the first tine and the second tine each have a proximal-distal length adapted to extend substantially across the spinal facet joint space when the first tine and the second tine are positioned in the spinal facet joint space, wherein implantable material is positioned between the first tine and the second tine, said implantable material being released when a torque is transmitted from the elongated shaft.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.